ASHE SNJ STUDENT COMPETITION 3.0

The American Society of Highway Engineers Southern New Jersey (ASHE SNJ) section is excited to present the a new improved format for this year's Student Competition. No advanced preparation required. No reports, no presentations, no extra homework! Just come join the charrette, network and learn all about Concept Development (CD) through hands-on experience!

Turn Big Transportation &

Urban Ideas Into An Actionable Project!

Step into the shoes of professional transportation planners and civil engineers! In this fast-paced design charrette, student teams will take real-world problem statements, evaluate data, engage with simulated stakeholders, and craft a Preliminary Preferred Alternative (PPA) for a modern infrastructure challenge.

Whether you're passionate about smart cities, traffic, highway or bridge engineering, sustainability, or community design — this is your stage.

Why Participate?

*Real-World Experience: Master the actual Concept Development process used by NJDOTs and top engineering firms.

* Network & Learn: Connect with industry mentors, Subject Matter Experts (SME), and peer innovators.

* Compete for Prizes: Attendance at the POTY Award dinner, trophies, and resume-boosting certificates for top-ranking solutions.

* Resume Power-Up: Add a completed infrastructure case study to your professional portfolio.* Perks: Free food, drinks, & swag.

Check out photos from past years:

V 1.0 - April 5, 2025

V 2.0 - February 28, 2026

Primary Objective

️ Learning & Educational Objectives

Skill Development Objectives

Decision-Making Objective

Industry Engagement Objective

Who Can Join?

Open to all undergraduate and graduate students! Teams will be randomly assigned on the day of the event. You DO NOT need to be a member of an ASHE student chapter to participate.

COMPETITION GUIDELINES

Currently being drafted. Follow the forum below to be updated when guidelines are published. 

WHAT IS THE CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT PROCESS?

While no preparation is required, reviewing the Concept Development (CD) process beforehand will help you hit the ground running! Familiarizing yourself with key CD terminology will give your team a competitive edge on event day. Check out these helpful resources to learn more:

* https://dot.nj.gov/transportation/capital/pd/phase_cd.shtm

* https://njdotlocalhub.nj.gov/community-development/project-development/ 

* https://www.nj.gov/transportation/capital/pd/phase.shtm 

Volunteers NEEDED!

We need DAY OF VOLUNTEERS to help set up, TEAM CHAPERONES to support each team understanding the competition format, schedule and where to go, and we also need SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS. If you think you may be interested, reach out to Renee Schneider at: rschneider@langan.com to learn more!

REGISTER HERE

Registration for this event is $10, which will be fully reimbursed at check-in with a $10 Amazon gift card! New for 2026, this policy helps us confirm attendance and eliminate no-shows. Spots are limited, so register early to secure your seat!

For more details or to volunteer as a subject matter expert, please contact Renee Schneider at: rschneider@langan.com

We value your opinion, please provide comments on the competition here:

ashesouthernj@gmail.com