Service and safety were on center stage Wednesday (Oct. 1) during ITD’s annual Best of the Best innovation awards. FY25’s total included $5M in savings and efficiencies, allowing those savings to be re-routed to critical improvements to roads and bridges throughout the state. (ITD Director Scott Stokes kicks off the ceremony in picture above).
Emcee Justin Wuest (pictured at right) from District 1 in Coeur d’Alene and Innovation Stewards from each district statewide discussed this year’s winners and the program overall, which has saved $68M and almost 1M hours since its inception in 2014.
Best of the Best Coordinator Laura Meyer (pictured at left, below) added transitions as the program moved from one category to the next. Winners were selected in five cornerstone categories: Safety, Mobility/Economic Opportunity, Resource Stewardship, Ideal Workplace and Customer Service.
“A huge thank you goes to the ITD Executives, the Innovative Business Practices Team and the Continuous Improvement Team for their support and encouragement, and the promotion of innovation at ITD. None of this would’ve been possible without them!”
“I also want to thank Justin and the Stewards; Drake Tino, Sonna Lynn Fernandez and Roni Pratt; and Jared Tuttle & Axel Quartarone for all of their help to get this across the Finish Line.”
Innovation is transforming the way ITD works—making our jobs safer, streamlining processes, and saving customers (Gem State motorists) both time and money. These categories represent the core pillars of our innovation strategy and align with key departmental priorities.
Mobility/Economic Opportunity: Nordik Move Plow Blades adapt to road surfaces for better snow removal. The blades have proven longer-lasting, quieter, and more cost-effective—earning strong support from operators and improving winter operations.
Resource Stewardship: Idaho’s first RAP sealcoat reuses recycled plantmix, saving costs and resources. Their success earned the project a spot in the national PG3 study to support broader implementation.
Safety: An old wing plow camera was re-purposed to monitor salt levels from inside the cab, improving safety and efficiency. The “Salt Seeing Eye” reduces the need for manual checks and risky climbs onto equipment.
Ideal Workplace: A new ESRI map layer gives ITD crews easy access to property, right of way, and parcel data. Replacing OnX and Mile1, the tool saves $60,000 annually and improves efficiency through iPlan and the ITD Parcel and Milepost Map.
Customer Service: Usingg a host of volunteers, the DMV’s Star Card Pop-up at the Chinden Campus issued over 400 cards in a week, expanding from campus employees to all Idaho residents. With walk-in service and no appointments, it offered a fast, convenient way to get a REAL ID before the May 7, 2025 deadline.