City launches transportation app, creates more accessibility to local public transportation

Accessibility is a topic community leaders continue to bring up. And now they are taking that word and putting it in an app.

The City of Jackson and the Jackson Transit Authority launched an app, TransLoc, to give residents everything they need to know about the public transportation system right in their hand.

“And this app will allow users of our transportation system to live track where their buses are in real time. So, you can select stops and find out what is the estimated time for arrival and departure, you can select different routes", says Director of Performance Management for the city of Jackson, Lauren Kirk.

AARP awarded the city with $35,000 in grant money last fall, which helped plan and finally launch the app.

Anyone can use it, but they hope the older population in the community see it as a helpful resource.

“With AARP's support we feel like this will also help our elderly population, who are some of the most at risk whenever they are having to wait in the cold or with a lot of groceries", adds Kirk.

Its free for everyone and can be used on Apple and Android devices.

“Keep making transportation more accessible and a better experience for everyone. Because we know transportation is really important for all of us , especially for those who rely on it to get to work and get to kids", says Kirk.

Officials say they have more plans to make residents lives here in the Hub City a little bit easier.