Award Program

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Award Program

Started in 2014, the Outstanding Local Streets and Roads Project Awards Program was developed to recognize and raise awareness of the exceptional achievements made by California’s cities and counties to preserve and protect the public’s investment in the local street and road system. Nearly every trip – whether by car, bus, bike, or foot – begins and ends on a local street or road. The local system is critical for the safety and mobility of the traveling public, emergency responders, law enforcement, the economy, and multimodal needs such as bicycles and buses. Further, as counties and cities, regional agencies, and the State strive to meet statewide climate change goals, the local system will serve as a critical component to achieving greenhouse gas emissions reductions.

Forward-thinking cities and counties have made extraordinary efforts to preserve and improve the existing local transportation system through a variety of types of projects and programs. Through these exemplary efforts, cities and counties are reducing drive times and congestion; improving driver, bicycle, and pedestrian safety; and ultimately reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Green technologies are less resource intensive, emit fewer harmful air pollutants, and produce less water pollution. A safe, well-maintained, and environmentally friendly local transportation system significantly saves cities and counties, and taxpayers, money in the long-term.

Sponsored by the California State Association of Counties (CSAC), the League of California Cities (Cal Cities), and the County Engineers Association of California (CEAC), the Outstanding Local Streets and Roads Awards Program highlights cities and counties that are employing projects, programs, practices, and innovative technologies and materials to achieve preservation, safety and sustainability goals for the statewide local street and road system. Their exceptional work is worth recognizing and replicating across the state!

Award Categories

There are many ways in which California’s cities and counties can invest in and improve the overall quality of the local street and road system. Applicants can nominate projects in four specific categories that aid in the comprehensive improvement of the local network:

Efficient and Sustainable Road Maintenance, Construction and Reconstruction Projects

This category includes, but is not limited to, projects that use resources efficiently, projects that employ emerging technologies and materials, progressive preservation programs that improve pavement conditions, projects that are cost-effective and/or creative in the planning, design, funding and/or implementation compared to traditional methods, that are sustainable from a financial and resource perspective, and/or reduce greenhouse gas emissions and are environmentally friendly.

Efficient and Sustainable Bridge Maintenance, Construction and Reconstruction Projects

This category includes bridge and grade separation projects that use resources efficiently. These projects should employ emerging technologies and materials, progressive preservation programs that improve bridge conditions that are cost-effective and/or creative in the planning, design, funding and/or implementation compared to traditional methods, that are sustainable from a financial and resource perspective, and/or reduce greenhouse gas emissions and are environmentally friendly.

Safety or Intelligent Transportation System Projects

This includes critical safety projects that help reduce fatalities and serious injuries on the local network and other projects that make local streets and roads safer, more coordinated and efficient.

Complete Streets Projects

This includes projects that accommodate all users of the local street and road system and provide access to safe multi-modal transportation options such as walking and biking.

** The 2024 award nomination period is now closed.
Please check back in late December 2024 to submit 2025 award nominations **

Eligibility

California’s cities and counties.

Selection/Scoring

Criteria to be used in the selection process include (total of 34 points):

  • The entry directly improves the preservation, safety, access to, and overall quality of the local street and road system (up to 5 points)
  • The entry is innovative and unique (up to 5 points)
  • The entry provides a model for others to follow (i.e. it is replicable) (up to 5 points)
  • The entry’s positive outcomes are continuing/sustainable (up to 5 points)
  • The cost-effectiveness of the program/project (up to 5 points)
  • The entry has positive effects on the environment (up to 5 points)
  • The entry demonstrates effective collaboration and partnerships ( 1 point)
  • The extent to which the results and benefits are publicly verifiable, measurable, replicable, and useful to other cities and counties (1 point)
  • The extent technology is involved in innovative ways in the program/project (1 point)
  • The extent to which the program/project advances the League and CSAC’s priorities and goals for the local street and road system preservation (1 point)
  • Please identify if your project nomination was funded by the following. Check all that apply:
    -federal funds
    -HUTA funds
    -RMRA funds
    -local funds

The Award Committee reviews the nominations and selects award winner(s).

Nomination Process

Nominations can be made by any city or county in California.

Account details will be confirmed via email.