AECOM presents Strategy in Transit, a thought leadership series, where we can learn and talk about the greatest mobility challenges and the opportunities to help deliver a better world.
New York City has one of the largest, most complex and busy mass transit systems anywhere in the world, carrying more than 6.5 million people every day. Like all public transportation systems, the city continues to plot its recovery from the pandemic, but at the same time faces an unprecedented opportunity for renewal with tremendous infrastructure investment from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Cathy Rinaldi, President of MTA Metro-North Railroad and Interim President of Long Island Rail Road; Clarelle DeGraffe, General Manager of PATH at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey; and Rich Davey, President of NYC Transit Authority who sat down with Sally Librera, Americas Transit Market Leader and Senior Vice President of AECOM, to discuss today’s biggest transit challenges and opportunities.
Infrastructure Investment and a Post-Pandemic World
The public wants accessible, reliable, clean and safe mass transit systems, and huge public investment programs in the U.S. offer the promise of modernization, expansion and development initiatives to help.
Technology Impacting Customer Experience
Open-loop payment systems, predictive maintenance and weighing cars to determine crowding are among the innovations being deployed in New York to improve customer experience in its transit systems.
Sustainability and Resiliency
One of the defining images of Hurricane Sandy in October 29, 2012 was the torrent of water from the Hudson River pouring through the elevator into the Hoboken railroad station.
Pride in the System
Amid the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, and demanding infrastructure programs, it can be easy to lose sight of all the positive developments in the greater New York transit system.
Balancing the Customer Impact with System Evolution
Managing the maintenance and upgrade of a mass transit system in a region that has enough track to reach Chicago and that famously never sleeps is a complex and challenging process.
The Power of Data
Millions of passenger journeys across the New York City metro region every day present operators with a dataset that, when harnessed, has the potential to offer deep and broad insight to help in every aspect of managing its transit systems.
Environmental, Social & Governance Strategy
Usage of public transportation in the U.S. saves 6 billion gallons of gasoline and reduces the nation’s carbon emissions annually by 63 million metric tons. This conversation reinforces how the transportation industry is playing a key role in driving ESG outcomes.
The Workforce
A shortage of labor is threatening the ability of transit systems to provide service and is among the most acute challenges currently facing the sector.
What is Important to Transportation Leaders and Their Customers
The subject of the customer is one topic that all three panellists agreed on, as they discussed the importance of listening to their customers and keeping customers at the center of their decision-making.
