Mapping the Future of the American Roadside
Last year, we spoke about going "Coast to Coast." In 2025, we didn’t just reach the other side; we began building the foundation for a smarter, more efficient, and safer American highway—and roadside—in every corner of the country.
The Ray has always been a mission-driven organization, born of Ray C. Anderson’s legacy and a vision for a future where industrial progress and ecological resilience coexist, where human capacity can thrive. For years, we have designed, delivered, and continued to build The Ray Highway, the 18-mile interstate proving ground in Georgia, to demonstrate what is possible. But 2025 will be remembered as the year our mission scaled from a single corridor to a national standard. We have moved decisively from analysis to implementation—leveraging our work as a scalable blueprint for implementation nationwide.
National Right-of-Way Experts
Our most significant achievement this year was the comprehensive mapping of the U.S. highway right-of-Way (ROW), producing geospatial data for all 50 states and Washington, D.C. This enormous data initiative, which has already been leveraged in partnership with the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), has fundamentally shifted The Ray’s position in the energy and transportation landscape. By producing the definitive dataset for the nation’s roadsides, we have emerged as the leading experts in ROW optimization.
National Leadership and the Energy Moonshot
The Ray has taken on a defining role in AASHTO’s "Energy Moonshot" program, providing the leadership and technical support essential to its success for the benefit of all state transportation departments. Launched in 2021, the program is a national initiative led by former Kansas DOT Secretary Julie Lorenz. It aims to create a unified framework for state DOTs to collaborate on a long-term vision for American mobility and infrastructure.
We are working alongside the Michigan DOT to lead the charge on ROW energy and partnering with the Missouri and Minnesota DOTs to pioneer ROW transmission. Our presence at high-profile events, including the 2025 MASTO Annual Conference, enabled us to share critical colocation findings from our GIS modeling, demonstrating to a national audience that the road is literally the key to grid modernization.
From Vision to Implementation
Beyond geospatial analysis for colocation, we are seeing our visualizations transform into infrastructure projects. In Pennsylvania, the initial idea became a reality as the Turnpike awarded a power purchase agreement for 15 microgrid ROW energy sites—a direct result of our suitability studies and the technical assistance we provided in the procurement process. We are now the "go-to" partner for 20 state DOTs, partnering with industry leaders to unlock the hidden value of our highway land to build a more productive future. Get on the map.
Natural Capital: Living Infrastructure at Scale
Our investment in Natural Capital has reached a new level of program success. We are no longer just planting seeds; we are engineering ecosystems. This year, we demonstrated our scalable blueprint through a landmark partnership with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). On the opposite coast, we established a new landscape lab by installing a native pollinator garden at a high-visibility visitor center.
Additionally, we secured a formal agreement with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) to establish 10 slope stabilization projects that will reduce erosion and mowing obligations. Through our partnership with GDOT, Georgia secured its position as a national leader by becoming the first state to enroll land in the 'Monarch Compact,' creating a scalable model for how transportation agencies can proactively protect critical natural capital.
From launching site-specific projects with Goodyear in Michigan, Ryder in North Carolina, and the Charleston County Pollinator Habitat Initiative in South Carolina, The Ray is proving that the roadside can be a vital piece of infrastructure and an ecological asset.
The Road Ahead
As we navigate a new year, the momentum is undeniable. Whether it’s expanding the PiLit Impact Detection System to save lives on Georgia’s roads or conducting ROW energy project siting analyses for Pittsburgh Regional Transit, our work is proving that infrastructure can be an efficient energy platform and a tool for restoration, rather than just a means of transportation.
The highway of the future is no longer a concept—it is under construction today, mile by mile, state by state. Thank you for being part of this bold journey of innovation and stewardship.
Let's drive the future, together. Partner with us today.
Allie Kelly
Executive Director, The Ray