California’s Local Technical Assistance Program (CALTAP)—in partnership with the Caltrans Division of Research, Innovation & System Information (DRISI)—is excited to launch another year of FHWA’s Build a Better Mousetrap (BABM) statewide competition.

Designed to celebrate local ingenuity on a national platform, BABM is a federally sponsored initiative that recognizes agencies from across the country who are using innovation to solve transportation-related problems that improve job safety and efficiency.

To showcase this kind of workplace innovation in California, CALTAP/Caltrans are encouraging our state and local agency partners to submit an online application describing how your team has produced an innovative solution to an everyday challenge faced by similar local, rural, or tribal transportation professionals.

Eligible solutions must be locally relevant and could include anything from the development of a new project design/delivery 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. Any out-of-the-box approach that simplifies or makes safer a routine agency process or practice is a good candidate.

BABM recognizes innovation across four application categories:

1. 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.
   
   
2. Bold Steps – Any locally relevant high-risk project or process that presents a break-through solution and demonstrates high-reward.
   
   
3. 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.
   
   
4. Pioneer – A locally relevant product/tool that is among the first to solve a maintenance problem with a home-grown solution.

California’s statewide competition runs from March 13th through May 5th, 2023, with one winner from each of the four categories above selected to represent the state in FHWA’s national BABM contest. In addition, our local winners receive a year of free LTAP-sponsored training, a permanent spotlight on our CALTAP website, and an opportunity to present before a live global audience during Caltrans Innovation Expo 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.

The California submission deadline for BABM has been extended to May 26th, 2023. Winning applications will be announced May 15^th, 2023. 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 & 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.

For any questions regarding the Build a Better Mousetrap program, please contact Scott Jakovich at scott.jakovich@csulb.edu.

For issues accessing our online platform, please contact Casey McKenzie at casey.mckenzie@dot.ca.gov.