The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is inviting high school students across the state to participate in the ninth annual Innovations Challenge. This competition encourages students from grades 9-12 to use their problem-solving and strategic-thinking skills to address real-world transportation issues.
This year’s challenge focuses on developing a concept for using artificial intelligence (AI) in work zones to enhance safety for both work crews and road users. Participants are expected to propose how PennDOT can implement smarter systems to prevent accidents, considering factors such as cost-benefit analysis, statewide deployment, and public outreach.
“Each year, I have the honor of meeting some of the brightest young minds in the Commonwealth who present their solutions for the issues we face every day in transportation. It’s rare that we have the opportunity to explore such new technology with a fresh set of eyes,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “Safety is the most critical aspect of maintenance and construction, and I know we’re going to see some truly unique solutions put forward by this year’s teams.”
Regional winners will be chosen and invited to present their ideas to Secretary Carroll and a panel of judges, who will then select a statewide winner. The winning team will receive a monetary award provided by several organizations including the Transportation Policy and Education Foundation, American Council of Engineering Companies of PA, Mid-Atlantic Section of the Institute of Transportation Engineers, and Intelligent Transportation Society of Pennsylvania.
For more information about the challenge, interested parties can visit www.penndot.gov/innovation. Submissions are due by January 30, 2026.
Information from this article can be found here.
