Transportation innovation limited to roads and bridges?

Woodrow Wilson Bridge
Originally uploaded by diskychick

(Flickr photo of the Wilson Bridge under construction by by diskychick)

DC's Department of Transportation sends out a press release calling for people to vote for the Wilson Bridge project as one of the top ten innovative transportation projects being considered in an annual award program conducted by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).

According to the press release:

The competition is cosponsored by AAA, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and AASHTO to bring public attention to transportation projects around the country that make a positive difference to people, businesses and communities.

Note that a bike trail next to the Wilson Bridge was scotched because it, unlike the bridge, was determined to have negative environmental impacts.

Plus, the bridge could have been used to bring a southern spur and connection to the area's subway system, which has been advocated for by the Sierra Club...

Sierra Club rendering.

According to the press release:

On-line voting for the People’s Choice Award begins today and will continue to October 10. The ten finalists are:

• California : The MacArthur Maze, San Francisco
• Florida : Open Road Tolling, Miami-Dade County
• Kansas : I-35 Interchange, Kansas City
• Maryland/Virginia/District of Columbia: Woodrow Wilson Bridge
• Minnesota : TH36 N St. Paul Reconstruction, Saint Paul
• Mississippi : Saint Louis Bay Bridge, Bay Saint Louis
• Pennsylvania : Route 830 Airport Access, Jefferson County
• Rhode Island : Iway Bridge Float Project, Providence
• Utah : 4500 South Bridge Replacement, Salt Lake City
• Washington : Tacoma Narrows Bridge, Tacoma