The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has announced that the deadline for the fourth annual Innovations Challenge has been extended through Jan. 15.

Students in grades 9-12, regardless of their school’s learning model, are invited to participate in this year’s Innovations Challenge, which encourages students to use their problem-solving, creative and strategic-thinking abilities to solve real-­world transportation challenges in a competition among their peers.

This year’s Innovations Challenge asks students to develop an innovative and implementable solution that helps address Pennsylvania’s transportation revenue shortfall by identifying potential new funding streams, aside from additional gas taxes, tolls or mileage-based user fees, to help ensure adequate transportation funding for the future.

The Innovations Challenge aims to not only help students explore real transportation challenges that PennDOT is facing, but also open their minds to the very real possibility of working for PennDOT after graduation.

Regional Innovations Challenge winners will be selected and invited to compete for the state championship.

The Transportation Policy and Education Foundation, an educational arm of the Associated Pennsylvania Constructors, the American Council of Engineering Companies of PA and the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Traffic Safety Services Association are providing a combined total award of $5,500 to be divided among the first-, second- and third-place statewide winning teams.

For complete Innovations Challenge details, visit www.penndot.gov/innovation.