The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and Transit Innovation Partnership hosted the Signaling Challenge Virtual Demo Day on April 2, 2020, enlisting transportation technology innovators to identify ways to make existing subway cars compatible with new signaling technology. The digital event hosted 17 leading technology companies.
A critical part of modernizing subway signaling in a cost-efficient manner is upgrading legacy train cars with new technology.
“The MTA is focused on the long-term needs of the region’s transportation system while we handle the unprecedented day-to-day challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said MTA Chief Innovation Officer Mark Dowd. “This public health crisis is a formidable challenge and we sincerely appreciate the hard work of Transit Innovation Partnership in helping MTA build the most innovative solutions on the market.”
At the Virtual Demo Day, the companies presented a variety of innovative technologies, including ultra-wideband and other wireless communications and radio technologies, LiDAR mapping systems, collision avoidance systems, artificial intelligence, machine learning and robotics. Subject matter experts are evaluating the proposals and winners could proceed to work with the MTA to further test, develop or explore implementing their solutions.
Rachel Haot, Transit Innovation Partnership executive director, stated, “We are grateful to the transit workers keeping our city running and honored to continue our partnership to identify and implement the most advanced technologies in the world to achieve the safety, efficiency and service goals of the signaling modernization program.”