AASHTO picks 10 best American transportation projects

All across America, transportation projects are saving taxpayers money while introducing innovative ideas and strategies to end those unbearable commutes and make our drives safer. Some of those projects will now have the chance to earn major bragging rights.

The American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials (AASHTO), AAA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have announced the top 10 finalists in the 2011 America's Transportation Awards competition and are releasing a new video showcasing these outstanding projects.

The 10 finalists received the highest number of overall points during four regional contests, representing each part of the country. A total of 40 projects from 29 states were judged in three categories: On Time, Under Budget and Innovative Management.

The 10 projects are now competing for the America's Transportation Awards' Grand Prize, selected by a panel of judges. The People's Choice Award will be decided by popular vote of the general public. Online voting begins Aug. 31 and will continue through Oct. 7, 2011 at www.americastransportationaward.org. The two awards will be presented Oct. 16 at the AASHTO Annual Meeting in Detroit.

"Each of these 10 projects truly exemplifies all that is right with our national transportation system," said John Horsley, executive director of AASHTO. "The America's Transportation Award competition allows us to honor and recognize projects that save taxpayers money, offer new and innovative ideas to the industry that help every driver and make our commutes easier and safer."

More information about the top 10 finalists is at http://news.transportation.org/press_release.aspx?Action=ViewNews&NewsID=397.