The state Department of Transportation welcomes all students from around the state in grades nine to 12 to participate in the eighth annual PennDOT Innovations Challenge with a chance to win up to $6,000.

The competition encourages students to solve real-world transportation challenges. This year, students are asked to develop a cost-effective, innovative solution that can help spread awareness of seat belt safety and change behavior to improve roadway safety.

Winners will be 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, four organizations are providing a combined award of $6,000 to the statewide winning team. They include the Transportation Policy and Education Foundation, an educational arm of the Associated Pennsylvania Constructors organization; the American Council of Engineering Companies of Pennsylvania; the Mid-Atlantic Section of the Institute of Transportation Engineers; and the Intelligent Transportation Society of Pennsylvania.

For more details, visit www.penndot.pa.gov/innovation. The submission deadline is Jan. 31, 2025.