USA: New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, NYC Department of Transportation and the Partnership Fund for New York City have launched this year’s edition of their annual Transit Tech Lab competition, seeking to harness expertise from local and global technology companies.
This year there are two challenges.
Advanced Infrastructure Challenge: How can public agencies better monitor and manage infrastructure to improve asset performance, resilience, and lifecycle cost?
- technologies to monitor infrastructure conditions in real time;
- tools to detect leaks, corrosion, voltage instability, and utility disruptions;
- systems to create inventory for, map and monitor fibre and copper cable infrastructure;
- tools to digitally track construction progress in real time;
- tools to detect and analyse safety, compliance and behavioural risks, including speeding and obstructions;
- technologies to manage bridge strikes in real time.
Data and Workflow Modernisation Challenge: How can public agencies consolidate data and apply analytics to improve service or workforce productivity?
- workforce scheduling tools to optimize maintenance staffing while balancing labour costs, overtime and operational needs;
- predictive tools to optimize bus service by analysing real-time operations and recommending interventions to reduce bunching and service gaps;
- tools to integrate large volumes of video, sensor, operational, financial and mobility data into a unified analytics platform;
- tools to detect and prevent media manipulation and identity fraud.
Interested companies can submit their proposals until February 27 2026. The selected companies will conduct a proof-of-concept over an eight-week period of collaboration with agency partners. Participating agencies may then opt to further test promising technology through a longer-term pilot.
‘Public transit is the lifeblood of New York City, and innovation is essential for building a system that works better for all’, said Stacey Matlen, Senior Vice-President of Innovation at the Partnership for New York City. ‘We are excited to continue bringing transit agencies and technologists together to create a smarter, more efficient network that can evolve alongside the city it serves.’
