Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) has launched a new beta version of the MyTransport.SG mobile application (MTM app) that has been refreshed as part of the agency’s efforts to better use data sources and technology for smarter transport solutions.
The LTA has spent a year working on improvements to the first version of the MyTransport.SG, which will be phased out by the end of this year. The MTM app was first launched in 2011 to equip commuters with static and real-time transport service information and has had more than 3.5 million downloads to date.
The refreshed MTM app will provide commuters with more real-time information to help them plan their journeys better, which is in line with the Singapore government’s ‘Smart Nation’ vision of harnessing digital technology to improve quality of life for its citizens.
One key improvement in the enhanced MTM app is a ‘Near You’ personalization function to improve commuters’ navigation experience. Users will be able to set their daily journeys on the home screen of the app and subscribe to real-time transport alerts based on their ‘Near You’ preferences.
Users can customize the app to receive real-time alerts of disruption on their chosen routes or nearby transportation nodes, whereas the old app sent notifications of all traffic and transport delays across the network. Available for all Apple and Android devices, the upgraded MTM app now includes a new multimodal journey planner that informs commuters of nearby bus services and MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) stations and will help commuters plan journeys across different transport modes.
The new app will also inform motorists of local conditions with live footage from the LTA’s network of citywide traffic cameras, as well as real-time parking location and availability near their destinations, allowing them to plan ahead and save time. Recognizing that app functionality and user-friendliness are important features to users, during its development work the LTA studied many popular apps for their user interface and user experience design.
LTA also conducted an extensive study with members of the public to gather views and understand their needs for the app. Early beta tests were then conducted with selected ‘Friends of LTA’, public users recommended by the Public Transport Council, and other government agencies. The Authority says further improvements to the app will be worked on progressively, including a journey planner for cyclists and the integration of private-hire and carshare services.
“While the current version of the app offers a wide range of information for land transport users and is already well-used, we felt we could do more to enhance the experience for our users,” explained Peter Quek, LTA’s group director of information technology, cybersecurity, and digital services.
“This was why we actively sought and incorporated public feedback on possible enhancements to the look, feel and content of the app. We are confident that the enhanced app will provide users with a richer, more personalized and intuitive experience when planning their transport journeys.”
