“Truck Oasis” Parking Project Lands Conestoga High School Team A Win

TREDYFFRIN/EASTTOWN, PA —Conestoga High School won PennDOT’s district 6 Innovative Challenge for high school students to create a solution to a transportation problem.

The problem was to create a solution to the parking problem of commercial truck drivers along Pennsylvania freight corridors bound for destinations across the nation.

The Conestoga team designed a "truck oasis" where commercial vehicles would have their own designated rest area offering gas stations, restrooms, food facilities, and long-term or short-term parking options.

The model also included expanded shoulder areas along the highway for short-term parking to help when a driver felt fatigued.

In addition, the Conestoga team designed a mobile application called "TruckPark PA", where drivers could log in to book an available parking space.

The Conestoga High School team, mentored by James Moran and Jacqueline Gontarek, includes students Faizaan Siddique and Andrew Hunter.

Five teams competed in the district-6 challenge. The district consists of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties.

The 11 winners Regional Innovations Challenge will present their solutions to the PennDOT panel in Harrisburg.

The statewide winner for 2023 will receive a $4,000 prize provided by the Associated Pennsylvania Constructors and the American Council of Engineering Companies of PA.