By Julia Moro
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has launched a test version of a systemwide ‘MYmta’ app and website designed by customers to deliver real-time arrival information, trip planning and more for subways, buses, Metro-North and the Long Island Rail Road.
Both the app and the website combine all of the MTA’s mass transit properties in one convenient place and provide real-time arrival information for trains, subways and buses. They also provide information on planned work and updates on delays, how to find nearby stations and stops, a unified trip planning function for traveling across the MTA’s regional transportation networks, enable customers with mobility challenges to plan accessible trips and allow users to save favorite lines, stations, stops and trips.
The MTA is asking its customers to help improve the app and the website by providing feedback on what features are helpful, what can be improved upon and what should be added.
The MTA plans to add information related to the bridges and tunnels.
“The ‘MYmta’ app and website are being custom built for MTA customers, by MTA customers,” said MTA Chairman Joseph Lhota. “In phase one of our outreach we engaged more than 2,000 customers through surveys, one-on-one interviews and conversations with riders in the subways, buses and railroads during which we showed the app and documented their feedback. We also tested the app with more than 1,500 employees.”
Phase two of the outreach campaign focused on the feedback they received from New Yorkers on how to improve after the app and website were released.
“We think ‘MYmta’ will be an important tool for our customers as they plan and manage their commute,” said MTA Managing Director Veronique Hakim. “In addition to real-time arrival and trip planning, the app lets you personalize your experience. It also lets you choose whether you want to use buses, subways or rail lines, and plan accessible travel. Best of all, it gives our customers access to insider information from our control centers about planned work and delays. Want to know what’s going on anywhere in the system? ‘MYmta’ will tell you.”
Nick Sifuentes, executive director of Tri-State Transportation Campaign, said he juggles at least four official MTA apps and struggles to keep up with all of them.
“Riders will finally have one single app for everything,” he said.
All New Yorkers, spanning from Montauk to Mott Haven now have this travel information right at their fingertips.
The free app is currently available in the Apple and Google Play app stores.
Based on customer feedback the MTA will be adding the ability to track buses, a feature that will allow customers to report issues in the system and customized alerts within the app.
All of these features are slated to launch this summer. Customers can also visit the MTA’s test website to help decide which features take precedence by giving a “thumbs up’ or ‘thumbs down.”
Reach reporter Julia Moro by e-mail at jmoro
