New York, NY - August 13th, 2013 - App developers with creative ideas for how to make commuting easier have just one week left to submit an app to App Quest 2013 a global apps challenge being jointly organized by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), AT&T, the Polytechnic Institute of New York University and ChallengePost.

App submissions are due at 5 p.m. on August 20. Winners will be announced this fall.

Through App Quest, developers are competing for a total of $50,000 in prize money, which will go to the apps that can best help the public more easily use the MTA’s subways, railroads, buses, bridges and tunnels.

To be eligible, apps must use at least one MTA dataset. The MTA is especially looking for specific types of apps, in these categories:

• Multimodal: Apps that use the MTA’s real-time data, schedules and rider alerts to empower trip planning across separate modes of transportation (subway, bus, railroad, non-MTA).
• Data Crowdsourcing: Apps that use cellular networking and/or app location services to generate real-time origin and destination data that can be used to track and broadcast up-to-date information on MTA service.
• Personal / Social App Integration: Apps that integrate MTA routes, schedules, and real-time information into the personal/social space, for example in ways that improve time-efficiency; increase environmental and energy-use literacy; or track personal trip data and MetroCard / ticket usage and costs.
• Way-Finding: Apps that find new ways to visualize way-finding, trip planning, and real-time data.
• Investment Visualization: Apps that provide a visualization of the MTA’s capital program in progress in order to provide ridership with data-driven information about its regional economic and ridership impact.

Visit MTAAppQuest.com for full challenge requirements and details.