From left, TMC Operations Manager John Gilligan, ITS Engineer Acey Roberts, Assistant State Traffic Engineer Jim Willis, MDOT Executive Director Melinda McGrath, State Traffic Engineer James Sullivan and former ITS Program Manager Mike Stokes pose with ITS America Award. In addition to the ITS America Award, MDOT won the World Congress “Hall of Fame” Award from the international body of ITS America.

    JACKSON — The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) has won the Best New Innovative Practice – Partnership Deployment award in the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) America’s “Best of ITS Awards,” honoring the most innovative, effective and influential achievements in the ITS industry.

     MDOT was recognized for the Mississippi River Bridges – Incident Management, Freight Movement and Security ITS Project. Working with the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LDOTD), a regional ITS network was constructed to improve operational efficiency at the four Mississippi River crossings in the state through traffic monitors and dynamic message boards, and other means to convey traveler information.

     “It was an honor to be recognized at the premier ITS event of the year among thousands of public sector and transportation industry professionals,” said MDOT Executive Director Melinda McGrath.

     The Best of ITS Awards annually recognize the best and brightest of the high-tech transportation community. This highly competitive program recognizes the organizations whose projects have demonstrated specific and measurable outcomes and exemplified innovation by establishing a “new dimension” of performance.