This award honors exceptional individuals for extraordinary leadership and original

work in developing, employing, and supporting the principles of sustainability.  The

winner would have created mechanisms to embrace social equity, economic development,

environmental health, and green practices. Further, the winner would have instilled

a culture of sustainable developments within an organization and/or community.

The Heartland Sustainability Award is presented in April at the annual

Innovation Conference on Asphalt and Transportation.

2013 Sustainability Award Recipient

Ms. Kristi Lafleur

Executive Director, Illinois Tollway

Kristi Lafleur was selected as Executive Director by the Illinois Tollway Board of Directors in April 2010.  In 2011, Ms. Lafleur and the Tollway Board successfully secured the largest capital program in the agency's history and the largest capital program of any toll road agency in the country.  The 15-year, $12 billion program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future, will be the “cleanest and greenest” program in the Tollway’s history and establishes a guide for infrastructure investments along the 286-mile Tollway system, which traverses 12 counties in Northern Illinois.

Through Move Illinois, the Illinois Tollway is committed to using renewable energy and green technology, adopting research initiatives and embracing best management practices.  Move Illinois includes the construction of bioswales along 11 miles of I-294 to improve surface water quality and remove common roadside pollutants. It includes the I-90 Rebuilding and Widening Project, which will be built to accommodate new transit options and Park-and Ride facilities for the first time in the agency’s history and host the first “green” interchange on the Tollway system.  Move Illinois also includes building the Elgin O’Hare Western Access Project as the first all-electronic toll road in the region, which will decrease the amount of pollution because vehicles will no longer be required to stop at a plaza.

Under Ms. Lafleur’s leadership, the Illinois Tollway has led efforts to promote coordination among the region’s transportation leaders.  Since 2010, the Tollway has organized an annual Earth Day Summit to bring together transportation leaders to share ideas and work toward a vision for economic development and environmental quality.  Efforts are now underway to redesign the Circle Interchange – one of the worst chokepoints in the country – which connects Chicago’s Dan Ryan, Eisenhower and Kennedy expressways. 

The Illinois Tollway’s commitment to environmental responsibility will include more than 850 acres of wetland restoration and protection of threatened and endangered animal and plant species.  The Illinois Tollway has launched a partnership with Argonne National Laboratory to collaborate on the development of energy efficient technologies and eco-strategies to improve fuel economy. 

The Illinois Tollway is committed to “building green” and minimizing environmental impacts of road construction by reducing, recycling and reusing materials.  These efforts include the Tollway’s pioneering work involving the use of recycled asphalt shingles and increasing the amount of recycled materials in projects.  The Tollway is also developing plans for maintenance facilities and other buildings to meet standards for LEED certification.