Congratulations to the 2022 Build a Better Mousetrap Winners!
Bold Steps
Winner: City of Auburn On-Demand Transit System
Runner-Up: none
Innovative Project
Winner: Ventura County Public Works SOP Checklist
Runner-Up: Ventura County Bridge Management Program
Smart Transformation
Winner: City of Santa Clarita Traffic Database
Runner-Up: Kern COG Integrated Performance Measures Process
The Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) is excited to bring the FHWA Build a Better Mousetrap (BABM) program to California. Designed to encourage the sharing of local innovations to a broader audience, BABM is a federally sponsored initiative that recognizes local agencies across the country who are using innovation to solve transportation-related problems that improve job safety and efficiency.
To showcase workplace innovation in California, Caltrans and its LTAP partners are encouraging local agencies to submit a brief online application that describes how your team has produced an innovative solution to the everyday challenges that local/tribal transportation professionals encounter. This could include anything from the development of a new project delivery/design process to the invention of a new tool, equipment, or modification that increases efficiency, enhances safety, reduces cost, and/or improves the quality of local road transportation.
BABM recognizes innovation across four application categories:
Innovative Project – Any solution that addresses any or all phases of a project life cycle, including Planning, Design/Engineering, Construction, Operations and Maintenance. Your project should introduce new ideas, be locally relevant, original, and creative in thinking.
Bold Steps – Any locally relevant high-risk project or process that presents a break-through solution and demonstrates high-reward.
Smart Transformation – A locally relevant significant change in any transportation activity or process that is “SMART” (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound) in nature that results in improved efficiencies.
Pioneer – A locally relevant product/tool that is among the first to solve a maintenance problem with a home-grown solution.
While every local innovation is a win for our industry, winning applications from each category above will be selected to represent California in the national BABMcontest. These entries will also be showcased in the Caltrans Innovation Exchange, 2022 Innovation Expo, LTAP Quarterly Newsletter, and featured prominently on our website. In addition, winning agencies will receive no-cost access to our entire catalog of LTAP training courses throughout the 2022-23 fiscal year (July 2022 thru June 2023).
To submit your application: simply click the "Submit an Innovation" button above, register to receive a login, then complete the online form. You can also view other agency innovations or check-out our sample applications via the "Browse Submitted Innovations" button. When applying, be prepared to provide:
Your contact information.
A brief description of the problem you set out to solve, how you went about solving it, and how your solution provided long-term benefits to your department, agency, and/or the community.
A photo that illustrates your innovation and if possible, a short (3-4 minute) video presentation.
Submission deadline extended to June 8, 2022. Contest open to all California local/tribal government agencies. Winning applications will be announced June 9, 2022. By applying, applicant consents to the use of any/all application materials/content for promotional use and awardee acknowledgment. Applications must represent innovations that comply with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) principles and respect the terms and conditions of this platform. Submissions that fail to comply with these conditions may be subject to removal from this campaign.
CONTACT US
For questions regarding the Build a Better Mousetrap Program, contact Scott Jakovich, CA LTAP Center Manager, at Scott.Jakovich@csulb.edu.
You have ideas with their status linked to a CA work item. The idea status may be updated if it is not up to date. This process cannot be undone. Are you sure?
