Minister’s Awards for Transportation Innovation in Canada

Deadline: 13-Jan-23

Nominations are now open for the Minister’s Awards for Transportation Innovation to individuals and organizations for their work in advancing transportation in Alberta.

These awards celebrate transportation innovations, large or small, that pave the way toward a better, more efficient, sustainable and safer transportation system in Alberta.

Categories

• Individuals or organizations recognized will have demonstrated excellence in design, construction, environmental, safety, operational, or transit/accessible transportation innovations. There are six Transportation Innovation Awards categories:
  • Design Innovation
    • Nominations in this category could include, but are not limited to, projects with planning and design innovations that have resulted in:
      • Design/construction efficiencies;
      • The use of new engineered products, materials and/or equipment;
      • Consideration of strategies to accommodate diverse needs of infrastructure users, including vulnerable populations; and
      • Transportation infrastructure that is strengthened to reduce the impacts of climate change
  • Construction Innovation
    • Nominees in this category could include, but are not limited to, projects with construction innovations that have resulted in:
      • Cost savings;
      • Scheduling efficiencies;
      • Traffic management improvements;
      • Project delivery enhancements;
      • Process adaptations/improvements; and
      • Use of innovative equipment.
  • Environmental Innovation
    • Nominees in this category could include, but are not limited to, transportation projects with innovations that:
      • Advance energy efficiencies and reduce greenhouse gas and air contaminant emissions; and
      • Lessen the impact of transportation infrastructure and/or construction on surrounding ecosystems.
  • Safety Innovation
    • Nominees in this category could include, but are not limited to, projects with:
      • Innovations that improve safety for road users or encourages road users to change their behaviour to make improvements to the transportation system;
      • New products/processes that enhance safety on transportation projects; and
      • Reductions in collisions or casualties in the road network, utilizing the safe system approach (safe road users, safe vehicles, safer infrastructure, safe speeds). Include data to support safety innovation.
  • Operational Innovation
    • Nominees in this category could include, but are not limited to, projects or ongoing contracts that:
      • Incorporate innovations in maintaining and operating transportation infrastructure;
      • Provide innovative transportation service delivery options on community, regional, or provincial basis; and
      • Facilitate the efficient movement of products and people from origin to destination within Alberta.
  • Transit/Accessible Transportation Innovation
    • Nominees in this category could include, but are not limited to, projects that:
      • Incorporate technology and innovation into transit infrastructure and/or services;
      • Collaborate with partner organizations to provide a new or expanded regional service;
      • Enhance community mobility of citizens with challenges in accessing reliable transportation (e.g., vulnerable populations such as seniors, students, and/or persons with disabilities); and
      • Integrate active transportation networks (e.g., bike lanes, multi-use trails, walking school bus programs)

Eligible projects

• Nominations can be submitted for:
  • Public transportation projects in Alberta related to roads, bridges or multi-modal transportation
  • Projects completed within 2 years are eligible with demonstrated results in the nominated category
  • Preference will be given to nominations that have measurable outcomes
  • There is no limitation or restriction on the scope or scale of the innovation
  • Projects that were submitted within the past 2 years that did not receive an innovation reward
  • Projects must be resubmitted with updated relevant information
  • More than one category, however submissions with more than one category must explain how the project meets each innovation category
  • One project is not eligible to receive multiple award categories
  • Submissions should be written for a non-technical audience
  • Projects that focus on a ‘first’ in Alberta
  • The innovation can be original or an adaptation of a technology or process used outside the province

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligible recipients include:
  • Members in good standing of the Consulting Engineers of Alberta
  • Members in good standing of the Alberta Roadbuilders and Heavy Construction Association
  • Member municipalities of the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association
  • Member municipalities of the Rural Municipalities of Alberta
  • Transportation and Economic Corridors staff
  • Staff must be a partner on a submission with one or more of the eligible organizations.

For more information, visit Government of Alberta.