GlobeSherpa has teamed up with Valley Metro and its advertising agency, R&R Partners, in Phoenix to build a new, custom trip planning application that will be available to customers next year. The new app will be easy-to-use and designed to improve rider access to bus and light rail schedules, maps, and other important transit information. The application is expected to be complete in the summer of 2014.
“In the metro Phoenix region, transit is growing in popularity with nearly 250,000 daily passengers and we have to keep up with how they want and need their information,” said Hillary Foose, director, communication and marketing at Valley Metro. “We’re thrilled to be working with R&R Partners and GlobeSherpa, two experts in the advertising and mobile application markets.”
Trip planning applications are relevant to both regular and discretionary riders of transit systems as they can aid in determining when the next bus or train will arrive as well as provide a holistic view of a system for those passengers that may be unfamiliar with their destination or area.
The new Trip Planning application will provide a host of useful functionality including bus and train route maps, real time arrival and departure information, stop identifications, appropriate fare prices for planned trips, favorite stops or trips, and customization for a personalized experience.
The app will also offer common mapping features such as the use of search, ability to pin specific locations and points of interest, and location-based services using GPS technologies.
“Its exciting to be working with Valley Metro to build an effective and intuitive trip planning application,” said Nat Parker, CEO at GlobeSherpa. “As regular transit riders ourselves, we expect mobile transit apps to be clean, functional, and intuitive and we are confidant Valley Metro riders will love using this app to plan their trip.”
The application will initially be available for iOS and Android devices and be available from the iPhone or Google Play app stores at no cost.
