Smart City Initiative earns 2025 Build a Better Mousetrap Award

Sept. 9, 2025

The Florida Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) Center announced the City of Sarasota is a winner of the 2025 Florida Build a Better Mousetrap (BABM) Award.

The City was the winner in the SMART Transformation category for innovative contributions to Florida’s transportation.

The City earned recognition for its project, "City of Sarasota - Smart City Initiative," in the SMART Transformation category for its use of cutting-edge technology to enhance municipal services. Their initiative leverages smart data systems to enhance public safety, improve mobility, facilitate real-time communication, promote resilience, and ensure fair access to city services.

The Build a Better Mousetrap (BABM) competition, sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), celebrates creative, practical solutions developed by local and tribal transportation agencies. Florida's winning entries will advance to the national BABM competition, with winners announced at the LTAP/TTAP National Conference. Florida continues to lead the way—most notably in 2021 when Seminole County won both the national SMART Transformation Award and the overall BABM award.

Hillsborough County also earned recognition in the Innovative Project category for its project “Hillsborough County's Innovative Approach to Internal Mobility," a comprehensive strategy designed to improve internal connectivity across unincorporated areas.

The Florida LTAP Center offers training, technical assistance, and resources to local agencies, helping to improve transportation systems statewide.

"These projects are great examples of how Florida communities are solving transportation challenges in smart, practical ways," said Dr. Pei-Sung Lin, Director of the Florida LTAP Center. "We’re proud to support and share innovations that can benefit other agencies across the state and beyond."

Learn more about the City of Sarasota’s Smart City Initiative here.

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