Capital Metro, HaCon and Bytemark proudly present the next generation of the CapMetro trip planning tools – based on HaCon and Bytemark technology.
CapMetro_IconTravelers in Austin now benefit from cutting-edge technology and the most advanced trip planning tools available for both web and mobile platforms. The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Capital Metro) is the regional public transportation provider in Central Texas and the first US agency to incorporate HaCon’s traveler tools.
With the new iOS, Android and Windows Phone versions of the CapMetro App, riders are now able to enjoy an efficient and seamless mobile trip planning experience. By partnering with Bytemark and HaCon, both leaders in the public transit technology industry, Capital Metro is paving the way for Austin to become a leading smart city.
The CapMetro App, which has already been downloaded more than 250,000 times, now features updated traveler tools that provide door-to-door trip planning and real-time data visualization on a predictive live map.
In addition to Central Texans, the redesigned CapMetro Trip Planner will help thousands of visitors easily navigate the city’s growing public transportation network. Michael Frankenberg, Managing Director at HaCon, said: “We are happy to support Capital Metro with new trip planning tools and will continue to develop and implement technological solutions for the city of Austin.”
In addition to facilitating real-time trip planning by shortest walking distance, shortest trip time, minimal transfers or preferred service mode, key functionalities and features include:
- • Integrated mobile ticketing to purchase mobile passes for planned trips
- • Detailed maps providing even more accurate routing, including detours, bus stops and points of interest
- • Notifications and alarms to get the most up-to-date information on delays, connection status or service alerts
- • A predictive live map showing animated positions of transit vehicles
- • Detour and service alert information included in trip plans
- • Transit reachability search on a system map indicating how far Capital Metro services can take riders within 20 minutes
- • Real-time departures at a specific stop or station
- • Ability to customize features including favorite stops, trip plans, service types and map settings
Capital Metro President/CEO Linda Watson said: “We are excited to continue equipping our riders with next-generation travel planning apps using cutting-edge technology from HaCon. Working with a software expert that was voted among the “50 Smartest Companies” by MIT Technology Review, is the next big step in realizing our vision of a smarter Austin.”
Capital Metro Vice President and Chief Information Officer Joe Iannello said: “These updated traveler tools provide many new features for our customers as they plan and take trips using our award-winning CapMetro App, and we already are planning additional exciting capabilities in future releases that are based upon our partnership with Bytemark and HaCon.”
Within the past months, HaCon and Bytemark have worked closely together to develop the new traveler tools that are now available on the CapMetro App, and will soon be available on the agency’s redesigned web and mobile sites, coming later this year. The project with Capital Metro is the first of many to be expected in North America resulting from the partnership between HaCon and Bytemark. Micah Bergdale, CEO of Bytemark, Inc. said: “We look forward to continue working with HaCon as we deliver the future of mobile ticketing and enhanced real-time trip planning. Together, we will bring powerful new IT capabilities to transit agencies from coast to coast, while putting accurate, real-time, door-to-door transit information into the hands and mobile phones of their riders.”
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About HaCon: HaCon creates and develops integrated software solutions for traffic, transport and logistics. With over 30 years of experience and a dedicated team of 270+ IT and transport planning specialists, HaCon has established itself as a leading European player for planning, scheduling and information solutions. In 2015, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) honored HaCon as one of the “50 Smartest Companies” worldwide.
The timetable information system, HAFAS, helps millions of passengers to plan their trips and always stay up to date during their travel. Combining all means of public and private transport, HAFAS-based journey planners handle over 100 million requests per day, providing multimodal transport chains in more than 25 countries. A powerful solution for train planning and capacity management, HaCon’s TPS software enjoys a growing European user base. HaCon consults and assists its customers with projects in rail freight transport and combined transport. Headquartered in Hannover, Germany, HaCon also holds offices in Berlin, Paris and London. www.hacon.de
About Bytemark, Inc.: A New York City startup with offices in the UK, Canada and Australia, Bytemark, Inc. provides mobile ticketing and payment solutions for transit, attractions, and events. In January 2012, Bytemark, Inc. launched the first mobile ticketing app for a major U.S. transit agency with the release of the NY Waterway app. Bytemark, Inc. is focused on providing its partners with the tools they need to navigate the rapidly evolving mobile ticketing industry. Transit has been underserved by the expansion of mobile technology, and Bytemark, Inc. is working to bridge the gap between the transit industry and the world’s growing technology sector. For more information, visit www.bytemark.co
About Capital Metro: Capital Metro connects people, jobs and communities by providing high-quality and sustainable transportation choices to Central Texans. Capital Metro provides enough rides each weekday onboard its buses, trains, paratransit and vanpool vehicles to fill Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium and Disch-Falk Field combined. As the regional transportation leader, Capital Metro is driving progress and investing in the region’s mobility with high-capacity transit solutions like MetroRapid, which moves more people at less cost and with less impact to the environment. Capital Metro is a financially sound and fiscally responsible agency, winning the highest rating for financial transparency from the Texas Comptroller for the fourth straight year.
