Mobility as a Service (Transit app)

[Busjack]

There was a discussion at the June board meeting at this point about a contract with Transit for an app for Mobility as a Service, which is intended to bring together fixed route, paratransit, On Demand, and TNC services.

Although what will be developed is yet to be seen, it seems short in that other Transit apps take care of fare payment, but it seems that Pace will still be relying on the Ventra app to some extent, and while Google Maps integrates CTA, Metra, and Pace (but not the other Pace modes), integration with CTA and Metra wasn't  mentioned here.

[Busjack]

Update: he did mention "other transit agency services."

This Bloomberg article discusses how Transit App is distinctive.

[Busjack]

The Pace announcement on the free trips during Blue Line construction suggested using the Transit app. I downloaded it and it instantly told me what CTA, Pace, and Metra services had stops in the immediate area. I should have put in a destination, but haven't yet. 

[Busjack]

2 hours ago, YoungBusLover said:

I understand where he's coming from but what's so hard about using a web browser from your phone to look up the same kind of results? Regardless if it's an app or not the tools are there to make things easier on riders.

 

The advantage of Transit is that if you enable location, it automatically reports everything at nearby stops. You don't have to know the route or stop number, and, if, as in the portrayed screen, have to choose between CTA, Pace and Metra. I don't lnow what the app you had requires to get a reading, but I didn't have to tap or pull down "93 California-Dodge" and then "Emerson-Ridge." It also does trip planning if you put in a destination, although a couple of difficult destinations implied that I should load a bike on the rack.

When I tried it near Old Orchard, it had enough sense to say that the Yellow Line was not available.

[Busjack]

In connection with the discussion at the May 2025 Board Meeting on extending the contract for the Transit app, it was mentioned that the RTA and CTA want to develop apps, and it seemed backwards that the smallest agency has the best app. Considering the mess the RTA made with its trip planner and tracker just another reason to abolish it.

[MetroShadow]

2 hours ago, Busjack said:

In connection with the discussion at the May 2025 Board Meeting on extending the contract for the Transit app, it was mentioned that the RTA and CTA want to develop apps, and it seemed backwards that the smallest agency has the best app. Considering the mess the RTA made with its trip planner and tracker just another reason to abolish it.

I agree (about the RTA Trip Planner, which has always been a cluster since Goroo).

The last thing I did before leaving Berkeley was getting the University on Transit. Granted, our equipment was powered by Nextbus (which I never thought there were products worse than Trapeze), but with the amount of connectivity here in the Bay Area, and the wasted potential amongst the three (never mind Ventra), it's worth it to retain them.

What Metra and CTA wants to do is what BART (which I've been a fan of for years) and WMATA are doing, which is putting their efforts on their apps, which has potential, but as we look at Clipper and Ventra (I won't scorch OMNI yet), is that the GTFS+/RT feed and detours/changes need to reflect accurately (Pace, and AC Transit don't do a good job with visualizing detours).

[Busjack]

11 minutes ago, MetroShadow said:

but as we look at ... Ventra

The Transit app lets one purchase tickets in it (Transit). For instance, RGRTA uses this method. Again, old contractual obligations and lack of coordination result in cludges like Ventra..

[Tcmetro]

Getting CTA on the Transit app would be a big move. It's one of the best products out there and it is integrated with bikes, scooters, and Uber/Lyft. Also works for other cities and ticket purchasing. In Montreal they have added the ability to inform riders of unplanned detours based on trends in the GPS tracking, which would be really helpful in Chicago. 

[Busjack]

3 hours ago, Tcmetro said:

Getting CTA on the Transit app would be a big move. It's one of the best products out there and it is integrated with bikes, scooters, and Uber/Lyft. Also works for other cities and ticket purchasing. In Montreal they have added the ability to inform riders of unplanned detours based on trends in the GPS tracking, which would be really helpful in Chicago. 

As pointed out at the meeting, CTA and Metra are already on the Transit app; Pace deemed that necessary to show connections. As I illustrated somewhere above, a click in Evanston brings up Purple Line, Metra, 93, 201, and 206, as well as Pace. As I said above, this region should just give up parochialism and pay for Transit region-wide, and while it was implied that that was possible, it was also implied that someone else would try to reinvent the wheel and force Pace onto it.

[MetroShadow]

On 5/21/2025 at 3:39 PM, Tcmetro said:

Getting CTA on the Transit app would be a big move. It's one of the best products out there and it is integrated with bikes, scooters, and Uber/Lyft. Also works for other cities and ticket purchasing. In Montreal they have added the ability to inform riders of unplanned detours based on trends in the GPS tracking, which would be really helpful in Chicago. 

They have been since its inception in 2012. Real time didn't show up to Pace until ~2016, Metra was back and forth as well (~2015ish). Jack's answer is the only one - because Transit can do so much more than what the RTA wants to do (and do it wrongly).