The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and AT&T released 49 new transit apps and opened public voting for New Yorkers to select their favorite transit tool.

The apps were developed as part of the 2013 App Quest virtual challenge, a global competition to develop new mobile tools that use real-time MTA data. App Quest launched in May with a weekend hackathon — the first officially sponsored by the MTA and AT&T — and developers had the opportunity to continue working on their apps through the final submission deadline in August.

Voting on the submitted apps is open through September 10, and winners will be announced at the end of the month.

“We are very pleased that so many app developers have dedicated their time and energy toward creating apps that aim to help our customers,” said MTA Chairman/CEO Thomas F. Prendergast.

Participants in the App Quest virtual challenge are competing for $40,000 in prize money to support the development of the apps that best help riders access the MTA’s subway, railroads, buses, bridges and tunnels. The app to receive the most votes will receive the Popular Choice award. Winners of the App Quest hackathon held in May were awarded a total of $10,000. All of the prize money is provided by AT&T.

The MTA first launched App Quest in 2012 and received 42 app submissions. Since then, Transit Wireless has activated wireless service at 36 underground subway stations in Manhattan and announced the expansion to the next 40 stations, in Queens and Manhattan, by the first quarter of 2014.