By Julia Smith, Contract TRAC & RIDES Program Manager, AASHTO
With aging infrastructures, states are facing a growing need for civil engineers to rebuild bridges, upgrade levees and dams, and repair roadways. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 24,200 job openings for civil engineers are projected each year for the next ten years.
An early workforce development program is key to introducing students to careers in the civil engineering and transportation fields. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) TRAC & RIDES Technical Service Program is designed to provide students in kindergarten through 12th grade the opportunity to explore engineering as it relates to transportation.
Beginning with kindergarten through 8th grade, the Roadways In Developing Elementary Students (RIDES) module takes students on multiple hands-on adventures learning about transportation, transportation careers, energy, roadway geometry, and design while reinforcing science, technology, engineering, art and math (S.T.E.A.M.). The RIDES module introduces transportation focused lessons and academic concepts that transition beautifully to the TRAC modules.
Overlapping at the middle school age, Transportation And Civil engineering (TRAC) modules focus on students from 7th grade through 12th grade education with transportation and civil engineering focused self-contained modules. Students learn about bridge design, highway safety, magnetic levitation concepts, roadway design and construction, physics and motion, environmental engineering, traffic technology, and connected and automated vehicles. Students improve critical thinking skills by exploring transportation issues and challenges, learn to constructively debate issues, and are introduced to technical and trade skills to help build their future careers.
Implementation of these modules in schools have proven to be advantageous to a number of state Departments of Transportation, whom currently employ students that have previous experience with TRAC. However, this is not the only benefit for DOT’s, they develop a supporting partnership with educators and students serving as mentors and guests cultivating pathways for civil engineers in the field of transportation. TRAC & RIDES is an answer to resilience for the transportation workforce dilemma by providing equitable opportunities for all students. Investing in the TRAC & RIDES Program is investing in the future.
