Public Transit Modernization: Best Strategies During a Pandemic and Post-COVID Recovery

The pandemic has decimated public transit in cities all over the world. Ridership on subways, trains and buses plummeted by 80 percent in many urban centers last year. And it will likely be years before all those riders return: One analysis found that ridership in the New York MTA, for example, may return only to about 80 to 92 percent of pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2024.

Transit plays a vital role in the American economy, and modernizing transportation technology is a crucial part of helping cities thrive in a post-pandemic era. To discuss this timely and important issue, Government Technology is convening a panel of public transit experts and thought leaders.

With former U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx as a featured speaker, this hourlong virtual event, May 21 at 10 PT/1 ET, will cover a range of topics, including:

• How the pandemic will shape the future of urban transit for years to come
• Restoring transit service safely, sustainably and equitably
• How state and local transit technology leaders should make use of federal funding, including the American Rescue Plan and new proposed infrastructure spending from the White House
• The role of new technologies like automated bus lane enforcement in the future of smart cities
• Using AI to power smarter curbsides