ConnX Launches Advisory Coalition to Accelerate AI-Powered Infrastructure Innovation

ConnX Launches Advisory Coalition to Accelerate AI-Powered Infrastructure Innovation

Public infrastructure is at a turning point. Transit agencies, departments of transportation, and municipalities across the country are under pressure to modernize aging systems, improve safety, and maximize limited budgets. To meet this moment, ConnX has announced the launch of its Advisory Coalition — a powerhouse group of industry leaders who will help guide our mission to build safer, smarter, and more resilient infrastructure.

Why This Coalition Matters

Technology alone isn’t enough to transform mission-critical industries like transit, public works, and smart infrastructure. True innovation requires trusted collaboration and visionary leadership. The ConnX Advisory Coalition brings together decades of experience from leaders who have shaped policy, modernized agencies, and delivered large-scale infrastructure projects across the U.S.

With their insights, ConnX is well positioned to align with federal mandates, accelerate funding pathways, and deliver measurable impact for agencies seeking to do more with less.

Meet the Advisory Leaders

Our coalition brings together leaders with decades of experience in transportation, infrastructure, cybersecurity, and public-private partnerships:

• Leslie Richards, Professor of Practice at the University of Pennsylvania, former CEO & General Manager of SEPTA, and former PennDOT Secretary. Richards brings unmatched perspective on modernizing transit systems and leveraging AI to cut downtime and improve on-time performance by as much as 30%.

• Randy Iwasaki, former Caltrans Director, CCTA Executive Director, and AWS Transportation Lead. Iwasaki highlights that transit is about people arriving home safely every day, and ConnX’s Connected Transit-as-a-Service (CTaaS) platform directly supports Vision Zero and PTASP safety goals.

• Emille Williams, former CEO of COTA and SEPTA’s Chief Engineering Officer, who emphasizes that modernizing transit requires an integrated, AI-powered approach to safety, reliability, and the rider experience.

• Scott Belcher, former CEO of the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) and President & CEO of ITS America. Belcher underscores how ConnX’s CTaaS model unlocks new funding opportunities while delivering measurable ROI for agencies.

Together, these leaders bring the expertise and relationships necessary to help agencies navigate today’s challenges while preparing for tomorrow’s opportunities.

Driving Safer, Smarter Infrastructure

At the core of ConnX’s mission is Connected Transit-as-a-Service (CTaaS), a platform that unifies siloed systems like CAD/AVL, CCTV, and fare collection into one intelligent fabric. Through our MaestroIQ™ orchestration engine, agencies gain:

• Faster emergency response through AI-driven detection and NG911 integration.
• Predictive maintenance that reduces downtime and extends asset life.
• Unified visibility across vehicles, depots, and stations for smarter operations.
• Financial sustainability with ROI-driven insights and funding alignment.

Empowering agencies with the tools they need to safeguard riders, restore confidence in public transit, and create connected communities that thrive defines the core of ConnX's Connected Transit-as-a-Service . By integrating safety, reliability, and sustainability into one intelligent platform, ConnX enables agencies to deliver experiences that go beyond infrastructure, strengthening trust between transit systems and the people they serve.

A Pivotal Moment for ConnX

As our CEO, Indrajit Ghosh, noted, “Transformation in mission-critical industries demands more than technology — it requires trusted collaboration and visionary leadership.”

With the Advisory Coalition, ConnX is doubling down on its commitment to safety, uptime, and resilience for agencies nationwide. This milestone ensures that we continue to align innovation with real-world challenges while forging trusted partnerships at scale.

Looking Ahead

Federal funding priorities — from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to Vision Zero initiatives — are creating unprecedented opportunities for agencies ready to modernize. ConnX, powered by Cisco’s secure infrastructure, is uniquely positioned to help agencies capture this moment and deliver next-generation infrastructure innovation.

This is not just about technology. It is about giving agencies the tools to improve rider safety, rebuild trust, and deliver stronger community experiences. With the launch of the ConnX Advisory Coalition, we are committed to building the future of connected infrastructure together — safer, smarter, and more sustainable.

Read the Press Release Here: https://connxai.com/connxai-launches-powerhouse-advisory-coalition/