NJ Transit Mobile App Design

A streamlined NJ Transit app redesign focused on simplifying navigation, improving ticketing, and enhancing real-time updates for a smoother commuter experience.

CLIENT

SERVICES

ROLE

DATE

NJ Transit

UI & UX Design
UX Research

Independent Project:
Designer + Researcher

January 2025

PROCESS

    1. Background

    1. Research + Analysis

    1. Design

    1. Prototyping

    1. Final Design

  1. BACKGROUND

Overview

The NJ Transit application enables individuals to: Organize journeys traversing train, bus, and light rail systems. Buy and authenticate digital tickets. Receive live service changes and notifications.

Motivation:

As a lifelong New Jersey resident, I’ve experienced firsthand the inefficiencies of the NJ Transit app and have shared this frustration with friends and family.

Motivated by these challenges, I set out to reimagine a redesign that enhances usability, reliability, and overall user experience of the app.

During this project, I:

  • Conducted user research to identify pain points and commuter needs.

  • Redesigned the trip-planning and ticketing experience for better navigation.

  • Improved real-time transit updates and accessibility features.

problem

The NJ Transit app’s ticket booking process is overly complicated, requiring too many steps and unclear navigation, leading to confusion and frustration for commuters. The lack of real-time service updates makes it difficult for users to efficiently plan their trips, often resulting in delays or missed connections.

Solution

A streamlined mobile ticketing system with a clear, step-by-step booking flow, reducing unnecessary steps and improving usability. Enhancing the trip-planning experience with real-time service updates, route recommendations, and a more intuitive interface will help commuters navigate NJ Transit with ease.

  1. RESEARCH + ANALYSIS

It wasn't difficult to find criticism online of the app's interface + user experience.

User Feedback

To gain a comprehensive understanding of user sentiments, I conducted a multifaceted research approach.

I got familiar with the current UI and kept in mind potential areas for improvement as I collected feedback from users.

( It wasn't difficult to find criticism online of the app's interface + user experience )

Online

  • App Store

  • Google Play

  • Reddit Discussions

  • Social Media (Twitter, Facebook)

In-person

  • Interviews

  • Anecdotal stories

Current User Flow

These are the steps a user would have to take in the app to figure out which ticket they need and purchase one.

Common Challenges Identified

  1. Cumbersome User Flow (too many steps !) - Performing basic tasks requires navigating through multiple unnecessary pages, making the experience slow and frustrating.

  2. Disjointed Ticketing Flow – Trip planning and ticket purchasing are separate processes, creating unnecessary friction. The "Previous Tickets" button is awkwardly placed with no clear call to action.

  3. Cluttered Home Screen – Information overload with no clear hierarchy, making it difficult for users to find what they need quickly.

  4. Navigation Issues – The hamburger menu repeats content found on the bottom navigation bar.

  5. Unclear Real-Time Updates – "Departure Vision" is not integrated into trip planning and requires multiple unnecessary steps to access.

Competitive Analysis

To identify best practices for the NJ Transit app redesign, I analyzed three other transportation apps: MTA, Uber, and Google Maps.

Shared Features & Best Practices

  1. Seamless Payment – Uber’s integrated ride finder + checkout process simplify the experience

  2. Real-Time Updates – Live tracking and service alerts keep users informed before and during travel.

  3. Intuitive Navigation – Bottom navigation bar, simplified home screen, and color-coded functions offer easy readability.

  1. DESIGN

Home Page Redesign

Common Challenges Identified

  1. PROTOTYPE