2026 Awards

​The Northeast Transportation and Wildlife Collaborative (NETWC) honors people, organizations and projects that have made substantial contributions to ecological conservation, stewardship, and public safety, or exemplified outstanding collaboration or innovation.

Congratulations to our 2026 Award Recipients!

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Granted to individuals who have gone beyond the call of their position to bring about change in road ecology in northeastern North America throughout their career. 
 
Awarded to: Edward Frantz (Retired, NYSDOT; Environmental Scientist with E.H. Frantz Environmental)  
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​Ed was a pioneer at the NYS Department of Transportation in conservation initiatives. He passionately pursued wildlife passage, wetland restoration & management, and endangered species conservation throughout his career. Ed has always been committed to the most environmentally sound approaches for capital program improvements and long-term maintenance of existing projects at NYSDOT.  Additionally, his eagerness to instruct, educate, and teach others benefitted many at NYSDOT. He made significant headway in shifting the mindset of officials and management to strike appropriate solutions that benefited both the environment, our transportation system, and the traveling public, which set a standard for others to follow at NYSDOT.  Ed’s 30 year career has made an enduring and positive difference, not only in transportation ecology, but also with his colleagues and partners.​

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​LEADERSHIP AWARD
Granted to individuals who have gone beyond the call of their position to bring about change in the world of road ecology in northeastern North America with respect to ecological systems, wildlife, plants, and partnerships.​

Awarded to:
​1. Representative Mary Jo Daley (D-Montgomery) and Representative Jason Ortitay (R-Allegheny)

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The representatives’ advocacy for wildlife corridors and crossings in Pennsylvania via House Resolution 87 in 2023 set the stage for PA to implement meaningful mitigation strategies to reconnect habitats and reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions to improve public safety throughout PA. As a result of the 2023 Legislative Budget and Finance Committee’s study and subsequent report, PennDOT applied for and received a Wildlife Crossing Pilot Program grant to develop a statewide Wildlife Crossing Plan. They are receiving the award for their  leadership efforts in advancing legislation and policy recommendations aimed at reconnecting habitats, reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions, and improving public safety.

Awarded to:
​2. Jens Hawkins Hilke (Conservation Planner with the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department)

Jens’ engagement in regional connectivity has been a driving force, influencing and advancing road ecology throughout Northeast North America. Although he resides and works in Vermont, his influence transcends political borders and extends eco-regionally. Jens is a spirited and passionate advocate for habitat connectivity and has been and continues to be a trusted leader for NETWC and the Staying Connected Initiative.   He has coordinated efforts to provide guidance and policy through SCI and has served various leadership roles for NETWC, just these past few months his roles have included:  1)Project Deputy Director pursuant the Collaborative's legal/fiscal agent (SEE) 2) Steering Committee bylaws Subcommittee 3) Steering Committee Awards Subcommittee, and 3) advocating for and visualizing a Habitats and Highways program at NETWC.  Jens played a key role in re-branding NETWC from a conference to a Collaborative. His vision and leadership aided us to transcend as a biennial conference into a collaborative of transportation ecology practitioners in northeast North America. Jens' is a well known, and trusted, conservation advocate in the region and his contributions have long-lasting impacts on the people and wildlife of the northeast. 

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TRANSBORDER AWARD
Granted to an agency, organization, or partnership and individuals that embraced ecological conservation and stewardship in the delivery of transportation projects across state/provincial borders.​

Awarded to: 
Alissa Fadden (TNC), Jim Andrews (VT Reptile and Amphibian Atlas), Jed Merrow (ecologist), Vince Franke (videographer) for the Northeast Habitats & Highways Training Series

Northeast Habitats & Highways is a new video series created in partnership with transportation and wildlife agencies across the Northeast. It’s designed for professionals working in transportation infrastructure, planning, conservation and beyond—who want to better understand transportation ecology, and advance the discipline.  The videos feature insights from numerous transportation and wildlife professionals from across the Northeast, showcasing successful efforts and wildlife crossing projects.

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REGIONAL AWARD
Granted to an agency, organization, or partnership and individuals that embraced ecological stewardship in the delivery of transportation projects that resulted in benefits to road ecology at state/provincial and/or multi-state/provincial scales.​ ​

Awarded to: Maine Department of Marine Resources, Bureau of Sea Run Fisheries and Habitat for their efforts in funding and implementation of road-stream crossings

The Maine Department of Marine Resources Bureau of Sea Run Fisheries staff participate in an innovative partnership with transportation infrastructure owners in the State of Maine to maximize transportation and ecological benefits from funding opportunities.  Their focus on strong partnerships and working together results in great benefits to all involved.  To date, those efforts have assisted in receiving approximately 35 million dollars for road crossing projects. The MaineDMR representatives do an exemplary job of partnership. They understand the needs of all groups (state, municipalities, tribes) and can find projects that are a 'win' for all partners involved. ​

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​INNOVATION - TRANSFORMATION AWARD
Granted to an individual, group or partnership who implements innovative projects or ideas or has demonstrated transformative concepts, moving the needle beyond conventional or traditional approaches in road ecology.​

Awarded to: 
Laura Stone (VTrans), Jon A. Olin (Hoyle, Tanner & Associates), and Kiley Briggs (Orianne Society) for a state highway corridor bridges project.

Together Laura, Jon, and Kiley collaborated on a series of bridges along a Vermont state highway located in the heart of the Staying Connected Initiative (SCI) region that has relevance beyond its location in Central Vermont. These four bridges were in a tremendous habitat block that has significance for the entire SCI region and reconnected habitat bisected by a state highway. This corridor-level reconnection across a state highway allows movement of species ranging from wood turtles to moose, making it particularly innovative in its application.​

THE LOCAL AWARD
Granted to an agency, organization, or partnership and individuals that embraced ecological conservation and stewardship in the delivery of transportation projects that resulted in benefits to road ecology at municipal-scales.​

Awarded to:  PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Facility Design and Construction for the fish passageway at Shikellamy State Park, PA

The inflatable dam at Shikellamy State Park on the Susquehanna River has historically prevented aquatic organisms from passing freely upstream and downstream. To address this barrier, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) constructed a 900-foot-long naturalistic fish passage on the dam’s west end. This work is recognized as one of the largest and most naturalistic fishways on the U.S. East Coast, with nationwide attention as a conservation model, improving biodiversity and habitat connectivity, and supporting long-term sustainability of recreational use and public access. This project showcases how infrastructure can be thoughtfully balanced with ecological restoration—serving both people and wildlife.

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