Currently, over 100 million people in the US are under heat warnings.
A report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) earlier this year confirmed that 2023 was the warmest year on record. This year seems to be following the same trend, with more predictions of heat waves and extreme weather events, such as floods, wildfires, and droughts.
Extreme weather conditions, such as very hot spells or sub-zero temperatures, always impact public transit. Despite this, many people still rely on public transit for essential journeys, such as to get to their workplace, or to attend medical appointments.
Kuba’s mobility app can be crucial in ensuring passengers’ safety when they have no choice but to travel. Under the GoPass® name, it is used in US cities receiving severe weather alerts for heat, including Dallas, Tulsa, and Phoenix.
The app displays the price of a planned trip and offers riders the option to buy tickets in advance, spending as little time outdoors as possible. It offers riders real-time planning, allowing them to see the location of the next bus, or any other public transit method supported in that city. Users can track vehicles’ movement along their routes on a map and receive real-time updates on vehicles’ status, whether it’s running on time, delayed, or canceled.
These features are vital, especially as routes can be disrupted during extreme weather, ensuring transit users are always informed and in control.
In Dallas, the GoPass® app, powered by Kuba, also offers some valuable support for transit riders planning unavoidable trips during hot weather. On its map interface, it shows the location of cooling centers offered by Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), which provide temporary relief from the heat.
A standout feature of Kuba’s mobile platform is its adaptability. It is a white-label solution that can be tailored to the unique needs of any transit agency.
The app has been evolving continuously for more than a decade. It now offers many features and functionality to support mobile ticketing or fully-fledged Mobility-as-a-Service. For agencies looking for an app solution, the benefits include rapid deployment. It can be in riders’ hands in just two months, benefiting the city, transit agency and the communities they serve.
Read more about Kuba’s mobility app