Great Ideas Challenge

The Great Ideas Challenge is meant to help identify, share, and reward the great work that gets done at local road agencies in Michigan. The competition is open to all employees of road agencies that serve counties, townships, cities, and villages in Michigan. 

Do you have a Great Idea?

Enter your submission for the 2022 Great Ideas Challenge using the form before our May 27th, 2022 deadline for consideration.

 

Criteria/Judging

Entries will be judged based on the following criteria:

  • New (not available for purchase!)
  • Safety
  • Cost
  • Ingenuity
  • Effectiveness
  • Ease of adoption by other agencies
  • Savings and/or Benefits to the Agency and/or Community

 

 

2022 Entry Form

 

Tell us about the problem that your idea solves.
Tell us about your idea.
Files must be less than 10 MB.
Allowed file types: gif jpg png.
Files must be less than 10 MB.
Allowed file types: gif jpg png.
Files must be less than 10 MB.
Allowed file types: gif jpg png.
Files must be less than 10 MB.
Allowed file types: gif jpg png.
Files must be less than 10 MB.
Allowed file types: gif jpg png.
If you have more pictures you'd like to include, please send them to acbaraja@mtu.edu
Files must be less than 10 MB.
Allowed file types: gif jpg png.
Don't fill me in

This Year's Entries

Accepting now! Please visit submission form to enter.

 

Previous Entries

2019 Booklet  (Michigan's winner receives honorable mention in the FHWA Build a Better Mousetrap competition)

 

2017 Booklet

 

2016 Booklet

 

         2015 Booklet

        

 

2014 Booklet

 

2013 Booklet

 

First Place

  • Engraved plaque
  • $600 toward registration fee or travel costs for any transportation-related training or event
  • $200 LTAP Bucks (good for CTT training)
  • News release for distribution to media in winner’s local area
  • Entry in the 2020 National LTAP's "Build a Better Mousetrap" competition

 

Second Place

  • Framed certificate
  • $100 LTAP Bucks (good for CTT training)

 

Remaining entries will be entered into a random drawing for a $50 LTAP Bucks certificate

Judging

Judges for the Great Idea Challenge are recruited from among various levels of experience throught the Michigan transportation community.  Judges for each year are listed below.

2022 Judges

  • Zack Fredin, PE - Research Engineer, Center for Technology & Training
  • Joanna Johnson - Managing Director, Kalamazoo County Road Commission; TAMC Chair
  • TBD - more judges coming soon!

2019 Judges

  • Christoper Gilbertson, PhD, PE - Associate Director, Center for Technology & Training
  • Andrew Manty, PE - Research Engineer, Center for Technology & Training
  • Lance Malburg - Engineer, Dickinson County Road Commission

2018 Judges

  • N/A

2017 Judges

  • Christoper Gilbertson, PhD, PE - Associate Director, Center for Technology & Training
  • Andrew Manty, PE - Research Engineer, Center for Technology & Training
  • Lance Malburg - Engineer, Dickinson County Road Commission

2016 Judges

  • Andi Barajas – Challenge Coordinator, Michigan LTAP
  • Robert Lindbeck – Engineer/Manager, Alger County Road Commission
  • Peter Meingast – Engineering Assistant, Center for Technology & Training
  • Drew Roberts – Engineer Intern, Center for Technology & Training
  • Pete Torola, PE – Research Engineer, Center for Technology & Training

2015 Judges

  • Andi Barajas – Challenge Coordinator, Michigan LTAP
  • Lance Malburg - Engineer, Dickinson County Road Commission
  • Larry Hummel - Engineer-Manager, Van Buren County Road Commission
  • Mike TenBrock - Project Engineer, Kent County Road Commission

2014 Judges

  • Christopher Gilbertson, Phd, PE - Senior Research Engineer, Center for Technology & Training
  • Mark Jahnke - President, Specialty Claims Services, Inc.
  • Jeff Silagy - Transportation Specialist, Michigan DEQ
  • Ron Young, PE - Engineer-Manager (retired), Alcona County Road Commission
  • Kurt Zachary, PE - Local Program Manager, FHWA Michigan Division

2013 Judges

  • Mark Jahnke, President, Specialty Claims Services, Inc.
  • John Ryynanen, Training Coordinator, Center for Technology & Training
  • Jeff Silagy - Transportation Specialist, Michigan DEQ
  • Ron Young, PE - Engineer-Manager (retired), Alcona County Road Commission
  • Kurt Zachary, PE - Local Program Manager, FHWA Michigan Division