The winners for the 1997 contest were announced on September 21 at the Government Technology Conference in Albany, New York. Of a total of 274 entries, each of this year's winners were exceptional in their innovative use of information technology to provide better service to citizens.
First Place:
State of Florida
Users: 251,000+ per month
Contact: Pete Butler
If Florida looks familiar in this first-place spot, it's because the state's Florida Communities Network was the winner in 1996, as well. This year, the state's Government Services DIRECT (GSD) site has expanded its goal of "anytime, anywhere" government to an even higher level of excellence. GSD evolved from the Florida Communities Network, and offers citizens even wider access to transactional services. It centralizes information from many state agencies into two networks: the Citizens' Network and the Government Network. The Government Network includes many features, such as procurement, training and employment information. The Citizens' Network allows users to find out information from various agencies and perform transactions, all without ever entering a government office. The state is currently preparing an online payment system to be released by the end of the year. This system will allow users to, for example, purchase a fishing license or renew a professional license online using a credit card. Overall, this extensive site is allowing the state to save money and the citizens to save time through online access to government.
Second Place:
Washington State Dept. of Transportation
(Seattle Traffic Conditions)
Users: 101,000-250,000 per month
Contact: Wayne Szydtowski
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) site was assuredly one of the most immediately useful sites reviewed, as well as a good example of a site that does not have to be deep in content to be useful and innovative. This site features traffic information for the Seattle area that is updated every 20 seconds with color-coded descriptions of traffic levels in each area of the roadway. According to WSDOT, "[There is] a network of traffic counters, embedded in the roadway. These sensors are six-foot-square loops of copper wire connected to cabinets located beside the road approximately every half-mile on major Seattle-area freeways. When a vehicle drives over the loop, it is counted and the time that the vehicle spends over the loop is measured. The data is then transmitted every 20 seconds to the WSDOT Traffic Systems Management Center and then placed on the Web site." This site allows the user to receive information about reported traffic incidents, and view "live" photographs from cameras mounted on certain areas of the freeway. In addition to the information being available on the site, WSDOT also offers PC users an interface through WebFLOW -- which allows for quicker and easier access by having the maps and the application reside on the user's PC while the data is updated through the user's Internet connection.
Third Place:
California Department of Education
Users: 251,000+ per month
Contact: Mitchell Garbutt
California's Department of Education site is a valuable resource for the education community, private citizens and legislatures. Its simple, cheerfully illustrated interface makes it easy for users to access information in the site's more than 3,000 pages. Besides news and information on legislation effecting education, the site also offers in-depth information on grants, special education, technology in the schools, healthy family development and statistics, and information about the educational system in California and beyond. The staff members at the Department of Education pride themselves on the interactivity of the site. This is will be an interesting site to watch as the department is going through an upgrade and has big plans for the site's future.
Local Government
First Place:
New York City
Users: 25,000 per month
Contact: webmaster
Like Florida, New York City's Web site was also recognized in the 1996 Best of the Web contest, winning third place for the local government competition. This year, the city has achieved its goal of reaching first place in its division through its strong Web site, whose motto is "Don't Stand in Line, Get Online." This innovative site is succeeding in making government more interactive for those users looking for more information about New York City -- whether they are tourists, residents or just curious browsers. In addition to the hundreds of outside links to New York's sites, businesses, and information sources, users can actively work and exchange information with many of the city's government agencies. Users can complete complaint forms for services such as taxis, cable and garbage, as well as filing property ownership, requesting transportation for young children with disabilities and much more. One of the site's key information areas is the FAQ page. This area addresses the most frequently asked questions that are called in to the Mayor's Action Center -- organizing them by topic and answering such questions as how to get married in New York and why New York is called the Big Apple.
Second Place:
Seattle Public Access Network
Users: 51,000-100,000 per month
Contact: Rona Zevin
Seattle's Public Access Network (PAN) features a wide range of information for visitors, citizens, businesses, government or just the merely curious. PAN is successfully working toward its goal of becoming the "Online City Hall" for Seattle. Users can interface with government agencies and departments, apply for permits online, request forms or more information, and report problems. Seattle is saving money through the site by updating and providing information, such as procurement materials, printed directories, municipal code, land use documents and much more.
Third Place:
Indianapolis/Marion County
Users: 51,000 - 100,000 per month
Contact: Ken Barlow
Indianapolis' IndyGov.org was driven by Mayor Stephen Goldsmith's vision of changing the way citizens interact with government. This site provides users with community information ranging from neighborhood organizations to in-depth economic development data and statistics. Through the site, users can apply for and view permits online, locate sites within the region, access ordinances, pay parking tickets online, and even attempt to balance the city's budget by acting as the city's "Virtual Mayor." In addition, citizens can request services, reach government officials through an online e-mail listing, discuss information on a bulletin board, and even have online chats with the mayor that are broadcast live on the city's cable access channel.
November Table of Contents
