Current Urban Network Pressure Points
The trends reshaping urban transportation are putting pressure on transportation agencies. Cybersecurity risk is rising as connected IT/OT systems and AI adoption expand the attack surface. Outdated systems continue to drive up operating costs, while an aging workforce is retiring away from the aging infrastructure they maintain—leaving fewer people to operate existing networks while also modernizing them.
At the same time, growing safety concerns and roadway congestion are putting greater pressure on public transit amid shifting ridership. Traditional funding sources are eroding, increasing the need for new revenue sources such as smart parking, EV registration fees, and public-private partnerships. Climate resilience and sustainability goals add further urgency to modernization.
Two organizational challenges cut across these pressures: limited AI technical skills and siloed or unsecured data. Both can make AI solutions more difficult to build, deploy, and use securely.
