Traffic Control Device (TCD) Challenge for Students

The Transportation Research Board (TRB) Standing Committee on Traffic Control Devices (AHB50) and the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) have joined together to sponsor and conduct an exciting new design competition, the Traffic Control Device (TCD) Challenge, to promote innovation and stimulate ideas in the traffic control devices area with a goal to improve operations and safety.

2019 Theme: Traffic Control Device Innovations to Improve
Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety at Signalized Intersections

Guidelines for Participation

The TCD Challenge is open to individual high school, junior college, college, or university students or teams of students with an interest in transportation and an understanding of traffic control devices. Students in relevant fields such as transportation-, human factors-, and technology- related curricula are particularly encouraged to participate.

The TCD Challenge submittals will help to encourage innovation and creative thought in the transportation community. Contest participants will receive the opportunity to vet their designs in a public forum. Three winning teams will receive recognition at national transportation forums.

Problem Statement
The theme for the 2019 TCD Challenge, derived from the 2018 ATSSA Circle of Innovation as a priority among public agency officials, is: Traffic Control Device Innovations to Improve Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety at Signalized Intersections. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Office of Safety has assembled information and a list of resources to provide an overview of the issues and current solutions:
safety.fhwa.dot.gov/intersection/conventional/signalized. It is highly encouraged that a wide scan of relevant materials, both domestic and international, be reviewed as part of the effort to prepare submissions.

(read more in the application)

Submission Deadline for the 2019 Challenge: October 1, 2018
Awards
Place
Award
First
  • Present your concept in a "Traffic Talk" at the ATSSA Traffic Expo
  • Travel expenses for one speaker
  • Registration for up to two speakers
  • $1,500 cash prize
  • First place plaque*
Second
  • Present your concept in a "Traffic Talk" at the ATSSA Traffic Expo
  • Travel expenses for one speaker
  • Registration for up to two speakers
  • $1,000 cash prize
  • Second place plaque*
Third
  • Present your concept in a "Traffic Talk" at the ATSSA Traffic Expo
  • Travel expenses for one speaker
  • Registration for up to two speakers
  • $500 cash prize
  • Third place plaque*
Honorable mentions
Certificate of Recognition for up to seven honorable mention entries.
*In addition to the opportunity to present the idea in a “Traffic Talk,” the three place winners will be provided a (joint) exhibit booth to display their posters. The placing prize winners will be announced at the ATSSA Convention's Opening General Session. ATSSA will also include an article in their industry magazine, The Signal, the placing winners and, with their agreement, a home town press release.
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ATSSA Tuesday Topics Webinar Recording:
This special webinar was open to the general public, including universities, students, and TRB, as well as ATSSA members to promote the TCD Challenge to those interested in the design competition and the roadway safety industry.

Held on Tuesday, May 8, 2018, 2:00 - 2:30 p.m. Eastern
ATSSA-TRB Traffic Control Device Challenge
Speaker: Paul Carlson, Co-Chair, TRB Traffic Control Device Committee
View recording of webinar

Winners of the 2018 Traffic Control Device (TCD) Challenge

Winners of the 2018 TCD Challenge were chosen during the TRB Annual Meeting, Jan. 7-11, 2018 in Washington, D.C. The winners attended ATSSA's 48th Annual Convention & Traffic Expo in San Antonio, Texas and displayed their posters in booth #448, as well as presented their traffic control devices at the "Traffic Control Device Challenge for Students" Traffic Talk session on Sunday, Jan. 28 and Monday, Jan. 29, 2018 at the ATSSA Pavilion in San Antonio, Texas.

1st Place - Professional Pavement Products

Title: Comprehensive System of Pavement Markings and Signage to Deter Wrong-Way Drivers

Student team: Danielle Berman, Owen Hitchcock, Kristin Kersavage, Lingyu Li, Kan Wu

School: Pennsylvania State University 

2nd Place ($1,000)

Title: In-Roadway Warning Lights for Wrong-Way Detection and Prevention

Student team: Hisham Jashami, Zachary Barlow, Ellen Simpson, Logan Scott-Deeter

School: Oregon State University 

3rd Place ($500)

Title: Audible Warning Device for Wrong Way Drivers

Student team: Elizabeth Farr, Robert Gallup, Katy Harlan, Jacob Kaltenbronn, Kaitlin Windsor

School: University of Missouri