The City of Moreno Valley has been awarded the Build a Better Mousetrap (BABM) Award by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for its innovative speed cushion project. This award recognizes local agencies that use innovative solutions to address transportation challenges.
“We are incredibly honored to receive the FHWA Build a Better Mousetrap Innovation Project of the Year 2024 award,” said Mayor Ulises Cabrera. “Out of 54 applications from 19 states, our City stood out for its innovative approach to improving transportation safety and efficiency. This recognition underscores our commitment to leveraging innovation to help first responders serve our residents more effectively.”
The City's award-winning project involves designing and implementing split speed cushions on Plumeria Lane, designed by the City’s Engineering staff. Speed cushions address a common issue of neighborhood speeding while maintaining the critical response times for emergency vehicles. Traditional speed humps often delay emergency response, but the innovative split speed cushions feature a fire lane between the cushions, allowing emergency vehicles to pass through unimpeded.
Speed humps are frequently requested by residents to curb speeding in neighborhoods. However, the standard speed humps negatively impact emergency response times, which led the City of Moreno Valley's Engineering staff to develop a solution that balances public safety with the need for efficient emergency response. The newly designed speed cushions include a centrally painted yellow cushion to increase visibility and guide motorists, and strategic placements near streetlights - and away from residential driveways - enhances their effectiveness.
The innovative design was rigorously tested and approved by City Fire, ensuring that the cushions did not hinder emergency response times. Following the successful prototype testing by Maintenance and Operations staff at the City, permanent speed cushions were installed on Plumeria Lane, with ongoing monitoring by City staff and remote camera.
FHWA’s Build a Better Mousetrap program celebrates local solutions that enhance safety, reduce costs, and improve transportation efficiency. The program highlights innovations ranging from new tools and equipment to the implementation of groundbreaking programs and processes. For more information visit fhwa.dot.gov.
The City of Moreno Valley's receipt of the FHWA BABM Award is a testament to the City's dedication to fostering innovation and improving the quality of life for its residents. Learn more about the City’s transportation efforts and traffic calming measures at moval.org.