LA Metro taps Transit to replace smartphone app

Improved reliability that will also provide more consistent information across the Transit app, Metro.net, and the agency's digital signage at stops and stations. Steve Hymon

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) partnered with Transit to replace the agency’s smartphone app and collaborate on improving real-time bus and train arrival information for riders and the overall customer experience.

The Transit app will provide a greatly improved customer experience, including:

• Accurate real-time arrival information for buses and trains.

• Step-by-step navigation with Transit’s GO features.

• The ability to plan trips with transfers within Metro and to other agencies, along with the ability to combine public transit with options like Metro Bike Share and private ride share services.

• Personalized service alerts, so riders can set favorite lines and easily find information on the buses and trains they ride without having to comb through a long list of alerts.

• Offline functionality, including trip planning and schedules.

• Tools to help visually impaired riders navigate the system.

Improved reliability that will also provide more consistent information across the Transit app, Metro.net, and the agency's digital signage at stops and stations.

In addition, riders can use the app to get fare information and even call customer service. Additional Metro features are expected to be integrated into the app in the future.

Transit’s partnership with Metro enables data sharing that helps the agency improve service, while safeguarding privacy and protecting sensitive user information. As part of its commitment to privacy, Transit does not engage in background location tracking, does not sell location data to advertisers and does not share location data with Metro that could allow users to be identified.

The contract with Transit, which was selected through a competitive Request for Proposals process, costs zero dollars and the partnership is expected to save Metro $240,000 per year in app maintenance and development costs.