PennDOT Seeking Submissions for ‘Build a Better Mousetrap’ Award 

The state Department of Transportation and PSATS are accepting submissions for Pennsylvania municipalities for the annual Build a Better Mousetrap competition. The award is for solutions that employees have designed, built, or adapted that innovated maintenance, equipment, or processes to better serve Pennsylvania travelers. The deadline is March 1, 2024. 

Submissions can be anything from the development or modification of tools and equipment to processes that increase safety, reduce costs, or improve the efficiency or quality of transportation. Past winners have included a widener repurposed from a berming machine, a specialized storage rack for spreaders, and a high-pressure undercarriage sprayer. 

“Every day, township road crews do more with less to maintain tens of thousands of miles of roadway across the commonwealth,” says PSATS Executive Director Dave Sanko. “The Build a Better Mousetrap Innovation Challenge provides townships a chance to showcase innovations and money-saving ventures that make their jobs easier and Pennsylvania’s roadways safer.” 

Participant forms can be found on the LTAP website. Questions about the competition can be directed to Karen Atkinson at (717) 763-0930, ext.156, or by email at katkinson@psats.org.