Montoursville, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) today announced that a team of students from the Wellsboro Area School District in Tioga County has been selected as the PennDOT District 3 winner for its seventh Innovations Challenge.
Mentored by Francis Novak, team members include Carter Knowlton, Natalie Cleveland, and Ian Hoose.
The PennDOT Innovations Challenge is a statewide competition for high school students from around the Commonwealth to develop creative solutions and strategic solutions to real-world transportation challenges. The Innovations Challenge allows students to explore the actual challenges PennDOT and the transportation industry face as well as consider the possibility of working in the industry later in life.
Since last fall, students around Pennsylvania have been developing an implementable plan for redeveloping a stretch of roadway that, when constructed, separated an existing neighborhood, requiring people and businesses to relocate. Plans were required to address the needs of the community, including accommodating bicycle and pedestrian traffic, connecting the separated neighborhood, allowing for new business development and ensuring the smooth flow of traffic.
“As our transportation infrastructure ages out of its useful lifespan, we're presented with opportunities to improve on past decisions," said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “These students display the kind of diligence and creativity that our future transportation planners must have to better meet the needs of Pennsylvania's communities."
The winning regional team's innovation was a highway cap project that unified their fictional town and included a community park, bike lanes, and a walking trail.
Assistant District Executive (Design) Gerald Wertz was among the judges and commented: “The student's innovation was well thought out. This cap plan allows communities to reconnect to a central business district and reduces the need for vehicular transportation. It can greatly increase walking/biking and provide green space in an urban environment."
Regional Innovations Challenge winners will present their solutions to Secretary Carroll and a panel of judges in Harrisburg on May 1, where a statewide winner for 2024 will be determined. For this year's challenge, the Transportation Policy and Education Foundation, an educational arm of the Associated Pennsylvania Constructors (APC) organization and the American Council of Engineering Companies of PA (ACEC/PA) are providing 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 Innovations Challenge.
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Contact: Kim Smith, kiasmit@pa.gov or 570-368-4344
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