RALEIGH – The N.C. Department of Transportation gained national recognition this week for its thorough efforts to identify, develop, leverage and track innovation.
During the annual meeting of State Transportation Innovation Councils (STIC) from across the nation, North Carolina was one of two states presented with the STIC Excellence Award by the Federal Highway Administration. The award recognizes state councils that have demonstrated success in fostering a strong culture for innovation within their transportation communities.
North Carolina’s STIC stood out for its shift in 2019 from one working group focused on highways, to several teams collaborating to cross-pollinate ideas and expertise to help drive innovation in North Carolina across all modes of transportation. This enabled the STIC “to tap into all divisions, to deploy innovation across the department,” John Sullivan, the FHWA North Carolina division administrator, said in giving an overview of the group.
Under the new structure, there is an Executive Committee made up of NCDOT executive leadership and a multi-disciplinary Technical Coordination Committee that works to deploy innovation and coordinate federal funding opportunities. Sullivan noted the many academic partnerships the STIC has built through NCDOT’s University Transportation Centers of Excellence initiative, which further expands the department’s research capabilities by building new partnerships with and across research universities. Sullivan also highlighted the leveraging of internal innovation through the department’s new CLEAR (Communicate Lessons, Exchange Advice, Record) program.
“One thing that I’m really proud of is the fact that our team works very well together,” North Carolina Transportation Secretary Eric Boyette said after the award presentation. “They’re very energetic, they always take advice and any constructive advice very, very seriously, and they work very hard on this effort along with the daily job duties.”
The STIC’s mission is to facilitate the rapid implementation of technology, tactics and techniques among transportation program delivery professionals at all levels of state government and throughout the private and non-profit sector to ensure smart, efficient investment in North Carolina’s transportation infrastructure.
North Carolina was joined by Michigan in this year’s STIC Excellence Award honors.
About Author
