Bechtel has been named a winner of the prestigious New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Genius Transit Challenge for a semi-robotic solution that can rapidly and safely install communications and control systems infrastructure in subway tunnels. More than 400 applicants from 23 countries submitted innovative solutions in three categories to improve the New York City subway. The Bechtel team won the Communications category aimed at supporting installation and deployment of modern communications infrastructure. The judges selected Bechtel’s solution based on its innovative approach which enables rapid deployment, reduced installation time, improved safety, and scalability across the entire subway system
“Automation is a new and innovative technology for the rail industry that can significantly reduce safety incidents in high-risk areas of the subway system,” said Peter Toth, civil and environmental engineer at Bechtel who led the Bechtel team. “Bechtel’s semi-robotic solution will be a catalyst for accelerating the upgrades to the subway communications infrastructure, benefitting the MTA and the public using the system.”
“Congratulations to Peter and the team that developed the winning idea. Bechtel has a culture of innovation that enables colleagues like Peter to take groundbreaking ideas and combine them with experience from our global project teams to create forward-thinking strategies for our customers,” said Scott Osborne, Bechtel Infrastructure’s general manager for the Americas. “We are looking forward to collaborating with the MTA to fully develop their winning solution into a machine that can be deployed across the New York subway system.”
Bechtel has offered to the MTA to use its $500,000 prize money to assist the MTA in further developing the robotic concept.
You can learn more about Bechtel’s winning idea here.
