TransComm Announces State DOT Communications Awards Winners

A strategic campaign supporting connected vehicle technology in Utah and a broad-reaching integrated anti-litter campaign in North Carolina grabbed the two top awards in the 2021 annual TransComm Skills Awards that were announced in September during a virtual committee meeting.

TransComm, AASHTO’s Committee on Transportation Communications, sponsors the annual skills awards to facilitate the sharing of best practices and to recognize outstanding communications efforts.

A total of 17 states earned at least one award recognizing outstanding work in a range of communications skills, tactics and campaigns.

Utah DOT earned the Excel Award for best integrated campaign with consultant support for its “Automated Shuttle Pilot Pilot Outreach” effort. The campaign helped educate Utahan about the states first automated shuttle. But midway through the project a shuttle passenger was injured and Utah engaged its crisis communications response plan.

Oklahoma DOT earned the award for best public service announcement from TransComm for its 2021 “Work Zones Are In Bloom” video.

North Carolina earned the Excel Award for best campaign without a consultant for its #DontTrashNC anti-litter campaign. Little clean up along North Carolina highways suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic. The NCDOT communication team developed a robust initiative that raised awareness for the issue and reignited interest in the annual volunteer-based Spring Litter Sweep.

Michigan took home the best audio production award for its Talking Michigan Transportation podcast. Colorado earned the TransComm award for mobile web application for an innovative smart-phone app that helped its 10 state DOT PIOs and incident command staffs coordinate during three simultaneous historic crises.

And, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet earned the TransComm award for best “issues/Crisis Management Communication” for its response to the Brent Spence Bridge Repair project.

Harris Kay of North Carolina DOT earned the Vanguard Award, which recognizes the contributions of an individual who is new to the topic of transportation. No other individual awards were handed out by TransComm this year.