New York starts beta test of transport app
- August 15, 2023
- Steve Rogerson
New York’s Metropolitan Transport Authority (MTA) has launched a beta version of an app that aims to provide a rider-centric experience to help navigate subways, buses, Metro-North and the Long Island Rail Road.
“We’re excited to announce that the beta version of the new MTA app is now available for testing,” said an MTA statement.
The app will offer an agency-wide experience designed to help riders easily find travel information and navigate the transit system. Eventually, this will replace the existing MYmta as the core rider-facing app.
“The beta phase is a critical step that lets us share work in progress,” said the statement. “Beta users can test out the app and share feedback on what we’ve done so far. By downloading the app and submitting your feedback, you will improve the experience for millions of our riders and help us shape what the final version of the app looks like.”
New Yorkers can sign up to become a beta tester via an online form. For iPhone users, they will receive an email with instructions. Emails will be sent out in batches every day around 3pm.
Once Android users have signed up, they will be added to an internal testers group within the next business day. Unlike iPhone, there is no automatic email.
Feedback can be submitted via an online form. There are also ways to submit feedback directly via Android or iPhone devices. All feedback will be logged and reviewed, but not everyone will receive a response.
The MTA app is still a work in progress. It has many new and improved features, but there are many other things the authority wants to accomplish.
“We’ve made our roadmap for the app public so that you can see how we have organised what we want to do in the future,” said the statement. “Your feedback will directly inform how we prioritise items on the roadmap.”
The roadmap includes items such as additional push notifications, offline maps, dark mode, Citi Bike availability, additional regional transit services, a more seamless and integrated Access-A-Ride experience, multi-modal trip planning and ticketing.
