The Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) has launched the beta version of its mobile app, which features real-time arrival predictions, allows riders to locate bus stops, bookmark favorite bus lines, submit lost and found claims and more.
AC Transit says the mobile app brings the benefits of the customer service center directly to the rider’s cell phone and augments AC Transit’s reNEW Plan – an all-encompassing coronavirus (COVID-19) recovery plan and commitment to riders.
Riders can download the free mobile app to better plan and connect to any destination AC Transit serves. The app is available from the Apple Store for iOS, Google Play Store for Android or search “AC Transit Official” using the quotation marks.
The mobile app is launching in beta mode for the first 90 days of service, which permits the agency’s software engineering team to fine-tune the app’s performance, predictive accuracy and scalability, as riders adjust and explore its features, in real-time. It is important to note, in the current iteration, the mobile app features innovations and improvements that were the direct result of early testing.
Additionally, under the reNEW Plan, AC Transit says it is committed to developing technologies that improve the health and safety of its transit service.
“We employed considerable research, including COVID-19 studies on the importance of hand hygiene. Some public health guidance recommends limited touching of surfaces. Other research reveals that rider health concerns extend to handling cash. Although experts opine the risk of COVID-19 transmission is low from touching objects, the new app eliminates any need to physically touch fareboxes, coins or dollars, and wait in line to refill transit cards through its secure contactless payment feature,” explained AC Transit.
The mobile app directs all contactless payments to the technologies of Token Transit. The card handling app has collaborated with more than 100 transit agencies across the US and Canada and is a Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) Level 1 service provider – the most stringent level of certification available in the payment industry.
Mobile passes can now be purchased through the app and will not be activated until the rider taps the fare on their phone. Once activated, a green circle pulsates around the AC Transit logo and displays the time validation. Riders are required to show their activated phone screen to the bus operator before proceeding onboard. When a pass has expired, the activation circle stops pulsing and changes to grey. The expiration of the pass will also be noted on the phone. Riders are encouraged to avoid activating the pass until ready to board the bus.
Riders can still use the Transit App for fares, as can Clipper Card users.
