AASHTO Journal, 2 October 2015
The 2015 AASHTO Annual Meeting in Chicago was an opportunity to recognize some of the best work of state DOTs and state DOT leaders who have significantly influenced the transportation industry. The following is a summary of several awards given during the meeting. A full listing of the awards is available 
AM2015AwardsProgram.pdf.
President’s Award of Merit – John Barton, TxDOT (retired)
John Barton, former Texas Department of Transportation deputy executive director and chief engineer, received the AASHTO President’s Special Award of Merit during the association’s 2015 annual meeting in Chicago.
2014-15 AASHTO President John Cox (left) presents the President’s Award of Merit to John Barton (right), who recently retired from Texas DOT.Barton, who retired last month after a nearly 30-year TxDOT career, was recognized by outgoing AASHTO President John Cox, who said that Barton’s “leadership and vision will be sorely missed.” The President’s Special Award of Merit was established in 1979 to recognize an individual who has made an outstanding and exemplary contribution to the work of AASHTO.
Cox said that “(Barton’s) contributions to the AASHTO community have been tremendous in both accomplishments and longevity.”
Barton was a member of the Standing Committee on Highways. He also chaired the Oversight Panel for the Transportation System Preservation Technical Service Program (TSP2). He chaired the Highways Subcommittee on Traffic Engineering. Barton was Region 4 member of the Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering since 2013 and he served on the National Operations Center of Excellence Board of Directors, helping to shape its program.
Cox said that Barton was a “key member, who helped shape AASHTO’s discussions on MAP-21.”
Internationally, John supported AASHTO International Day at the 2014 ITS World Congress in Detroit, MI; and, he served two, four-year cycles on the World Road Congress’ (PIARC) National Committee of the United States. Finally, John helped shape the Connected-Vehicle and Automated-Vehicle applications in operations and work zone projects.
Thomas H. MacDonald Memorial Award – Richard Tetreault, VTrans
Richard Tetreault, who was recently named Vermont Agency of Transportation’s deputy secretary, was recognized with the prestigious Thomas H. MacDonald Memorial Award at the AASHTO Annual Meeting in Chicago.
Richard TetreaultTetreault’s long career at VTrans has included work on a variety of challenging issues including the emergency replacement of the Lake Champlain Bridge and the state’s 2011 recovery after Tropical Storm Irene devastated many of Vermont’s roads and bridges.The Thomas H. MacDonald Award, named after the former Iowa State Highway engineer and chief of the federal Bureau of Roads, recognizes the achievement of a state transportation professional who has rendered continuous outstanding service over an extended period or who has made some exceptional contribution to the art and science of highway engineering.
Alfred E. Johnson Achievement Award – Steven Waddle, KYTC
Kentucky’s longtime state highway engineer, Steven Waddle, received the 2015 Alfred E. Johnson Achievement Award, which recognizes contributions to management in the field of highway engineering.
Established in 1973, the award is given annually to a state DOT engineer or manager who has made an outstanding contribution to their department.
Waddle is credited with showing tremendous leadership implementing the “Practical Solutions” initiative, a Kentucky-specific approach to “right-sizing” highway improvement projects to give the best value to the Commonwealth. Waddle also played key roles in KYTC’s response to emergency closures of bridges – the I-64 Sherman Milton Bridge between Kentucky and Indiana and the US 68 Bridge over Kentucky Lake in western Kentucky.
According to KYTC, “The award is the capstone of Waddle’s 27-year career as a civil engineer, all with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. He retires on Thursday, Oct. 1.”
AASHTO President’s Transportation Awards
The President’s Transportation Awards recognize individuals or teams that have performed exemplary service that benefit transportation regionally or nationally. Honorees are selected by AASHTO’s president and the presidents of four regional transportation organizations – SASHTO, NASTO, WASHTO and MAASTO. This year’s winners include:
- Administration – Kansas Department of Transportation, Bureau of Local Projects
- Aviation – Maryland Department of Transportation, Paul L. Shank
- Environment – Idaho Transportation Department, Spalding/Clearwater River Bridge Score Repair Project Team
- Highways – Michigan Department of Transportation, Interstate 96 Fix Team
- Highway Traffic Safety – Maryland Department of Transportation, Ocean City Pedestrian Safety Team
- Performance Management – Florida Department of Transportation, W. David Lee
- Planning – Minnesota Department of Transportation, NexTen Team
- Public Transportation – Connecticut Department of Transportation, CTFastrak Program Team
- Rail Transportation – Texas Department of Transportation, Tower 55 Rail Improvement Project
- Research – Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Kentucky Automated Truck Screening System