New Jersey Transit Rolls Out Apps Pilot Program For Blind and Hearing Impaired Riders
At Hoboken Terminal, GoodMaps guides people inside the building. At Newark Penn Station, Convo links ASL users with live translation.
Two new apps now assist blind riders and ASL users at major NJ Transit stations. At Hoboken Terminal, GoodMaps guides people inside the building. At Newark Penn Station, Convo links ASL users with live translation.
"GoodMaps and Convo are innovative applications that deliver practical solutions that help make our busiest facilities more accessible to all customers," said NJ Transit President and CEO Kris Kolluri, in a news release. "Whether it's navigating a terminal or communicating with staff, these technologies give people more control over their journey."
Inside Hoboken Terminal, the GoodMaps app acts like an indoor GPS. Voice commands or on-screen text direct users to platforms, exits, and amenities. The system pinpoints locations with remarkable accuracy, making navigation simple.
At Newark Penn, riders who use sign language can now chat with staff through their phones. By scanning a QR code, the Convo app connects them to interpreters in seconds. This breakthrough ends communication barriers at ticket counters and info desks.
NJ Transit Head of IT Innovation Luna Katbah shared insights on the project's impact. "Our work with the Transit Tech Lab proves how fresh ideas can make transit better for everyone. This test run shows that smart tech can give riders who are visually impaired or hard of hearing more freedom to move around."
The Transit Tech Lab matches transit systems in the NYC area with cutting-edge solutions. Their partnerships test new fixes for old problems in transportation.
The apps started working Oct. 17. Riders can download GoodMaps from app stores for use in Hoboken Terminal. For sign language help at Newark Penn Station, QR codes wait at service counters.
