The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is offering two FREE educational outreach programs in September or October of this year:

• TRAC™ (Transportation and Civil Engineering) is for students in grades 7-12. Those who choose TRAC will receive training for the Bridge Builder and Connected and Automated Vehicle modules.

• RIDES (Roadways In Developing Elementary Students) is for students grades K-8. Those who choose RIDES (K-8) will receive training in units titled Transportation and Energy, Roadway Geometry, Humans and Nature, and Designing Ways.

The hands-on activities introduce students in grades K-12 to the work world of transportation and civil engineering and inspire them to consider careers in those fields.

PennDOT will provide schools with the applicable curricula and resources for each program, which include technical advisors to serve as guest speakers, teach hands-on activities, and/or talk to students about the importance of math and science in preparing for their future.

Both programs are designed by the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) for use in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) classes, and are aligned with national standards and currently being aligned with the Core Curriculum Standards of Learning. These programs are flexible and can be customized to best suit the school’s requirements.

If interested, complete this survey to determine whether your school is interested in participating in one of these two-day programs and if so, on which of the following dates: September 20 & 21, 2022, or October 3 & 4, 2022

More information about TRAC™ & RIDES is available on AASHTO's website. Specific questions about the programs may be directed to jhuzvar@pa.gov.