New MTA App Shows All Transit Info In One Place

NEW YORK, NY — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority rolled out a new smartphone app and website Monday morning that aim to streamline how straphangers plan their commutes. The cellphone-friendly website and "MYmta" app, currently in a beta test phase, show straphangers real-time subway, bus and commuter rail information that has been housed in separate apps.

"Right now 65 percent of customers try to touch us for travel information through their mobile phone, and we think that number is just going to be increasing," MTA Managing Director Veronique Hakim said.

MYmta, currently in a beta test phase, is available for download on Google Play and the Apple App Store.

Both the app and the website, new.mta.info, show commuters the nearest subway and bus stops as well as real-time arrival information, which is currently displayed on subway countdown clocks and the existing Bus Time and Subway Time apps.

They will also help users plan trips on multiple transit services, including the Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Railroad, New Jersey Transit and PATH trains and the NYC Ferry.

The MTA is eager to get feedback from riders so it can improve the app in the coming months, Hakim said.

The agency already plans to add new features, she said such as integration with its electronic ticket service and a map with weekend service changes. Straphangers will eventually use the app to pay fares after the MTA rolls out its new contactless fare system in the coming years, Hakim said.

"We think it's kind of in a sweet spot right now where it has good functionality, but we know that with more customer input we can continue to make it even better," Hakim said.

The MTA has already surveyed 2,000 commuters and done 180 hours of one-on-one interviews to get feedback on the app, officials said. The agency also plans to launch a bus, subway and rail advertising campaign to raise awareness about it.

The MTA will continue sharing all its data with third-party apps that offer similar services, such as Google Maps and CityMapper. But Hakim said users like having information directly from the MTA because "there is an integrity to the data that we’re providing."

Advocates praised the MTA for creating a more convenient app that meaningfully incorporated feedback from commuters, including disabled riders who rely on the Access-A-Ride paratransit service.

The MTA is currently testing another service, MYAAR, that will let paratransit users schedule a ride, track the vehicle's location and provide feedback within the MYmta app.

"I've really felt like we've been listened to about not only what's not working but what we would like to see to make it work better," said John Hatchett, who has used Access-A-Ride in the four years that he's been in a wheelchair.

But the app had glitches Monday that left some straphangers unimpressed. Images posted to Twitter showed an outdated subway map and "No status" for several Long Island Rail Road lines.

"The fact that @MTA launched its new app with an outdated subway map is just so deliciously good that I may skip lunch today," transit writer and researcher Jason Rabinowitz tweeted.

Sarah Meyer, the MTA's chief customer officer, responded that Google and Apple were reviewing the app with an outdated subway map and updating it would have "jeopardized the launch date." It will be fixed this week, she said.

(Lead image: The MTA launched a new smartphone app on Monday to streamline how straphangers get around. Photo by Patrick Cashin/Metropolitan Transportation Authority)