All passengers can now enjoy a significant upgrade on MTA’s Transit app: free access to Transit Royale, the app’s premium service.
The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) announced the upgrade for all riders so that they can enjoy the additional features of Transit Royale at no cost, including access to upcoming departures for all transit lines (even weeks into the future), route maps, and vehicle tracking.
The Transit app is a third-party mobile phone app that uses GPS tracking to let passengers know the exact location of their vehicle and when it will arrive.
“We’re always looking for new ways to enhance the rider experience and make using our system even easier,” said Holly Arnold, Maryland Transit Administrator. “By providing free access to Transit Royale, we are ensuring our riders have access to the best tools and features available. This is just one example of our commitment to innovation and excellence in public transit.”
Beginning Aug. 20, riders using the Transit app will get a message upon opening it letting them know about the free upgrade and the enhanced features the upgrade gives them, including:
- Access to upcoming departures, route maps and vehicle tracking for all transit lines, not just the ones close to the rider.
- More departure times, with full schedules for any line, including days and weeks into the future.
- Transit’s GO feature which guides users throughout their trips, with the ability to customize emojis and nicknames.
- Custom themes to personalize app icon and color scheme.
- More icons to choose from to mark favorite places.
Riders can switch the app icon and theme to match the MTA’s colors, “for a distinctive, locally-branded mobile app experience, free of advertisements,” reads the press release.
In addition to the Transit Royale upgrades, the MTA is working to improve riders’ experience in several ways. They’re installing a second antenna on each bus to provide more accurate arrival predictions. The newly launched in-application wayfinding system includes step-by-step directions to elevators, escalators, and platforms to help passengers navigate the Metro Subway system. The agency is piloting QR code decal signs at select downtown Baltimore Local Bus stops, which should enable riders to scan and access live online bus arrival times without the need for an app.
To learn more about Transit Royale features and MTA’s real-time arrival alternatives, click this link.
