Transit agencies, technology providers and industry partners invited to submit innovative solutions for FTA’s upcoming Transit Innovation Showcase

The Federal Transit Administration is calling on the public transportation industry to bring its best ideas and technologies to Washington, D.C.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration has issued a Special Notice seeking Statements of Interest for the upcoming FTA Transit Innovation Showcase, a one-day immersive event at USDOT Headquarters highlighting innovative technologies and solutions for public transportation.

Statements of Interest submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, October 16, 2026, will receive priority consideration.

SWTA encourages transit agencies, industry partners, technology providers and innovators throughout SWTA Nation to review the opportunity and consider submitting solutions that could help improve the safety, accessibility, reliability and overall passenger experience of public transportation.

Innovation Across Every Mode of Transit

The Transit Innovation Showcase is intended to highlight high-impact technologies and solutions applicable across public transportation, including commuter rail, subways, light rail, buses and ferries.

FTA is particularly interested in innovations addressing five key areas:

• Safety and security
• Cleanliness
• Universal accessibility
• Availability of real-time service data
• System reliability

The agency is also seeking demonstrations addressing specific safety and operational challenges.

Potential technologies identified by FTA include fare enforcement systems and defeat-resistant fare gates for rail and bus applications; bus operator security barriers; station platform barrier technologies; training simulators; accessibility technologies and standards; trip planning and wayfinding solutions; and technologies designed to monitor and improve the cleanliness of vehicles, stations and facilities.

The examples are not intended to be exhaustive, opening the opportunity to other innovative technologies and solutions addressing critical challenges facing public transportation.

An Opportunity for SWTA Members and Industry Partners

For SWTA members working every day to improve mobility, the showcase provides an opportunity to bring innovative work directly to the federal level and demonstrate solutions that could have applications throughout the transit industry.

SWTA also encourages members to share the opportunity with colleagues, vendors, technology partners and others within their networks who may have innovative solutions appropriate for the national showcase.

Organizations interested in participating should review the full FTA Special Notice for submission requirements and instructions.

Important Deadlines

Priority Consideration Deadline: October 16, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. ET

Questions regarding the Special Notice may be directed to ftashowcase@dot.gov.

View the FTA Transit Innovation Showcase Special Notice and submission instructions on SAM.gov

SWTA will continue sharing federal opportunities and information that can help our members connect with resources, innovations and initiatives shaping the future of public transportation.