Why don’t they understand? Transportation professionals often find it challenging to communicate critical transportation concepts to a non-technical audience. While some have found tools, graphics, or just the right words to convey their message, research tells us that transportation professionals still face a largely uninformed public.

In 2007, the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Planning and Environment Group launched a new competition looking for fresh and creative methods for communicating technical transportation issues with “John and Jane Q. Public” to share with others within the profession. The inaugural competition, had an open theme that solicited communication strategies of technical issues. The contest yielded overwhelming results, with 70 entries received and 11 invited to present at the 2008 TRB Annual Meeting. Since then, the competition has featured a different theme, ranging from a focus on sustainability and climate change to emerging technologies. Each of these contests and the recognized organizations are featured in articles on the contest published in the Transportation Research News. If you are interested in the next competition, watch for announcements in the summer, with the competition deadline generally in the end of July. 

Please click on the links below for information on this year's competition, as well as the winners from previous years. 

2024 Competition: Planning & Projects, Policy or Operations

2023 Competition: Planning & Projects, Policy or Operations

2022 Competition: Planning & Projects, Policy or Operations

2021 Competition: New and Emerging Transportation Technologies

2020 Competition: Successful Communication During Disruptive, Crisis Situations

2019 Competition: Transportation Funding and Related Policy Solutions

2018 Competition: Communicating the Unique challenge of Transportation Resiliency and Sustainability

2017 Competition: Communicating the Value of Long-Term Transportation Planning

2016 Competition: Communicating the Connection Transportation and Public Health

2015 Competition: Communicating Transportation Needs and Issues to Targeted Populations

2014 Competition: Freight Transportation Needs and Issues

2013 Competition: Transportation Modeling

2012 Competition: Transportation Finance and Policy Related Solutions

2011 Competition: Transportation During Emergency Situations