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For more information contact: Brendi Rawlin, Porter Novelli, 619-549-3066
SR 125 SOUTH TEAM WINS TOP HONORS AT 2003 ASSOCIATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROFESSIONALS AWARDS
San Diego, Calif. (September 26, 2003)- EDAW, Inc., Caltrans and California Transportation Ventures (CTV) were honored last night by the Association of Environmental Professionals (AEP) for their Environmental Compliance Training Program for the SR 125 South Project. EDAW, a local environmental consulting firm, developed and implemented the training program on behalf of Caltrans and California Transportation Ventures. SR 125 South is a 9.3-mile technologically advanced toll road under construction in the southern region of San Diego County. The project is being built by California Transportation Ventures (CTV), which is owned by Macquarie Infrastructure Group, one of the largest private owners and developers of toll roads in the world.
The goal of the SR 125 Environmental Compliance Training program is to train all levels of project personnel about the important environmental commitments and sensitivities of the project. The training program uses innovative teaching tools such as pocket-sized species fact cards with pictures for easy identification of plants and wildlife along with maps identifying the locations of sensitive resources. The course uses role-playing and breakout sessions to teach problem-solving skills in a hands-on training format, and even teaches personnel how to identify applicable birdcalls.
This year, the Association of Environmental Professionals (AEP) awards committee received more than 20 nominations in four categories. Entries were judged based on their creativity and innovation, adaptability, clarity and methodology.
"The SR 125 South construction management team is absolutely committed to creating a project that provides the greatest transportation benefit for the region while safeguarding the diverse wildlife of the South Bay," said Joe Cazares, executive vice president of construction for California Transportation Ventures, the company managing the building of the toll road. "The Compliance Training Program has been an integral tool to ensure that throughout the construction process we are sensitive to the surrounding environment."
"The SR 125 South Project may be one of San Diego County's most complex public works projects in recent history," said Jacqueline Schoenecker, principal of EDAW, Inc. "It is commendable that Caltrans and CTV are taking such a progressive approach to compliance, including implementation of a comprehensive environmental training and education program." Caltrans Deputy District Director Charles "Muggs" Stoll said, "The training program is an innovative and effective way to assure the commitments we have made to the community and the environment are implemented. We are pleased to be a part of this award-winning effort."
About SR 125 South
The expansion of SR 125 has been part of California's planned freeway system since 1959, and part of SANDAG's Regional Transportation Plan, which lays out the region's projects through the year 2030. In September 2003, California Transportation Ventures (CTV) hosted the official groundbreaking for the southernmost portion of State Route 125 South (SR 125 South), a 9.3-mile technologically advanced toll road that will run from SR 54 in Spring Valley to SR 905 near the Otay Mesa International Border Crossing.
About Macquarie
Macquarie Infrastructure Group (MIG) is a $4.2 billion Australian Stock Exchange-listed investment fund, managed by the Macquarie group. MIG is one of the largest private owners and developers of toll roads in the world. Macquarie manages a global portfolio of $7.5 billion, including more than 26 roads in 8 countries.
About EDAW, Inc.
Established in San Francisco in 1939, EDAW is a full-service, 750-person multidisciplinary environmental consulting, land use planning, and landscape architecture firm. EDAW has 24 offices throughout the world including 3 in southern California - Los Angeles, Irvine, and San Diego. Within this region, EDAW has over 150 environmental professionals, specialists and support staff in a variety of environmental disciplines, including CEQA/NEPA document preparation, planning, landscape architecture, noise, land use, air quality, permitting, biological and cultural resources, habitat restoration, construction review, and construction monitoring.
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