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“Build a better mousetrap, and the world will beat a path to your door.”

Overview

The Build a Better Mousetrap (BABM) national recognition program highlights locally relevant, innovative solutions and provides a platform to share innovations to everyday challenges that local and tribal transportation professionals encounter on local roads. These local road solutions range from the development of new project delivery or design processes to the invention of new tools, equipment, or modifications that increase efficiency, enhance safety, reduce cost, and/or improve the quality of transportation on local roads. (Link)

Who Can Participate and How?

BABM is open to any government agency (town, borough, city, township, county, parish, state and tribal) in the United States and territories. Whether big or small, your innovations are worthy of celebration and may help another agency. Our center, AZ LTAP, accepts all submissions on behalf of our state for entry into the national competition. To submit an innovation, simply complete the form linked here: https://forms.gle/asebz6vUWmcn5VvQ9.

What are the Submission Requirements?

To have your innovation considered, your agency must complete the BABM Entry Form per innovation. We accept entries on a rolling basis, however, submission dates do impact which cycle of the national competition your innovation will be entered into. In addition to the entry form, agencies must also be ready and willing to provide:

  • A minimum of (2) different high-resolution photographs (3 megapixels or more) in JPEG format. Other formats will not be accepted. If people appear in your photographs, each person appearing will need to sign a Photo Release Waiver that we will provide.
  • An optional Spotlight Video can be submitted to demonstrate the problem, development, and working solution. 

 

Local Innovation Submission Spotlight

 

Culvert Inspection Mobile Application - Mohave County

Agency: Mohave County Public Works 

Description: coming soon

2020 BABMT Winner of the Smart Transformation Innovation

Portable and Removable Traffic Control Trailer Module - ADOT

Agency: AZ Department of Transportation

Description: coming soon

2023 BABMT Portable and Removable Traffic Control Trailer Module Honoree

Outdated Fire Apparatus to Custom Dump Truck Retrofit - City of Coolidge

Agency: City of Coolidge Public Works

Description: coming soon

Submitted for 2025 BABMT Competition | Read more about this innovation in the Arizona Milepost Fall 2024 

Asphalt Spreader Box to Custom-Built Cold Mix Hot Plate Box - Navajo County

Agency: Navajo County Public Works

Description: coming soon

Submitted for 2025 BABMT Competition | Read more about this innovation in the upcoming Arizona Milepost Winter 2025