CDOT Mobile Receives Award from the White House

May 9, 2013 - Statewide Transportation Plan - Smartphone application and public-private partnership a “transportation technology solution for the 21st century”.

DENVER – Yesterday, Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) representatives were honored as a “White House Champion of Change for Transportation Innovation” at a ceremony in Washington D.C. for CDOT’s new Smartphone mobile application. CDOT Mobile, which provides travelers with real-time information such as highway conditions, speeds, and traffic information surrounding major projects, allows travelers to make better decisions about travel mode and route.

The development of CDOT Mobile is part of a five-year, public-private partnership between the Colorado Department of Transportation and The Hub Companies, LLC.   urHub, a division of The Hub Companies, LLC was selected as part of an RFP process conducted by CDOT to expand its critical traveler-related highway data.  In addition to leveraging CDOT content as well as supplementary data to create a real-time travel tool, urHub is also committed to investing $2.55 million to enhance and improve the application during the length of the partnership. The new application benefits more than five million residents statewide as well as Colorado’s 52 million annual visitors, providing the information they need without taxpayer funds.

The CDOT Mobile partnership was one of 12 transportation solutions recognized at the White House ceremony from over 180 nominations.   ““These Champions represent the very best in American leadership, innovation, and progress,” said Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood.  “I’m proud to recognize these transportation leaders who work every day to grow our economy and help us reach our destinations more quickly, efficiently, and safely.” CDOT’s Director of Operations, Ryan Rice and John Cronin, CEO of The Hub Companies represented the partnership at the ceremony.

“We are thrilled to have received this recognition,” said Rice.  “We believe this public-private partnership was so honored because of its sustainable business model as well as the consistent plan for technology development and innovation.”  According to Cronin, “our plan for CDOT Mobile is to continue to develop and innovate.  In the future, we envision a multi-modal application incorporating all modes of travel – making CDOT Mobile the ultimate source for transportation information throughout the State.”

CDOT Mobile was launched in September 2012 and now has more than 125,000 active users.  “We are thrilled at the response we have received from the traveling public who has clearly demonstrated the need for CDOT to provide real-time travel information.  With more informed travelers, we can make our transportation system more productive, safe and efficient,” added Rice. It has been designed specifically to improve the travel experience on Colorado roadways by making critical information such as highway conditions, major projects such as the Twin Tunnels design and construction and traffic information more accessible, dynamic and interactive.

CDOT Mobile is the official mobile application of CDOT and is available free to users by downloading CDOT Mobile from the App Store or texting “CDOT” to 25827.

About The White House Champions of Change Program

White House Champions of Change program highlights the stories and examples of citizens across the country who are “Building an America to Last” with projects and initiatives that move their communities forward. All across the country, ordinary Americans are doing extraordinary things in their communities to out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world. On May 8, 2013, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the White House Office of Public Engagement hosted a Champions of Change event on “Transportation Technology Solutions for the 21st Century.” This Champions of Change event focused on individuals or organizations that have provided exemplary leadership in implementing transportation technology solutions to enhance performance, reduce congestion, improve safety, and facilitate communication across the transportation industry at the local, state or regional level.

Photo Caption: Ryan Rice, CDOT Director of Transportation Systems Management and Operations and John Cronin, CEO of The Hub Companies at the White House Champions of Change ceremony in Washington D.C. on May 9, 2013