Celebrate American Public Works Association, Florida Chapter, Project of the Year Win for Immokalee Area Improvements

Pape-Dawson is proud to announce that Collier County’s Immokalee Area Improvements TIGER Grant Project has been named the 2026 Transportation Project of the Year ($5M–$25M) by the American Public Works Association, Florida Chapter.

This transformational project reflects the power of partnership. Managing Agency, Collier County, provided the vision, Pape-Dawson’s Florida team delivered engineering expertise, and QE served as the design-build contractor. The team worked together closely to deliver safer, more resilient infrastructure for the residents of Immokalee community.

Improving Mobility in Immokalee
Immokalee is a rural agricultural community where more than half of the area’s 25,000 residents rely on walking, biking, or public transit. For years, limited sidewalks, inadequate drainage, and poor lighting created safety challenges for commuters.

The Project Team delivered:

• 20 miles of new sidewalks
• 4.5 miles of bike boulevard
• 1 mile of multi-use pathway
• 81 intersection lighting upgrades
• 5 miles of continuous street lighting
• A new Collier Area Transit (CAT) bus transfer station
• 9 new bus stops
• 600+ drainage structures
• 40,000+ linear feet of stormwater culvert

These improvements have dramatically increased safety, mobility, and quality of life for residents while preserving the character of the community.

Prioritizing Safety
Safety guided every aspect of the project, from design through construction.

The team achieved a perfect safety record with zero lost-time incidents, and no members of the public were injured during construction. Enhancements such as raised crosswalks, speed tables, Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs), and improved lighting now provide lasting safety benefits.

According to County analysis, the improvements are projected to generate $281.9 million in crash reduction benefits over 20 years – a testament to the long-term impact of thoughtful infrastructure investment.

Environmental Stewardship & Resiliency
Addressing nuisance flooding was a central goal. Aging swales were restored and enhanced with underground stormwater systems to improve drainage capacity and resilience during heavy rainfall events.

The project also embraced sustainability through:

• Use of 40% reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP)
• Native landscaping and green infrastructure
• Designs that reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT)

Models estimate the project will reduce VMT by more than 41 million miles, preventing over 38 million pounds of carbon emissions over its lifecycle, while improving air quality and reducing water pollution.

Community-Centered Approach
From early public meetings to coordination with local schools and businesses, community engagement remained a priority throughout the project. Construction phasing and traffic management plans minimized disruptions, allowing daily commutes to continue safely and efficiently.

The result is a true Complete Streets model, supporting pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, and drivers alike, while strengthening economic opportunity and connectivity across Immokalee.

A Generational Investment
Funded through an 80% federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant and a 20% local match, this nearly $23 million project represents a generational investment in Immokalee’s future.

We are honored that the American Public Works Association Florida Chapter has recognized this effort as a Transportation Project of the Year. Most importantly, we are proud of the Project Team’s dedication to developing a project that will leave a lasting impact on the families and businesses who call Immokalee home.

This award reflects what’s possible when innovation, collaboration, and community vision come together to build infrastructure that truly serves people.