Build a Better Mousetrap

The Better Way Challenge Entry Form - 2025 online submissions form.

Have you or someone on your team come up with a clever tool or a better way to get the job done? Now’s your chance to share it! The Technology Transfer Program (T2) at the Kentucky Transportation Center is proud to host The Better Way Challenge, our local take on the 2025 Build a Better Mousetrap National Competition, sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration’s Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP).

View the FHWA's 2024 Winners below:

The Build a Better Mousetrap National Competition’s purpose is to collect and distribute real world examples of best practices, tips from the field, and assist in the transfer of technology for local and county transportation workers and other LTAP/TTAP clients.

We are looking for projects that you, your employees or crew designed and built. Projects can be anything from the development of tools, equipment modification, and/or processes that increase safety, reduce cost, improve efficiency, and improve the quality of transportation.

Submit your nominations under one of these four categories:

Innovative Project - Any solution that addresses any or all phase(s) of the ‘project’ life cycle – Planning, Design/Engineering, Construction, Operations and Maintenance. This project shall introduce new ideas, is locally relevant, original, and creative in thinking.
Bold Steps– Any locally relevant high-risk project or process showing a break-through solution with demonstrated high-reward.
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.
Pioneer– A locally relevant product/tool that is among the first to solve a maintenance problem with a home-grown solution.

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

Overall Impact
Community/Agency Benefit
Originality
Applicability to others
Cost/Time Effectiveness

Submit entries to us at the Kentucky LTAP Center, where an independent panel of judges will pick a state winner. State winners will be announced at the annual Roads Scholar/Road Master graduation.