FutureNOW PennSTART Tour and Social 10/8/2026

FutureNOW is a new initiative for ACEC/PA geared towards early-career engineers with 15 years or less of experience. This is an opportunity for our next generation of engineering leaders to network with peers of their own experience level and learn from leaders in our industry.

Pennsylvania Safety Transportation and Research Track Tour

PennSTART is a public-private organization creating a comprehensive high-speed transportation testing, research and training facility that will benefit emergency responders, transportation agencies, industry, and research institutions by advancing the safety and efficiency of the United States transportation infrastructure.

On your tour of PennSTART, you will see a world-class, 30-million-dollar living laboratory designed for next-generation smart infrastructure and automated vehicle testing. This state-of-the-art facility features a two-mile high-speed test track and mock urban intersections designed to study how driverless cars and heavy trucks interact with physical roads, pavement markings, and active work zones. Created through a unique partnership between Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, and Carnegie Mellon University, PennSTART serves as a critical testing ground for automated tolling, smart traffic signals, and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications, offering a firsthand look at how the future of highway design and intelligent transportation systems is being built.

PennSTART is at the RIDC Westmoreland Innovation Center (aka Sony Plant) in New Stanton. The address for purposes of directions are included above. We will meet in the Founder Room in the Administration Building and then tour the site likely on foot. Parking is any open space in the lot east and west of the Administration Building. There is no need to check-in at security and no PPE is required for this tour.

Following the tour, we will meet at Aumer's Sports Bar & Grille in Mt. Pleasant for a two hour social and a chance for everyone to network and mingle together. Food and drinks are included with your registration. This is optional and not required as it is an additional fee.

Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

For questions, please contact Sarah Babski at sbabski@acecpa.org.