More Than a Workshop: IBTTA Volunteers Make a Lasting Impact in New Orleans

IBTTA annual service project supports coastal restoration, recycling, and community education in New Orleans

Thoughts of New Orleans usually involve the French Quarter, live music, Creole cuisine, and perhaps a beignet, but more than 100 IBTTA volunteers attending the Maintenance, Engineering & Roadway Operations Workshop at the end of June had a different vision: giving back to the community that welcomed them.

Service has become an important tradition across IBTTA events. While members gather to share ideas and discuss the future of transportation infrastructure, they also dedicate time to making a positive difference in the communities they visit—from smaller volunteer activities at various meetings to the signature annual service project that has been an integral part of the Maintenance, Engineering & Roadway Operations Workshop since 2008. This year's project in New Orleans put that commitment into action.

Supported by IBTTA’s charitable giving arm—the IBTTA Foundation—the workshop's annual service project brought together transportation professionals from around the globe for a morning of teamwork, sweat, and community impact. The volunteers worked with Glassroots, the nonprofit partner organization of Glass Half Full, to tackle projects focused on environmental restoration and sustainability throughout the region.

Armed with gloves, shovels, paintbrushes, a few pairs of waders, and plenty of enthusiasm, volunteers quickly split into five teams and got to work. Teams cleared invasive vegetation and planted native species along the marsh edge to restore and protect local wetlands, prepared recycled glass for processing into sand, and loaded and hauled sandbags for future coastal restoration projects. Combined, these efforts will contribute to the long-term health of an ecosystem that plays a critical role in protecting communities and wildlife across the region.

But the project wasn't all digging and hauling. Teams also tackled creative and construction-focused projects. Perhaps the most visible transformation of the day involved converting three newly installed shipping containers into permanent indoor spaces that will serve as an education center, office space, and secure storage, helping Glassroots expand its impact for years to come. Volunteers also painted a colorful mural on the building exteriors and provided a shade structure to create a welcoming gathering place for visitors, volunteers, and students.

And there's an especially fitting story behind the new facility itself. Glassroots' educational campus and the Glass Half Full recycling facility are located on land that was once a landfill. Today, that same site is being transformed into a hub for environmental stewardship, recycling, education, and community engagement—a powerful reminder of what's possible when people see opportunity where others see waste.

Throughout the morning, volunteers embraced every challenge and project with energy and enthusiasm while braving the New Orleans summer heat. Whether they were filling burlap sacks, restoring habitat, painting walls, or assembling structures, everyone contributed to a shared goal: leaving the community better than they found it.

As the day of service came to an end, the results were easy to see. More than 11 tons of recycled glass sand had been prepared for future coastal restoration. Native plants had been added to the marsh edge. Community spaces had been improved. New facilities had taken shape. And a nonprofit organization had gained resources that will support its mission well into the future.

Of course, the impact extends beyond the physical improvements. Service projects like this create opportunities for attendees to connect with one another in a different way. Colleagues who spend their days focused on tolling, engineering, maintenance, and roadway operations work side by side, building relationships while making a meaningful contribution to the local community.

The annual service project remains one of the most rewarding parts of the IBTTA experience. It reflects a simple but powerful belief: strong transportation organizations help build strong communities by giving their time, sharing their talents, and leaving behind a legacy that continues long after the workshop ends. This year's project was no exception.

If you didn't join us this year, we hope you'll consider this an invitation to plan to join us next year in Houston.