RTA gomobile
RTA gomobile is a public transit app for buses, trolleys, and ferries in New Orleans. RTA is switching to an alternative app called Le Pass. After the switch, passes purchased on gomobile will no longer be valid, and riders won’t be able to buy more on the app.
RTA’s audience can be challenging to write for. Most users are on the go, using the app to quickly plan a route or purchase a ticket just as their ride is approaching.
The word problem
The mission of the Regional Transit Authority is to provide safe, dependable, efficient transit services to all residents and visitors. To achieve this, copy must be clear and easy to read.
Dates are mentioned three times, there are unnecessary mentions of where the user can download the app, and it’s not immediately clear what the rider should do.
Before
First Iteration
This alert aims to inform riders about the switch and have them download Le Pass, RTA’s new app. I kept these goals in mind when I removed 11 lines of text, only keeping the essential information. This made the service warning easy to read and accessible for all visitors and residents of New Orleans.
Because this iteration was too concise, it failed to inform the user of all the critical information. Passes purchased on gomobile would no longer be valid after the switch, which left room for the possibility that passes could be transferred. Downloading Le Pass, the desired action of this message, is presented in the center of the text. A rider could glance over this at first.
Solution
My final solution was to move the desired action to the beginning. Presenting the most critical information first helps riders on the go stay informed on how they can continue using gomobile.
Users are also informed that tickets purchased in gomobile will no longer be valid after making the switch. My recommended solution for RTA aligns with its mission as an organization and achieves the goals of the service warning.