Caltrans Offers $25,000 Prize To 'Find A New Way' To Improve Transportation System

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Looking to make a quick $25,000? All you have to do is solve California's transportation woes.

Officials with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) have announced the "$25K Find a New Way" contest that will award any state resident with the "best unique idea" on how to improve California's transportation system.

The proposal that best addresses how Caltrans can better manage more than 50,000 road and highway lane miles, maintain more than 12,500 state bridges, and inspect over 400 public-use and special-use airports and heliports will be selected as the winning entry, according to officials.

Any individual California resident - except for current and retired State of California employees and their immediate family members - are eligible. Contestants under 18 years of age must have the permission of a parent or guardian to enter.

Entries must be postmarked or submitted online by 5:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) on Oct. 13.

The winning entry will be selected and announced by Dec. 31.

Click here for more info on the "25K Find A Way" contest.