Students from California and New York Win Transportation Video Contest

(WASHINGTON, D.C.)— A graduate student from the Finger Lakes Region of Western New York and a high school junior from Southern California are winners of the 14th Annual American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) “Student Transportation Video Contest.” 

Sponsored by the association’s Research & Education Division, the competition challenges young people to explore the importance and complexities of the nation’s transportation network. Students from across the country submitted videos, and winners were selected by a panel of industry experts.

Each winner receives $500 and will have their video shown at ARTBA’s National Convention in Dallas, Texas next month. 

Winner of Age Group One (Elementary, Middle or High School Students): 

“Understanding the Impact of Traffic” by Nishka Reddy, an 11th grader at Scripps Ranch High School in San Diego, Calif., explores the hidden costs of traffic congestion to roadway safety, the economy, and the environment, and the importance of the 2021 infrastructure law in supporting smarter transportation improvement projects across the nation.

Winner of Age Group Two (Post-Secondary/College or Graduate-Level Students): 

“How AI Can Save Lives in NYC’s Underground” by Darlyn Gomez, a graduate student at the Rochester Institute of Technology, explores how LiDAR and AI technology can improve subway safety in New York City, creating more equitable systems for the city’s diverse communities. 

About the ARTBA Foundation
Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2025, the ARTBA Foundation is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt entity designed to “promote research, education and public awareness” about the impacts of transportation investment. It supports an array of initiatives, including educational scholarships, awards, management and education programs, roadway work zone safety training and certificates, special economic research and reports, and an exhibition on transportation at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.