Brad Knight, director of planning/environmental concern, Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC), accepts the IMPRESS Award for Collaboration on behalf of RCOC.
Craig Bryson, communications manager, Road Commission for Oakland County, accepts the IMPRESS Award for Communications on behalf of RCOC.
Danielle Deneau, PE, director of traffic safety, Road Commission for Oakland County, accepts the IMPRESS Award for Operations on behalf of RCOC.
The County Road Association (CRA) of Michigan honored the Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) with three statewide IMPRESS Awards at CRA’s 2020 Highway Conference. IMPRESS Awards recognize county road agencies that demonstrate innovation with special projects in communications, operations and collaboration.
RCOC received an IMPRESS Award in Collaboration for its “Oakland County Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area Collaboration;” an Award in Communications for “RCOC Strategic Video Messaging;” and an Award in Operations for its project, “Cellular Communications Project for Video and Traffic Signal Operations.”
“RCOC applied its strengths in multiple areas to advance Michigan’s local road network,” said Denise Donohue, CRA director. “The agency’s innovative approach to solving county road issues has proven their dedication and commitment to our cause.”
Collaboration
RCOC helped found the Oakland County Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA) in 2014 and has continued to help fund the organization. The Oakland County CISMA supports functioning ecosystems and improves quality of life through invasive species management. By partnering with this organization, RCOC promotes native vegetation, habitat management and roadside beautification for its community.
Communications
RCOC produced several informational videos to educate motorists, residents and businesses of Oakland County. Video subjects included winter road maintenance, gravel road maintenance and RCOC’s preservation overlay program. RCOC distributed the videos to local public access television stations, uploaded them to social media platforms and posted them to RCOC’s YouTube channel and website. They also emailed the videos to media representatives covering the county and all local, county, state and national public officials serving the county.
Operations
Over the last few years, RCOC has upgraded to a cellular-based wireless communications system to connect its “smart” traffic signals to its Traffic Operations Center. This new system is significantly improving signal operations, saving $500,000 per year, dramatically reducing the amount of staff time devoted to this function, and enhancing the system’s cybersecurity. RCOC is one of the first road agencies in the nation to convert its smart-signal system communications infrastructure from hardwire phone lines to cellular communications.
An independent panel of communications and operations experts from several of Michigan’s 83 county road agencies judged the projects. Award recipients were honored for projects that solved time restraints, labor costs, communication barriers and fostered collaboration.