The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) Public Affairs Office won three national transportation public affairs awards, including the top honor, on Tuesday, October 13, 2009 from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Subcommittee on Public Affairs.
“Our Public Affairs team does an outstanding job of keeping Rhode Islanders informed about what RIDOT does and these honors truly reinforce that, and having this small office take the highest award in addition to two others is quite an accomplishment,” said RIDOT Director Michael P. Lewis.
At the 2009 National Transportation Public Affairs Workshop, RIDOT’s Public Affairs team won the Excel Award for the public information work they did on last winter’s Iway Phase 2 Opening of I-95 South to I-195 East. The slogan “Take the RIGHT way to the Iway” was incorporated into print, web, and radio ads, and call-in hotlines, interviews, and high profile opening ceremonies helped inform the public of the changes happening to this major intersection.
The Excel Award represents AASHTO’s highest award for public relations programs and campaigns. This award recognizes the specific techniques that made a pivotal contribution to the overall success of a broad-based communications campaign.
RIDOT also won first place in the Photo category. The photo had to support a public relations objective and in this case the award winner was taken by RIDOT photographer Chuck Aube. The photo shows a sheering claw and hammer ripping through the remains of the former Friendship Street overpass over I-95 in Providence. It demonstrates the energy and ferociousness of the demolition process, tearing down an old and decrepit bridge.
A Special Recognition Award was given posthumously to Frances Segerson for her years of service to the RIDOT Public Affairs team. The Award was given in recognition of her unique contributions, unprecedented efforts and achievements in advancing the work of public affairs.
In addition RIDOT’s Chief Public Affairs Officer Dana Alexander Nolfe was named the new Vice Chair of AASHTO’s Subcommittee on Public Affairs. This is the highest national non-Director position a state public affairs officer can hold.
--30--
Contact: Dana Alexander Nolfe 401-222-1362 x4450