Now arriving: SEPTA unveils fully loaded iPhone app

A look at what the new iPhone app will look like Credit: SEPTA

After years of planning, SEPTA officials today will unveil a new iPhone app that will feature everything a transit rider needs to know, from real-time information to schedules on all modes, to alerts, advisories and more.

A lot of third-party applications already exist; however this is SEPTA’s first and only official app.

“When you look at the ecosystem out there, it seemed to be really sort of niched,” said Michael Zaleski, SEPTA director of emerging and specialty technologies. “This lets us consolidate all of it, and control what data is out there and how a person interacts with it.”

The project started a couple years ago when William Zebrowski, SEPTA senior director of information technology gave it as a project to an intern. A prototype was presented to SEPTA officials just six months later. The intern left to start a new position, but Zebrowski and his team kept the plan going.

Officials have been getting feedback from riders for years. People have emailed and mostly posted on social media asking for one app that consolidates all the features of several third-party programs.

A new feature allows users to find the nearest SEPTA location.

“It takes your current location and will tell you the closest SEPTA stop,” Zebrowski said. “It’s something good for our customers who may not ride SEPTA very frequently.”

Most of the application’s information is available on SEPTA’s website and social media accounts, but the app brings it all together in one place. When information is changed on the SEPTA website, it will automatically be synced to the app.

The app is only available for iPhone; an Android version will come in the spring.

Zebrowski will join SEPTA General Manager Joe Casey, Upper Darby Township Mayor Thomas N. Micozzie and others this morning at the 69th Street Transportation Center’s Grand Hall to unveil the app.

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