The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has announced that high school students from around the state are invited to participate in the seventh annual PennDOT Innovations Challenge, which encourages students to use their problem-solving, creative and strategic-thinking abilities to solve real-world transportation challenges in a competition among their peers.

The Innovations Challenge is open to all students in grades 9-12, regardless of their school’s learning model.

For this year’s challenge, students are asked to develop a plan for the replacement of an aging multilane roadway that will reconnect previously separated neighborhoods and incorporates community needs, such as accommodating bicycle and pedestrian traffic, allowing for new business development and ensuring the smooth flow of traffic. The proposed solution should also consider additional costs to restore the affected community.

Regional Innovations Challenge winners will be selected and invited to present their solutions to the PennDOT Secretary and a panel of judges, who will determine the statewide winner. For this year’s challenge, the Associated Pennsylvania Constructors has donated $2,500 and the American Council of Engineering Companies of Pennsylvania has donated $1,500 for a combined total award of $4,000 to the statewide winning team.

For complete Innovations Challenge details, visit www.penndot.gov/innovation and click on the blue Innovations Challenge tile on the right side of the page. The submission deadline is Jan. 26, 2024.