The best and brightest in transportation gathered for the annual California Transportation Foundation (CTF) Awards Gala in Sacramento and the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) walked away with two prestigious industry awards.

In the category of Operational Efficiency, TCA’s Customer Service Back Office Solution received the award for the program that improves transportation operations through management solutions. TCA’s upgrade of its customer service back-office system was done to better serve the Agencies’ 2.5 million accountholders and provide opportunities for TCA to partner with other agencies for shared toll processing and customer service support, resulting in cost savings and operational efficiencies.

The newly upgraded system provides a modern, scalable platform to serve The Toll Roads’ customers and other tolling agencies for back-office support. This system upgrade was years in the making, involving detailed planning, software development and large-scale testing.

In the category of Sustainable Transportation/Environmental Enhancement, TCA’s Cattle Grazing Program received the award for the program that implements policies or improvements which enhance social, economic, and /or environmental sustainability or improvements. In March, after the completion of a three-year pilot program, TCA adopted cattle grazing as part of its permanent land management tool for its Adaptative Weed Management Program, the first of its kind in Orange County. Cattle grazing is a fiscally prudent, natural alternative to using harsh chemicals for habitat management that increases biodiversity and reduces flashy fuels from nonnative annual plants that are associated with fire risk.

This program has generated a unique relationship between a tolling agency and a small family ranch, 5 Bar Beef, that practices holistic planned grazing, a form of regenerative agriculture which promotes the restoration of the soil and grasslands. Following successful grazing events, nonnative plant litter and residual dry matter (RDM) was reduced, and the cover of native vegetation doubled.

“We are pleased to be recognized by CTF as an innovator in back-office tolling solutions, as well as a leader in environmental conservation with these prestigious awards,” said Janine Heft, Chair of San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Agency and Laguna Hills City Council Member. “The upgrades to TCA’s back-office system improves the overall processing capabilities while also allowing TCA to support other tolling agencies for toll processing with our expertise and structure in place. In addition, I’m so proud of the cattle grazing program which is a prime example of TCA’s commitment to preserving and restoring native habitat in Orange County.”

About California Transportation Foundation

The California Transportation Foundation promotes and recognizes excellence in California transportation by helping to fund scholarships, grant awards, educational programs and support for workers and families in time of need. The organization also recognizes excellence in the field with its annual awards programs, while providing opportunities for the next generation of practitioners. Learn more about the organization by visiting California Transportation Foundation (the-ctf.org)

The Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) are two joint powers authorities formed by the California Legislature in 1986 to plan, finance, construct and operate Orange County’s public toll road system comprised of the 73, 133, 241 and 261 Toll Roads, which represents 20% of Orange County’s highway system.