Houston Metro, TransLink hope to tap community innovation for mobility solutions
Two transit service providers are looking to draw on the innovation found in their respective startup communities to solve mobility challenges.
The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Houston Metro) teamed up with Station Houston, the city's tech startup hub, to host a transportation and mobility innovation edition of Houston's Startup Demo Day on March 27. Houston Metro explains that Demo Day has grown into a cornerstone event for the Houston startup community. The March 27th event offered a platform to showcase innovative solutions to Houston's most pressing transportation and mobility challenges.
"Connecting to the innovation and startup community is critical to our success," said Houston Metro Chief Innovation Officer Kimberly Williams. "This is an exciting beginning of how Houston’s startup community and [Houston Metro] can work together to develop products, ideas and services to enhance the customer experience and benefit mobility for [Houston Metro] customers and the entire region."
Houston Metro has developed a draft of its long-range strategic plan, METRONext, and is working with the community to refine its content.
In Vancouver, BC, Canada, TransLink has launched its 2019 Open Call for Innovation with a focus on generating new ideas for customer amenities at SkyTrain stations and bus exchanges.
“Every day, there are almost half-a million people who use transit stops and stations throughout Metro Vancouver," said TransLink CEO Kevin Desmond. “We are looking for ways to help our customers with their everyday needs while they are on the go. With all transit journeys beginning and ending at a transit stop or station, we want to generate new ideas for improving our customers’ experience while they are waiting for a bus or SkyTrain, or passing through our stations.”
The inaugural Open Call for Innovation launched on June 6, 2018 under the theme Seamless Mobility. The first selected submission will lead to a pilot project in partnership with Evo, Modo and Mobi.
The open call will close on April 30 and TransLink says submissions should look to creatively adapt innovative technologies, business models and partnerships to enhance the customer journey. Successful applicants will be invited to present their ideas to a panel of judges.
“As Canada’s top startup city and a global hotspot for creative innovation, Vancouver has the chance to lead the world when it comes to a connected, sustainable region for residents and visitors,” said Vancouver Economic Commission CEO Catherine Warren. “Translink’s support for fresh ideas to solve urban transportation challenges, to animate community spaces and to delight the public is designed to tap Vancouver’s talent for Vancouver’s future.”
Visit translink.ca/opencall for details and submission guidelines.
Mischa Wanek-Libman | Group Editorial Director
Mischa Wanek-Libman is director of communications with Transdev North America. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the transportation industry covering construction projects, engineering challenges, transit and rail operations and best practices.
Wanek-Libman has held top editorial positions at freight rail and public transportation business-to-business publications including as editor-in-chief and editorial director of Mass Transit from 2018-2024. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.
She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and served 14 years as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.
She is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.
