Matawan, a leading European scale-up in mobility solutions, announced today its selection by the Transit Tech Lab as one of twelve companies to collaborate with leading New York metropolitan transit agencies. The Transit Tech Lab is a public-private initiative established by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and the Partnership Fund for New York City to foster innovation in public transportation.
Matawan will partner with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) to pilot its WanData AI/Data Intelligence solution. The initiative aims at significantly improving the rider experience on the Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) system by accurately measuring, capturing, and analyzing paid ridership and travel demand data. These insights will empower PATH to optimize transit schedules and enhance communication strategies for its passengers.
Matawan is currently developing a proof of concept (POC), slated for delivery by the end of June, for the PATH system – a vital 13.8-mile (22.2 km) rapid transit network serving Newark, Harrison, Jersey City, and Hoboken in northeastern New Jersey, as well as Lower and Midtown Manhattan in New York City.
The 3 key elements Matawan will seek to address are:
The 2025 Transit Tech Lab finalists were chosen from an impressive pool of 112 applications from around the globe, following a rigorous evaluation process involving over 200 public sector experts.
Applicants were challenged to propose technology-driven solutions addressing two key areas: “Ridership Improvement,” focusing on analyzing ridership and travel demand data to enhance the passenger experience, and “Inspection & Maintenance,” aimed at optimizing these critical operational aspects. Companies demonstrating promising solutions and strong product-market fit participated in in-person pitch sessions and expo-style demonstrations with senior staff from the participating agencies.
The twelve finalists will conduct a minimum viable test of their technology over an eight-week “proof of concept” period in collaboration with one or more of the participating agencies, including the MTA, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and the NYC Department of Transportation.
→ The program has a proven track record: since its 2018 inception, successful proofs of concept have led to full-scale pilots and, ultimately, 30 solutions have commercially scaled or directly influenced procurement decisions, highlighting the potential for these initial tests to drive tangible change.
Reinforcing its commitment to the North American market, Matawan appointed Jeff Cross this May as Senior Solutions and Bid Manager for North America. Jeff is a seasoned professional with a robust technical and sales background. His extensive experience includes over two years as a Senior Solutions Engineer at Cubic Transportation Systems in Dallas and more than six years at ModoPayments in Richardson, TX, where he held key roles such as Payments Architect and Sales Engineer, gaining significant expertise in the fare payments industry.
