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February 28, 2025|C&S/IT

NYMTA, Google Public Sector Announce Preventive Track Maintenance Pilot Program

Written by Carolina Worrell, Senior Editor
(NYMTA)
The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) on Feb. 27 announced a pilot program in partnership with Google Public Sector, “building on the success of its proven TrackInspect prototype, to proactively detect potential track defects before they escalate into operational issues that disrupt service to customers.”

The TrackInspect prototype, developed in partnership with the Rapid Innovation Team at Google Public Sector, integrates sensor hardware with advanced cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities to detect potential track issues, according to the MTA. Through this program, Google Pixel smartphones with standard, off-the-shelf plastic cases were retrofitted onto R46 subway cars on the A​ line to capture subtle vibrations and sound patterns through built-in sensors equipped with an attached microphone, signaling the need for preventive maintenance.

The sound and vibration data is sent in real time to cloud-based systems, where AI and machine learning algorithms generate predictive insights. New York City Transit (NYCT) track inspectors serve as “humans in the loop,” inspecting locations highlighted by the system and confirming whether there is an issue, providing feedback to continuously train the model. According to the MTA, TrackInspect also utilizes Generative AI for natural language processing, allowing inspectors to ask questions about maintenance history, protocols, and repair standards, with clear, conversational answers.

In the initial pilot, TrackInspect collected 335 million sensor readings, one million GPS locations, and 1,200 hours of audio. The data was combined with NYCT’s database of track non-conformities and ingested into a machine learning model running on Google Cloud.

The data provided by the TrackInspect prototype, the agency says, “complement the significant amount of information provided by the MTA’s track geometry cars. When used together, these technologies are a cost-effective way to make the track repair process faster and more accurate by finding and diagnosing potential track problems. Finding and fixing track issues faster means fewer train delays, and smoother service for millions of daily riders,” the MTA noted.

TrackInspect began as a proof-of-concept prototype developed by Google Public Sector exclusively for the MTA at no cost to the agency. The results were officially presented by the MTA at Thursday morning’s Google Public Sector, GenAI Live & Labs event in New York City.

“By being able to detect early defects in the rails, it saves not just money but also time—for both crew members and riders,” said NYCT President Demetrius Crichlow. “This innovative program—which is the first of its kind—uses AI technology to not only make the ride smoother for customers but also make track inspector’s jobs safer by equipping them with more advanced tools.”

“The TrackInspect pilot is a game-changer for the MTA, combining advanced cloud, AI, and real-time sensor technology to transform how we maintain and monitor our subway infrastructure,” said MTA Chief Technology Officer Raf Portnoy. “It reflects our commitment to uniting technology and operations to drive innovation and safety.”