IBTTA Announces 2025 Toll Excellence and Outreach, Opportunity, and Engagement Award Winners
Industry leaders honored for innovation and impact; President’s Award to be revealed at IBTTA’s Annual Meeting & Exhibition in Denver, Oct. 11–14
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA), the worldwide association for toll facility owners, operators and the businesses that support them, today announced the winners of the 2025 Toll Excellence Awards and the Outreach, Opportunity, and Engagement Award. These honors celebrate innovation and best practices across the global tolling and user-fee transportation sector.
“Each year, the Toll Excellence Awards get more competitive, and 2025 is no exception,” said IBTTA President James Hofmann, executive director and CEO of the North Texas Tollway Authority. “These winners showcase the very best in innovation, creativity and impact—improving safety, strengthening operations, advancing technology and building stronger connections with the communities we serve. I congratulate all the winners for raising the bar once again, and I encourage the entire industry to join us in Denver this October to celebrate their achievements, share best practices and help shape the future of tolling.”
2025 Toll Excellence Award Winners
Administration and Finance | Illinois Tollway
Transitional Duty Program
The Illinois Tollway’s Transitional Duty Program supports recovery and sustains service by helping employees return to medically appropriate roles while recovering from injury—reducing costs and lost workdays while keeping roadway operations consistent and safe.
Customer Service & Marketing Outreach | Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission
Raising Awareness About Toll Text Scams
The Ohio Turnpike guarded against smishing by launching a rapid multimedia campaign to combat nationwide text scams impersonating toll agencies—restoring customer confidence and providing a model for agencies nationwide.
Safety | Central Florida Expressway Authority
Drive Smart Florida
CFX’s Drive Smart Florida campaign is transforming driver behavior and preventing crashes by using behavior change marketing to address leading crash causes through positive reinforcement, targeted micro-campaigns, and community partnerships.
Social Responsibility | MTA Bridges and Tunnels
New York Central Business District Tolling Program and Congestion Relief Zone
New York’s Central Business District Tolling Program, launched in 2025, marked a historic first by reducing gridlock and advancing access—cutting congestion, improving travel times, generating critical transit funding, and creating new discount and exemption plans for drivers.
Technology | Kansas Turnpike Authority
Cashless Tolling
The Kansas Turnpike executed a seamless overnight conversion to cashless tolling, replacing its legacy ticket system with an advanced all-electronic platform and streamlined customer experience.
Toll Operations, Engineering and Maintenance | Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority Habitual Violator Enforcement Remedies Program
CTRMA’s Habitual Violator Program is protecting revenue and promoting fairness by addressing unpaid tolls through a data-driven, graduated enforcement process that recovers revenue and changes driver behavior.
Private Sector Innovation | TransCore
MTA Bridges and Tunnels Central Business District Tolling Program
On behalf of MTA Bridges and Tunnels, TransCore delivered AI-powered tolling at scale with the U.S.’s first congestion pricing system—using AI and machine vision to process every vehicle as a video-based transaction.
Private Sector Innovation | Valerann
Insight Roads: AI-Driven Safety and Efficiency on Ireland’s Motorways
In collaboration with Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Valerann delivered faster detection and safer roads by piloting an AI-powered platform that identified incidents up to 35 minutes sooner—reducing congestion and improving safety.
Outreach, Opportunity and Engagement Award
Illinois Tollway – Diversity Advisory Council
Since 2015, the Illinois Tollway’s Diversity Advisory Council has been building opportunities and driving inclusion by bringing together 20+ advocacy groups to expand opportunities for small, diverse, and veteran-owned firms while strengthening pathways to construction careers.
Read full winner profiles here: Toll Excellence Awards | IBTTA | International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association.
Awards Presentation
The Toll Excellence Awards and Outreach, Opportunity, and Engagement Award will be formally presented during IBTTA’s 93rd Annual Meeting & Exhibition in Denver, Oct. 11–14, 2025. The event will also feature the announcement of the President’s Award for Excellence, given to one of the Toll Excellence Award winners. Members of the media are invited to register and cover the event alongside leaders from across the tolling and transportation community. Attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in technical tours and explore the industry’s largest exhibit hall.
About IBTTA
The International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) is the worldwide association for the owners and operators of toll facilities and the businesses that serve them. Founded in 1932, IBTTA has members in more than 20 countries on six continents. Through advocacy, thought leadership, and education, members are implementing state-of-the-art, innovative user-based transportation financing solutions to address the critical infrastructure challenges of the 21st century. For more information, visit www.ibtta.org.
