Fort Wayne – Accelerate Indiana Municipalities (Aim) announced New Haven has earned an Aim Program Innovation Award for TRAINFO Technology. The city was honored with this award on Wednesday, October 10th during the Annual Awards Luncheon – presented by Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors, LLC during the 2024 Aim Ideas Summit in Fort Wayne. New Haven won in the 10,001 – 50,000 population category.
The award-winning collaboration between the City of New Haven and TRAINFO showcases New Haven’s commitment to urban infrastructure innovation, particularly through the installation of a solar-powered message board on the city’s Landin Road, which enhances safety and mobility at rail crossings using cutting-edge technology.
The TRAINFO signage system significantly reduces traffic congestion, with a 35% decrease in delay hours at rail crossings and improves safety by alerting motorists to incoming trains. It also provides real-time information to emergency responders, cutting response time delays by 90%. This initiative exemplifies forward-thinking urban planning and deserves recognition for its impact on public safety and transportation infrastructure.
“When I travel the state, it’s not uncommon to hear from municipal leaders about the safety challenges presented by blocked rail crossings. The New Haven project and Mayor McMichael’s willingness to share his experiences with other city and town leaders, is innovative and impactful. When we talk about cities as laboratories of innovation, this is precisely the kind of project we are talking about,” said Aim CEO Matt Greller.
The Program Innovation Award honors communities that introduced and executed new ideas and methods to carry out municipal activities. Awards are presented in multiple population categories based on nominations received.
In its 48th year, the Aim Annual Awards program, presented by Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors LLC, recognizes communities and individuals in municipal government for excellence and outstanding achievement. A seven-member panel of qualified judges selected this year’s winners from a competitive field of nominees from around the state.
Conference Facts:
2024 Aim Ideas Summit
October 8-10, 2024
Grand Wayne Convention Center, Fort Wayne
Attendance: 1,000 (pending final registration count)
Further information: www.aimindiana.org
Since the 1890s, Aim, formerly the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns, has been an advocate for Indiana municipalities. Aim is the official voice of municipal government in Indiana, with more than 460 cities and towns as members. Our purpose is to foster, promote and advocate for the success of Hoosier municipalities as laboratories of innovation, hubs of talent and the engines driving our state’s economy.