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    Winner Announced for 2023 ‘Innovations Challenge’

    May 04, 2023
    District 10 Innovations Challenge team with Carroll
    ​A team of students from Lenape Technical School in Ford City, Armstrong County, has been selected as the statewide winner for the 2022-2023 Innovations Challenge.

    Mentored by Jason Zimmerman, a teacher at Lenape Tech, team members include Elijah Mumau and Robert John. The team's proposed solution to this year's challenge, addressing the shortage of truck parking along Pennsylvania's critical cargo arteries, included a plan for affordable, eco-friendly, and innovative rest stops called Eco-Stops. To offset cost and minimize their environmental impacts, Eco-Stops would be constructed using a recycled asphalt lot and concrete printed facilities and be powered via solar panels. The team's presentation included an example location, cost breakdown, and a plan for adding EV charging options.
    22913_DOT_Innovation_Challenge_JP_44.jpg
    "It's incredible to see the next generation of problem solvers at work trying to address a real transportation issue that we are currently facing," said PennDOT Acting Secretary Mike Carroll. "These young minds have been hard at work and it's encouraging to see their commitment to working on these issues. The future is in good hands."

    Eight additional teams from around the Commonwealth joined District 10 in Harrisburg to present their solutions to the PennDOT acting secretary and a panel of judges. Solutions were complex, thorough and varied with teams devising reservation systems, new apps, new technology, and plans for new types of truck stops, rest areas and pull-offs.
    22913_DOT_Innovation_Challenge_JP_03.jpg
    For this year's challenge, the Associated Pennsylvania Constructors (APC) and the American Council of Engineering Companies of PA (ACEC/PA) provided 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.





    ABOUT THIS BLOG

    Did you know PennDOT is directly responsible for nearly 40,000 miles of highway and roughly 25,000 bridges? We oversee programs and policies affecting highways, urban and rural public transportation, airports, railroads, ports and waterways, in addition to administering the state's more than 11 million vehicle registrations and 8.8 million driver's licenses.

    So, how do we do what we do? And how can we help you travel in Pennsylvania — whether it be for business or leisure — in safe and enjoyable manner? Read PennDOT Way to learn more about the department, what we do, and how and why we do it.​

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