The Arizona Department of Transportation won two national awards for public outreach and communications, AASHTO, a national nonprofit representing state departments of transportation, announced this week.
The awards were presented during AASHTO's annual TransComm conference for transportation communications professionals, which drew communicators from state DOTs across the country and included a yearly awards ceremony with categories representing the best transportation projects and communications strategies across the nation.
ADOT's Office of Communications and Public Involvement won an award for its approach to public engagement on the State Route 187 Improvement Project within the Gila River Indian Community and surrounding areas of Casa Grande, Coolidge, and Sacaton Flats. The team used multiple outreach methods including flyers at community destinations, direct delivery to homes, spots on tribal television, and coordination with tribal leadership to reach residents with limited internet and mail access, ADOT said.
Community Information Officer Kirsten Johnson received the TransComm Vanguard Award, which recognizes new transportation communications professionals for innovative ideas. Johnson handles more than 1,000 calls or emails monthly from Arizona residents contacting ADOT's constituent services and has become the agency's primary specialist for responding to constituent concerns and questions, ADOT said.