The creator of a free smartphone application that alleviates traffic congestion by incentivizing its users to make better decisions about their commutes through rewards, is celebrating its one-year anniversary of operations in the city of Austin, in partnership with the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA).
Over the past year, users of the Metropia app have driven over 1 million miles and saved over 3,500 hours that would have otherwise been spent sitting in traffic. Headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, Metropia’s mission is to make cities better places to live by reducing traffic congestion.
The company’s mobile platform incentivizes commuters to make better travel decisions independently, and through casual carpooling, with the DUO feature. Since its launch in the city, Metropia has been an integral part of the Austin community by building an ecosystem of government, employer and merchant partners that have joined together to become part of the traffic congestion solution.
Examples of Metropia’s involvement in the city include:
The DUO Social Carpooling app feature that was launched to encourage friends, families and co-workers to share a ride; Aiding Mayor Steve Adler’s ‘Austin Don’t Rush’ campaign, encouraging citizens to avoid peak traffic hours and use alternative modes of transportation; Partnering with the City of Austin Traffic Management Center to monitor traffic conditions during the annual South by Southwest festival; Integrating with the region’s ATXfloods website to ensure the safety of Central Texans during severe weather; Helping Central Texans to plan ahead for events such as Earth Day, Blues on the Green, and the Austin Trail of Lights, through partnerships with the app.
“Metropia is an innovative solution to Austin’s traffic problem, and we’re proud to have supported them over the past year,” said Mike Heiligenstein, executive director of the CTRMA. “We are excited to continue working with the Metropia team to show Austinites and Central Texans how planning ahead can better their commutes, and ultimately make a positive change in our region.”
Mia Zmud, vice president of ecosystem partnerships at Metropia, commented, “It has been a true pleasure serving the Austin market in such an innovative and impactful way. We are committed to making Austin a better place to drive, and I can’t wait to see what new partnerships we form, and the impact we have on the region.
