Edmonton’s city council is considering offering the premium features of the popular Transit trip-planning app for free to users. While the app currently has a free version, its premium counterpart, known as Transit Royale, provides additional functionalities like trip planning in advance, real-time transit vehicle locations, and more trip options.
Mayor Andrew Knack expressed that with the city experiencing record-high transit ridership, it is essential to enhance the user experience. He emphasized the benefits of gaining daily insights and data from app users to improve the transit system more efficiently.
The proposed four-year partnership with Transit would require an annual investment of approximately $540,000 from the Edmonton Transit Service (ETS) budget. Emily Stremel, chair of Edmonton Transit Riders, noted that the existing cost of the premium app creates a barrier to transit accessibility, as users currently pay $5 monthly or $25 annually.
Stremel highlighted that subsidizing the app demonstrates the city’s commitment to facilitating easy transit planning for riders. She mentioned that apart from trip planning, the app is also utilized for mapping bike routes.
Similar initiatives in cities like Ottawa and Calgary have led to increased ridership following the implementation of subscription models. Transit reports that agencies sponsoring Royale typically observe a significant rise in app engagement and trips taken by existing users.
Mayor Knack acknowledged the importance of ongoing efforts to enhance safety and cleanliness in the transit system. He encouraged residents to utilize the app for route planning and utilizing public transportation effectively.
The proposal was unanimously approved at the executive committee meeting and is slated for a vote by the city council in the near future.