Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration

TRAC engages middle- and high-school students in hands-on learning about the transportation field. It attracts future planners, engineers, environmental scientists and professionals to carry out our mission: open roads to opportunity and move Maryland.

What Is Maryland TRAC?

  • The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) launched TRAC (Transportation and Civil Engineering) Program, sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).
  • TRAC is a hands-on education program designed for use in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) classes provided free of charge to middle and high schools in Maryland. Students apply math and science principle to real-world transportation challenges.
  • The program is aligned with Common Core and Maryland State Education Standards.
  • Current modules available to schools include: designing and building a bridge and building a magnetic levitation car.
  • MDOT SHA trains teachers and MDOT SHA engineers volunteer as student mentors in the classroom. These volunteers speak to students about their careers in transportation and teach modules and hands-on activities.
  • By bringing transportation professionals into the classroom, the TRAC Program connects students to the work world and inspires them to consider careers in transportation and civil engineering.

 

Dr. Richard Woo (right), director of the MDOT SHA Office of Policy and Research, evaluates a student submission at a TRAC competition.

How Can Your School Join Maryland TRAC?

MDOT SHA is actively recruiting new TRAC schools. Interested? Please contact Nicole Stafford, Maryland TRAC Program Manager, 410-545-8713, nstafford@mdot.maryland.gov. 

Check our Google Calendar of upcoming events.

​Interested in Programs for Elementary Students?

Click below to learn more about RIDES.

RIDES: Roadways in Developing Elementary Students 

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MDOT Trac News

Apr92020

THREE MARYLAND STUDENT TRAC BRIDGE BUILDING TEAMS NAMED TO NATIONAL BRIDGE CHALLENGE FINALS

​All three TRAC finalist teams are Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation (CLF) students, representing Chesapeake Science Point (CSP) in Hanover and Chesapeake Math and IT (CMIT) North Middle School in Laurel. 
Feb272020

MDOT SHA LAUNCHES RIDES MARYLAND PROGRAM AND ANNOUNCES THREE MARYLAND TRAC TEAMS WILL COMPETE IN NATIONAL BRIDGE CHALLENGE

​For the First Time, Students from Maryland Will Have Teams in all Age Divisions of the AASHTO National TRAC Bridge Challenge; STEM Curriculum Expands to Elementary Schools with RIDES

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