NCDOT launches multimodal transit app

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has launched a transit app pilot project designed to help commuters travel to and from train stations without using their cars.

Developed by transportation technology company TransLoc, the app allows commuters to use their smart phones to locate nearby transit stations, track buses in real time and book rides with car-sharing service Uber. Residents also can plan trips on Amtrak's Piedmont and Carolinian trains.

The initiative is aimed at advancing NCDOT's mission to eliminate "transit deserts" and connect residents with mobility options across the state, according to a TransLoc press release.

"Our partnership with TransLoc is helping us create a large network of interconnected public transit options," said Paul Worley, rail division director at NCDOT.

The app is available in the Raleigh, Cary, Durham, Burlington, Greensboro, High Point, Salisbury, Kannapolis, and Charlotte areas. The pilot will run for three months.