BATON ROUGE, La. – The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) was presented with two awards by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Standing Committee on Performance Excellence at the recent 2010 AASHTO Annual Meeting, in Biloxi, Miss.

DOTD’s Quality and Continuous Improvement Team received a Bronze Performance Excellence Award for its successful efforts in the development and implementation of a departmental strategic plan, and for facilitating efforts to increase efficiency within the department.

The Design-Build Procurement Team received a Silver Performance Excellence Award in recognition of its use of the design-build process to procure three Louisiana transportation projects in record time, thereby securing stimulus funding allocated through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

In 1996, AASHTO’s Standing Committee on Performance Management established the awards program to recognize teams of transportation employees who demonstrate performance excellence and contribute to their agencies through successful teamwork.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) is committed to delivering transportation and public works systems that enhance the quality of life. In addition to more than 16,600 miles of roadway, including more than 890 miles of interstate, DOTD supports the development of the state’s aviation, marine and rail infrastructures. Through this work, we are able to facilitate economic development, create job opportunities, improve vital evacuation routes, and make critical freight corridors safer and more efficient.

For more information, please visit www.dotd.la.gov, email dotdcs@la.gov, or call DOTD’s Customer Service Center at (225) 379-1232 or 1-877-4LADOTD (1-877-452-3683). Business hours are 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Motorists can access up-to-date travel information by dialing 511 or by visiting www.511la.org. Out-of-state travelers can call 1-888-ROAD-511 (1-888-762-3511).