The MTA is looking to upgrade its public information systems in the subways with a replacement that goes far beyond swapping out aging speakers that spew garbled announcements.
The agency last week put out a request to vendors for ways to modernize the transit system’s suite of communication technology, from audio announcements to digital displays to help-point kiosks. The agency has set aside $800 million in its current construction plan for the new technology.
The MTA is seeking a new announcement system that has better “audibility, intelligibility, and relevance,” according to documents posted on its website. The request calls for a speaker and amplifier system that is "intelligent" and can adjust its volume based on the amount of noise on the platform. The agency also wants the public address system to be AI-assisted and capable of delivering messages in multiple languages.
MTA planning documents show 76 of the subway’s 472 stations use audio systems that haven’t been updated in 40 years. Those stations aren’t connected to the rail control center, the nerve center of the subway system where dispatchers oversee service, so those stations can’t get automated, real-time alerts and updates about subway delays or issues.
Announcements at those stations come directly from workers, who relay information they hear second hand from someone at the rail control center.
“This game of telephone leads to poor and delayed information to our customers and worse, these announcements are not at all connected to any of the station countdown clocks or visual signage infrastructure, which can result in irrelevant or even conflicting information,” the document notes.
A modern system would give riders information sent directly to stations from the control center.
The agency also wants new display screens that have “dynamic wayfinding” that include information on service changes, how many riders are on each train car, as well as personalized directions for people.
Despite the consternation over the use of artificial intelligence in the past few weeks, with concerns about AI bots creating harm, the MTA is looking for ways to utilize AI and machine learning in the subways.
“Navigating our vast transit system can be challenging for even the most seasoned traveler,” Lisa Daglian, executive director of the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA, wrote in a statement. “Making announcements easier to understand, improving displays, delivering real-time information and updating accessibility tools will help all riders find the best way to get where they’re going, whether during regular service, planned outages, or unforeseen disruptions, and are all upgrades we’ve long advocated for.”
The MTA wants responses from prospective vendors by Oct. 15.
MTA spokesperson Eugene Resnick said the agency “looks forward to receiving innovative responses from the industry.”
