Site to Launch This Month Featuring Improved Content and Intuitive Navigation
Chicago Transit Authority President Ron Huberman today provided Chicago Transit Board members with a preview of the recently redesigned CTA web site, which features new tools and intuitive navigation to information customers most commonly seek. The redesigned web site will be available to customers later this month.
The overhaul of the CTA web site is one of many steps the agency is taking to leverage existing communication tools as well as develop new ones to provide customers with access to clear, timely and easy-to-use service information.
“CTA’s web site is a fundamental source of information for our customers. With the expansion of Bus Tracker and launch of Google Trip Planner this year, referencing the CTA web site on a daily basis has become second nature for a number of our customers,” said CTA President Ron Huberman.
“Whether using a computer or a mobile device, the new web site is designed to be easier to navigate, focus customer attention to important service information and provide quick access to tools and information most frequently used, such as trip planning information, schedules and CTA projects and plans.”
In addition to simplifying the layout and content of the transitchicago.com web site, other features and enhancements customers can expect to see include:
- Urgent Service Information: in the event of a service disruption, a bright red bar will appear at the top of every page connecting customers to further details and updates surrounding an event impacting service; in a severe service interruption or emergency, the top portion of the homepage will feature a bright red information box.
- System Status: a new bus and rail service status tool that indicates the current status of each rail line, as well as any bus routes significantly impacted by planned or emergency service changes.
- Search Field: allows customers to quickly search the site using keywords.
- Quick Links: will be featured on the top of the home page quickly directing customers to the most frequently referenced materials such as schedules, maps, customer alerts, Bus Tracker, Chicago Card and fare information.
- Mobile: customers searching for pertinent CTA information via their cell phones or other wireless devices will have access to select content from the web site geared toward mobile users.
- Multilingual Content: select content from the CTA web site will be available in Spanish, Polish and Chinese Simplified.
- RSS Feeds: will allow customers, bloggers, reporters, etc. to sign up to receive any news or service alerts automatically.
CTA’s manager of External Electronic Communications worked in collaboration with Americaneagle.com to ensure the redesigned site met the creative guidelines and objectives, which were established partially on customer feedback as well as customer behavior and their usage of the existing web site.
Americaneagle.com currently hosts and maintains all CTA customer web sites, including the agency’s e-commerce web sites for the Chicago Card and Chicago Card Plus.
# # #