Special Committee on TRAC
AASHTO Liaison
Jameelah E. Hayes, Program Manager for Engineering
jhayes@aashto.org
TRAC and RIDES
TRAC™ (Transportation and Civil Engineering) & RIDES (Roadways In Developing Elementary Students), AASHTO’s educational outreach programs, are designed for use in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) classes. 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. Both programs are aligned with national standards and are currently being aligned with the Core Curriculum Standards of Learning. State departments of transportation work with schools in their state by providing the curricula and resources for the schools and providing engineers to visit the classrooms to serve as speakers, teach a hands-on activity, and/or talk to students about the importance of math and science in preparing for their future.
TRAC has seven modules that engage students in solving real-world problems while connecting them to the work world of transportation. Students design bridges, build magnetic-levitation trains, plan a city, or learn about environmental issues that impact transportation.
In addition to providing a tool for teachers to improve math and science instruction in middle and secondary schools, TRAC improves workforce diversity which helps to resolve one of the most pressing problems faced by transportation today: a critical shortage of civil engineers.