Categories and Criteria - 2006 Award Application - Excellence in Highway Design

2006 Biennial Awards

Background Information

Purpose

This program is conducted biennially by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) under the U.S. Department of Transportation to: encourage excellence in the design of highway-related facilities that provide safety and mobility and are sensitive to human and natural environment, and to recognize projects that contribute effectively to a more pleasing highway experience.

Eligibility

Anyone may nominate an outstanding highway or highway-oriented improvement project that was completed in the United States and its possessions since January 1, 2003. The nominated project must have been accomplished for State or local agencies, or freeway or toll authorities, as set forth under the Categories and Specific Criteria. Only completed projects will be eligible.

Design firms are eligible. Federal agencies and work performed for them are eligible only under Category 9.

Previous winning entries in the FHWA Biennial Awards competition are ineligible.

Entries

Entries must be completed online by June 23, 2006.

All material becomes the property of the U.S. Department of Transportation and may be used by the Department for its purposes. Therefore, photos should not be copyrighted. No entries will be returned.

Organizations may submit three project entries per category. A project may be considered under only one category.

Entry Submission Requirements

An entry shall consist of at least two but no more than three different digital photo views.

General Criteria

These general criteria will be applied, as appropriate, to all entries in all categories. Additional specific criteria are listed with the categories. A project will not necessarily have to meet all criteria to win.

Compatibility with/or adaptation to the environment
Visual appeal
Safety and traffic operation factors
Functional efficiency
Quality of construction
Pleasing user experience

Judging

Winning entries will be selected by a panel of judges representing a range of backgrounds relevant to the listed categories. The winning entries will be announced at the 2006 AASHTO Annual Meeting in Portland, Oregon on September 2006

Helpful Hints

The narrative should address how well the project meets both the general and specific criteria for its category. The same narrative should be used for all photographs in the entry.

Although the judges carefully consider the information in the narrative, the importance of high quality photographs cannot be emphasized enough.

Awards

Awards will consist of appropriate recognition to the owners, designers, or consultants submitting the outstanding entries in each category. Awards will be presented to the winners locally by the Division Administrator.

Federal Highway Administration
Office of Infrastructure
Office of Program Administration
Washington, DC 20590
Telephone: 202-366-4630
E-mail: donald.jackson@fhwa.dot.gov