Systems and methods for implementing a sensor-based transit maintenance system. A plurality of sensors are located at a plurality of transit locations within a transit system. The plurality of sensors are configured to collect a plurality of sensor measurements of at least one transit location device. A transit server may receive sensor data comprising the plurality of sensor measurements. The transit server may determine, based on the sensor data, that a current or future defect exists within the transit system. The transit server may determine a transit location of the plurality of transit locations at which the defect is located. The transit server may generate maintenance instructions for addressing the defect and send the maintenance instructions either to a portable electronic device or to one of the at least one transit location device at the transit location.