New York City's public transportation system has problems, and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is turning to the tech community for solutions.

The MTA on Wednesday launched what it's calling the nation's first "Transit Tech Lab," an accelerator program designed to identify and test new technologies that can help modernize the city's mass transit network.

As part of the program, the MTA announced two challenges: one seeks solutions that can help reduce the impact of subway delays, and another is looking for ways to make buses faster and more efficient. Teams have until Nov. 30 to submit their ideas, and selected teams will have the opportunity to pilot their technology with the MTA.

"The entire MTA leadership team is deeply committed to incorporating new technologies throughout the system and I am excited about this new initiative," MTA President Pat Foye said in a statement.

The MTA hopes the subway challenge yields technology that can better predict how long delays will last, forecast how incidents will impact the entire system, and communicate that information to riders.

"Potential technologies to solve this challenge include analysing historical subway data to find patterns that can be used to predict future disruptions, exploring tools for immediately communicating with customers, and using entirely new data sources such as social media that may provide fresh insights into subway incident impacts," the MTA said.

For its bus challenge, the MTA is open to a variety of technologies "including sensors, cameras, and software that can help identify obstructions and patterns, improve coordination of routes and transfers, alert enforcement agencies about vehicles located in bus lanes, and adjust bus activity to changing customer demand."

After the application period ends, a team of MTA specialists and private-sector experts will review the proposals. Selected teams will participate in an eight-week accelerator program, starting in February, to polish their products. After that, the MTA will select the best technologies for a one-year pilot. The pilot is unpaid, but teams will gain exposure and have the opportunity to "positively contribute to the future of New York City," the MTA said.