The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has announced that it has received a regional award for SunTrax Phase 1 from the Southern Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (SASHTO). SunTrax, a large-scale, cutting-edge facility dedicated to the research, development, and testing of emerging transportation technologies in safe and controlled environments, was awarded the Best Use of Technology & Innovation (Medium Category).
Bergeron Land Development constructed the 400-acre SunTrax site located between Tampa and Orlando including its centerpiece – a 2.25-mile, four-lane oval track which allows the opportunity to test multiple technologies simultaneously.
Bergeron’s work on the site has been recognized with a Best in Construction Special Significance Award by the Florida Transportation Builders Association and a Specialty Construction Award of Merit from ENR Southeast.
“Bergeron’s highway and roadway projects have shaped transportation in Florida for decades,” said Bergeron Land Development Founder and President Ronald M. Bergeron, Sr.. “But to have the opportunity to play a role in the future of transportation well beyond Florida was truly humbling and inspiring. Everyone who worked on that project knew we were contributing to something important.”
SHASTO’s Regional Awards are part of the annual America’s Transportation Awards competition sponsored by the American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials (AASHTO), AAA, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In the Southern region, Florida and six other states nominated a total of 17 projects in this year’s competition. Project categories included Community Development/Quality of Life, Best Use of Technology and Operations Excellence.
The three top-ranking projects from each region will go on to compete in the “top 12” list of projects for the national Grand Prize, chosen by industry experts, and the People’s Choice Award, chosen by the public. Winners of these top awards receive $10,000 to donate to a charity or scholarship of the DOT’s selection. Voting for the People’s Choice Award will begin later this month. To learn more about this year’s nominees, go to https://americastransportationawards.org/.
