California’s Local Technical Assistance Program (CALTAP), in partnership with the Caltrans Division of Research, Innovation & System Information (DRISI), Caltrans Division of Local Assistance (DLA), and the American Public Works Association (APWA Sacramento), 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 competition that recognizes agencies from across the country who are using innovation to solve transportation-related problems that improve job safety and efficiency.

California’s statewide competition runs now through May 15^th, 2024, with one winner selected from each of four innovation categories. These four winners then advance onward to FHWA’s national contest in June.

Last year, the City of Walnut Creek took the national contest by storm, bringing home the Pioneer Award for their automated approach to checking traffic signal sight distance with just a smartphone and laptop.

TO SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

Simply click the red "Submit an Innovation" button above, register to receive a login, then complete the online form as prompted. You can also view other agency submissions or check-out our sample application via the cyan "Browse Submitted Innovations" button.

When applying, be prepared to provide: 

• Your Contact information.
• A title for your innovation, brief description of the problem you set out to solve, how you went about solving it, general cost of implementation, and how your solution provided long-term benefits to your department, agency, and/or the community.
• Two photos that illustrate your innovation and if possible, a short (3-4 minute) video presentation.

BABM recognizes innovation across four application categories:

1. Innovative Project – Addresses any phase of a project life cycle    (planning, design, engineering, construction, operations, and/or maintenance), introduces new ideas, is locally relevant, and creative in thinking.

2. Bold Steps – A locally relevant high-risk project or process that presents a break-through solution and demonstrates high-reward.

3. Smart Transformation – A significant change in a transportation activity or process that is “SMART” (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound) in nature that results in improved efficiencies.

4. Pioneer – A product or tool that is first to solve a maintenance problem with a home-grown solution.

The submission deadline for California’s competition is May 15, 2024. By applying, applicant consents to the use of any/all application materials/content for promotional use and awardee acknowledgment. Applications must represent solutions that comply with OSHA safety regs and respect the terms and conditions of this platform.

Please reach-out to info@caltap.org if you have any questions about this program, why your agency should apply, or how to submit an application. Let’s win the national competition again in 2024!

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