Virginia was named the infrastructure "state of the year" on Tuesday by a Washington, D.C.,-based consulting firm, citing five projects valued at $13.8 billion.
The award comes as two of the state's largest infrastructure projects have run into trouble. Financing delays for a high-occupancy toll lane project on I-395 and I-95 were announced in August. Two days later, Arlington County sued the state and U.S. transportation officials over environmental issues concerning the HOT lanes.
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority was sued last month by a advocacy group over toll increases along the Dulles Toll Road. The MWAA issued more than $900 million in tax-exempt and Build America Bonds to finance a Metrorail extension to the Dulles International Airport.
The other three projects included in the award are the Norfolk Southern Crescent Corridor Project, the Port of Virginia Expansion Projects, and CSX/High Speed Rail Extension to Richmond.
"This award is recognition that, despite hard economic times, we are doing a great job with what we have," Gov. Timothy Kaine said in a statement.
The award will be presented at the North America Strategic Infrastructure Leadership Forum in Washington on Sept. 22-24, which is sponsored by the consulting firm CG/LA Infrastructure LLC.
