Build a Better Mousetrap

A celebration of local innovations

Build a Better Mousetrap celebrates innovative solutions for challenges that local and tribal transportation workers encounter. These innovations can range from the development of tools and equipment modifications to the implementation of new processes that increase safety, reduce cost, and improve efficiency of our transportation system.

2020 Winners

Innovative Project Award:

Beaver Pipe Cage

Town of Niles, NY
Source: Town of Niles, NY

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Bold Steps Award:

Jaws of Life Culvert Repair

Arapahoe County, CO
Source: Arapahoe County, CO

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Smart Transformation Award:

Culvert Inspection Application

Mohave County, AZ
Source: Mohave County, AZ

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Pioneer Award:

Gravel Saver Spring Load Arm

LaMoure County, ND
Source: LaMoure County, ND

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Click here to listen to the 2020 winners discuss their innovations.

How does the Build a Better Mousetrap work?

• Centers solicit their own nominations within their state.
• Centers select nominations they would like to forward.  Multiple nominations in multiple categories may be submitted to increase the odds of winning.  FHWA may ask for additional information during the evaluation process.
• Centers submit their nominations to the Build a Better Mousetrap at CLAS@DOT.GOV under one of four categories:
  1. Innovative Project– This category celebrates a local agency or tribe that implemented a new technology or design in construction. The innovation enhances the quality, timeliness, cost effectiveness, safety, environmental benefit and/or efficiency of the highway project.
  2. Bold Steps– This category recognizes a local or tribal agency that embraced forward thinking in the development and implementation of an innovative practices that improves or streamlines transportation related processes. The innovative change should show improvement in performance, management and efficiency. This award could include advancements in areas of program and project management, finance, safety, mobility, sustainability, and maintenance.
  3. Smart Transformation– This category celebrates development and deployment of solutions that improve field data capture, data analysis, automation and real-time collection, and/or implementation of smart infrastructure. This award category is not intended for the implementation of “off the shelf” products or customizable solutions that are available in the market and/or provided by a specific vendor.
  4. Pioneer– This category recognizes agency inventors that develop new tools and equipment that provide a better way to do a job or advance road maintenance and construction. Implemented tools and methods should be an original design or creative adaptation that results in significant advancement, rather than the result of natural evolution of existing methods, common sense or good practice. Entries should demonstrate genuine change and innovation that can impact the wider transportation community.

How are the winners selected?

In each category, we are looking for original, innovative projects that provide long-term value to the transportation community. In selecting a winner, the following criteria are considered:

• recognized importance/ impact;
• originality;
• applicability to others;
• cost effectiveness;
• time savings;
• agency or community benefit;
• and the overall quality of the application.

Winners will be selected by an independent panel of judges. All entries will be posted on LTAP.org and compiled into an electronic booklet for you and your clients to learn more about the best practices from around the country.