The Idaho Transportation Department’s employee-driven innovation program has been saluted by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.
“Innovation involves personal initiative, which a transportation agency is wise to cultivate,” said Keith Platte, AASHTO’s associate program director for project delivery. “ 'Innovate ITD!' opens a pipeline for those who take that initiative agencywide in Idaho. It sends a clear message that new ideas are welcome.”
ITD said that its innovation program so far has produced:
• 567 innovations
• $2.2 million in savings and efficiencies
• 75,000 employee and contractor hours saved
• 190 customer-service improvements
“This spotlight belongs to the employees who share ideas through Innovate ITD!” Charlene McArthur, the department’s chief administrative officer, said in a statement. “By sharing their ideas and successes, they help others use best practices, which multiplies the impact and helps us tally the results.”
According to AASHTO, the organization’s innovation initiative advances innovation from the grassroots up: by agencies, for agencies, peer-to-peer. The program actively seeks out proven advancements in transportation technology, investing time and money to accelerate their adoption by agencies nationwide.
