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From L to R: Scott Higley, Director of Strategic Communications, Natalie Dale, Asst. Director, Media Strategy, and Katina Lear, Asst. Director of Strategic Communications in San Diego, California on September 29, 2026.
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For Immediate Release:
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
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Georgia DOT earns four national awards for communications excellence
Department records strongest showing in prestigious peer-judged competition in more than a decade
ATLANTA - The Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) earned four national awards for communications excellence in one of the transportation industry's premier communications competitions, marking the Department's strongest showing in more than a decade.
The honors were presented at the 2026 American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Committee on Transportation Communications (TransComm) Annual Meeting in San Diego, Calif. The annual Skills Awards competition recognizes outstanding transportation communications work from across the nation, with entries evaluated by fellow transportation communications professionals who understand the unique challenges of informing and engaging the travelling public.
Georgia DOT and Wisconsin DOT led the nation in this year's competition, with each department earning honors in four award categories.
"Effective communication is essential to everything we do at Georgia DOT, whether we're delivering a major project, introducing new technology or simply making sure motorists have the information they need to travel safely," said Georgia DOT Commissioner Russell R. McMurry, P.E. "Our Strategic Communications team works every day to make the work of this Department understandable and meaningful to the people we serve. To have that work recognized nationally by their peers in four different categories is a tremendous honor and a reflection of the talent and commitment of this team."
Georgia DOT's four award-winning entries included:
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Special Events: Ribbon Cuttings & Groundbreakings - "Breaking Ground on the Future: The State Route (SR) 400 Express Lanes." Recognized the Department's communications strategy surrounding the ceremonial groundbreaking of Georgia's largest-ever public-private partnership transportation project. The event brought together federal, state and local leaders, project partners and other stakeholders to celebrate a transformative investment in metro Atlanta mobility while generating public awareness of the project and its anticipated benefits.
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Innovation Events - "Communicating V2X to the World: Georgia DOT Day One Deployment District at ITS World Congress" honored communications strategy around the Department's efforts to introduce a groundbreaking connected-vehicle technology initiative to an international audience during the 2025 ITS World Congress in Atlanta. Through coordinated communications with media, live demonstrations and stakeholder engagement, Georgia DOT showcased how vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology allows vehicles and roadway infrastructure to communicate in real time, advancing the future of transportation safety and mobility.
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Writing, News Release - "From Announcement to Awareness: Introducing the SR 400 Incident Response Unit" recognized a news release introducing a specialized incident response program established to support motorists along the SR 400 Express Lanes construction corridor. The communications effort translated an important operational initiative into clear, accessible information about the Department's commitment to motorist safety, incident response and traffic management throughout and following construction.
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Graphic Design, Photo - "Down to the Dirt: Demystifying I-285 Westside Reconstruction & Rehabilitation through Visual Truth" recognized the Department's use of compelling photography to communicate the scope and complexity of a major interstate rehabilitation project. The visual storytelling approach helped make technical construction activities more understandable to the public while illustrating the extensive work required to rehabilitate and maintain one of metro Atlanta's busiest transportation corridors.
The four awards span special events, innovation, news writing and visual storytelling, reflecting the breadth of Georgia DOT's communications work and the range of skills required to communicate major transportation initiatives effectively. Collectively, the winning entries demonstrate the Department's commitment to making complex projects, emerging technologies and transportation investments understandable and relevant to the people they serve.
AASHTO TransComm comprises transportation communications and public affairs professionals who represent state departments of transportation from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Its annual Skills Awards are judged by peer transportation communications professionals, giving the honors particular significance: entries are evaluated by practitioners who understand the unique challenges and complexities of communicating transportation programs, projects and policies to the public.
A complete list of 2026 AASHTO TransComm Skills Awards winners is available on the AASHTO Committee's TransComm website.
Georgia Department of Transportation plans, constructs and maintains Georgia's state and federal highways. We're involved in bridge, waterway, public transit, rail, general aviation, bike and pedestrian programs. And we help local governments maintain their roads. Georgia DOT and its nearly 4,000 employees are committed to delivering a transportation system focused on innovation, safety, sustainability and mobility. The Department's vision is to boost Georgia's competitiveness through leadership in transportation.
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