NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) invites nominations for the fourth annual Tennessee Sustainable Transportation Awards. Winners will be announced at the Tennessee Sustainable Transportation Awards and Forum, which will take place on Sept. 17-18, 2018 in Knoxville.

The Awards recognize outstanding initiatives to improve the efficiency, accessibility, affordability and sustainability of transportation systems in Tennessee.

“We are looking for projects that are consistent with ongoing efforts to improve the health and well-being of Tennesseans, provide for a strong economy and protect our state’s natural resources,” said TDEC Commissioner Bob Martineau.

A panel of judges representing an array of interests will select award winners based on the following criteria:

Innovation – how the project utilized new thinking or creative approaches to meet a particular transportation challenge;

– how the project utilized new thinking or creative approaches to meet a particular transportation challenge; Best Practices and Replicability – how the project demonstrates a transferable solution, such that others could adopt or implement similar programs or initiatives;

– how the project demonstrates a transferable solution, such that others could adopt or implement similar programs or initiatives; Changes in Transportation Behavior – how a project worked to encourage or achieve changes in transportation behavior in order to make a transportation system more efficient;

– how a project worked to encourage or achieve changes in transportation behavior in order to make a transportation system more efficient; Improvements to Public Health and Safety – how a project creates improvements to public health, well-being or safety in a given community.

Eligible applicants include federal, state and local governments; commercial, nonprofit and industrial organizations; public and private institutions of higher education; and utilities. Entities must be located in Tennessee and the project must have been completed in the last five years. All nominees must be in environmental compliance with TDEC. Self-nominations are encouraged.

More information, including the application, is at https://www.tn.gov/environment/TSTA. Nominations will be accepted until May 31, 2018.