California Innovation
Across California, local public agencies are developing practical solutions to everyday transportation challenges. From improving work zone safety to traffic calming measures to making maintenance more efficient, these solutions are helping public work crews be more effective at serving their communities.
Some ideas involve new technology. Others might be simple improvements to familiar procedures. The best ones have something in common: they solve real problems and are worth sharing.
Innovation in Action
Start with a challenge. See how another agency approached it. Take away an idea that may work in your own community.
Walnut Creek
Simple Tools. Safer Field Work.
A smartphone and open-source software helped automate signal sight-distance reviews, reducing field time and improving staff safety.
Moreno Valley
Slow and Safe, Save a Life
Speed cushions provided a cost-effective way to address speeding concerns in residential neighborhoods.
Explore Innovation Ideas
Browse examples by category to see how agencies are solving common transportation challenges. These stories can spark ideas for your own agency and show the kinds of practical innovations that may be featured here.
Safety
Improve Safety
Traffic calming, safer field work, and risk reduction.
View related stories
- Slow & Safe, Save a Life — City of Moreno Valley
- Safe Sightings of Signs & Signals — City of Walnut Creek
Efficiency
Save Staff Time
Smarter reviews, inspections, and everyday workflows.
View related stories
- Safe Sightings of Signs & Signals — City of Walnut Creek
Technology
Use Practical Tools
Mobile devices, open-source software, and low-cost automation.
View related stories
- Safe Sightings of Signs & Signals — City of Walnut Creek
Resources
Do More With Less
Cost-conscious fixes that stretch staff, time, and funding.
View related stories
- Slow & Safe, Save a Life — City of Moreno Valley
- Safe Sightings of Signs & Signals — City of Walnut Creek
Recognizing Innovation Through BABM
The Build a Better Mousetrap (BABM) program is a national FHWA recognition program that highlights practical transportation innovations developed by local and tribal agencies.
BABM shines a spotlight on frontline workers who use their expertise and creativity to solve everyday transportation challenges. Recognized innovations often improve safety, reduce costs, increase efficiency, save time, and can be transferred or adapted by other agencies.
Learn more about Build a Better Mousetrap →
Have a local solution others could use? Share it with CalTAP →
Award-Winning California Innovations
What is BABM?
Build a Better Mousetrap (BABM) is a recognition program for practical transportation innovations created by local and tribal agencies.
It helps share ideas that improve safety, save time, reduce costs, or make everyday work easier, so other agencies can adapt what works.
What Makes a Strong Innovation?
BABM-recognized innovations are often evaluated for benefits such as cost savings, time savings, impact, ingenuity, and whether other agencies can adapt the idea.
- What problem does it solve?
- What was done differently?
- What improved as a result?
- Could another agency use it?
Who Can Share?
California public agencies are invited to share practical transportation solutions, process improvements, tools, and approaches that could help others across the state.
