West Coast Highway Earns Federal Environmental Award

The West Coast Electric Highway has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Transportation  and the Federal Highway Administration for  creating a widespread network of electric vehicle charging opportunities between Oregon's major population centers and on arterials radiating from them.

The highway is the only project to earn both the 2012 Exemplary Human Environment Initiative and the Exemplary Ecosystem Initiative. The EHEIs recognize outstanding examples of transportation projects that either create or improve conditions for human activities while protecting the natural environment.

The EEIs identify exemplary ecosystem and habitat projects that are unique or highly unusual in their geographic scope; use cutting-edge science or technology; attain high levels of environmental standards; achieve high-quality results; and/or promote environmental interests that are particularly valuable or noteworthy.

Other Oregon projects also earning an EHEI or EEI are:

• Oregon Solar Highway Program. For developing the nation's largest solar highway project that uses public rights-of-way to reduce carbon emissions and creates jobs in the green energy sector.  (EHEI)
• Wildlife Passage Undercrossing Structures. For implementing two wildlife passage corridors to assist large and small wildlife crossings along U.S. State Highway 97.