The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) launched two new challenge statements as part of its Innovation Studio, an initiative designed to allow businesses and organizations to pilot solutions and new technologies to overcome some of the agency’s biggest challenges. 

The two challenge statements focus on improving the customer experience for non-English speaking riders and providing enhanced simulation technology to support rail operations training.

“Innovation Studio continues to expand its portfolio of innovative solutions, delivering diverse pilot projects ranging from improved wayfinding at bus stops to detecting and alerting intrusions on CTA’s track ‘right of way’,” said CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen. “This latest round of challenge statements seeks to eliminate language barriers and help make the system navigable for our riders, while another pilot will seek to find more ways to enhance ongoing rail operations training with a new, modern training tool.”

Improving Experience for Non-English Speaking Riders

The first new challenge CTA seeks solutions for will address the following statement: “How can CTA provide rail station attendants with tools to welcome and assist riders with limited English proficiency?”

Over 13% of the people who live in CTA’s service area have limited English proficiency, the agency explained. 

CTA riders, who primarily speak a language other than English, can face unique challenges accessing and navigating transit services, including difficulty determining which train platform to board at a rail station, navigating from the station to their destination, interacting with fare machines, and receiving timely notices when there are disruptions to service. 

Though CTA Customer Service Representatives/Assistants (CSR/As), who staff rail stations, are responsible for assisting riders with navigation and fare payment, they do not currently have tools at their disposal to support riders who speak a different language.

While the top languages spoken in the service area are Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Arabic, Cantonese, and Tagalog, CTA also serves customers visiting from a variety of domestic and international locations who may be unfamiliar with the transit system and need assistance with navigation.

The challenge statement aims to pilot solutions that enable CSR/As to engage riders through interpretation and/or translation devices, allowing CTA staff to better communicate with riders speaking various languages. 

Proposals must be integrated into a stationary interactive display in stations to adhere to existing CTA policies. Translation and interpretation assistance are the main features requested, but innovators may propose other features that can enhance the customer experience.

Increasing Simulation Training

The second new challenge CTA is seeking solutions for will address the following statement: “How can CTA provide simulated training opportunities for rail operators to gain additional hands-on experience?”

CTA is seeking a lightweight solution that simulates the rail operating environment to improve training available for rail operators who have completed their initial training period, to receive feedback, and build skills for safe and efficient operation. Training opportunities, outside of real-life, on-the-job experience, are limited.

A rail simulator complementing CTA’s existing operator cab simulator would provide a cost-effective, safe, and efficient way for operators to continue to improve confidence and skills, leading to a more skilled workforce to navigate the complexities of CTA’s rail system.

CTA officials said they would prefer proposals from interested companies that can reasonably model rail cabs while maintaining portability and providing scenarios in a variety of weather and time-of-day conditions. However, simulators that utilize existing PCs or tablets will also be considered. 

The proposed solutions would be available to operators at a fixed location in at least one CTA training center. They should have the ability for CTA to relocate them to other facilities as needed.

There will be an opportunity for interested companies to learn more about the challenges and how to apply during an information session, to be held at a place and time in late September to be determined. Interested vendors will have the opportunity to ask questions and gain a better understanding of the requirements.

Applications for both challenge statements are due by October 21.

CTA’s Innovation Studio

Last year, CTA launched three challenge statements during the inaugural year of the Innovation Studio program, and CTA has launched one other challenge so far this year. 

The agency is partnering with private sector entities to explore leading-edge ideas to improve rail system safety, to develop a new solution for bus stop asset management, to expand the availability of real-time information displays to bus riders, and to mitigate the impact of secondhand smoke for riders on bus and rail vehicles.

There are currently four pilots in progress from the 2024 challenges. These include two pilots to install digital bus stop signs at up to 20 stops to provide real-time arrival information and system alerts, and two to detect intrusion on the rail right-of-way automatically. 

CTA said it will provide more updates as these and other in-development pilots move forward.