Federal Highway Administration Recognizes Innovative Traveler Information Websites

September 19, 2005

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has announced the fifth annual winners of its national awards for traveler information websites. Whereas in previous years, winners were chosen based on the content and usability of their websites, this year's awards recognize pioneers of innovative, low-cost online features.

This year's three winning agencies, California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), Missouri Department of Transportation and Connecticut Department of Transportation were formally recognized by Federal Highway Acting Administrator Rick Capka at the Board of Directors meeting of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) on September 198, 2005, in Nashville, Tennessee.

One winner was chosen in each of three categories of innovative traffic information after a national review of the best 100 websites identified in 2004. Caltrans won in the integration category for its emergency work contractor interest form. Missouri DOT won in the customer communications and services category for its "report a road concern" online form. Connecticut DOT's multi-modal e-alert system landed the agency the award in the multimodal/inter-jurisdictional information category.

Caltrans developed an online emergency work contractor interest form (http://www.dot.ca.gov/contractor/contractor.html) in order to gather information on local resources that can be mobilized to clean and repair highways in case of natural disasters. More than 3,000 businesses have registered since the launch of the form in 2001. The resulting information has helped Caltrans to reach out to local businesses and expedite the re-opening of highways, minimizing the loss of time and money from highway closures.

Drivers on Missouri's 32,000 miles of roads have extensively used the "report a road concern" online form (http://www.modot.state.mo.us/asp/repair.htm) to report roads that require servicing. The form has generated five to seven hundred reports per month since its deployment in 2003. The reports provide more information on the condition of the road infrastructure at a lower cost than inspections alone. The DOT uses the reports to improve the safety and quality of the roads in areas especially important to its customers.

To provide better multi-modal traveler information, Connecticut's DOT developed an e-mail alert system (http://www.conndot.ct.gov/traffic/ealerts.aspx). The alert system is an innovative way to maximize the timely delivery of existing multi-modal information to travelers. Customers can register online in order to receive incidents and delay information by e-mail or cellular phone. The system has registered over 5,200 users since its release in March 2005 and has allowed travelers to avoid costly delays by making alternative travel arrangements.