Harvard University Transit Services replaced Passio GO! with Citymapper on July 1, ending a yearslong effort to overhaul the University’s shuttle-tracking system after sustained student complaints.
The platform, developed by the British transit-navigation company Citymapper, is now the primary app for tracking Harvard bus schedules and arrival times. Citymapper, which is used in major cities worldwide, is expected to provide a more reliable, integrated shuttle-tracking experience.
Passio GO! live tracking was discontinued July 1 as the University transitioned to the new technology, though shuttles continued to run on their regular summer schedules, according to a message sent to Harvard affiliates who used the app.
The app also includes changes designed to reflect “campus-specific needs.” Alongside existing shuttle and evening van services, it integrates public transportation services including the MBTA and BlueBike and offers “trip planning features” within the same interface.
The decision followed a yearlong review by the University’s Transportation Services. Spurred by “feedback on Passio GO!’s performance,” Harvard Transit conducted “extensive” market research before selecting CityMapper, interviewing more than 20 vendors and holding focus groups with “student group leaders, schools, and departments,” according to a press release from Harvard Transportation Services.
PassioGo! has long faced criticism from students who say the third-party application is unreliable and inaccurate, citing erroneous arrival estimates and frequent glitches. Student frustration persisted after Harvard renewed its contract with Passio GO! on a month-to-month basis in March, and the failed implementation of an earlier Harvard Undergraduate Association-backed plan to replace the app became a flashpoint in the most recent HUA elections.
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The plan, which called for an app competition in which students would code a new application for their peers, was later scrapped by the University. In an April interview, former HUA President Caleb N. Thompson ‘27 said Transportation Service administrators cited the difficulty of maintaining a student-led interface and the complexity of replacing the shuttle system’s physical hardware while also making software changes. Thompson also described tensions between HUA leaders and the University over the pace of the transition.
“Harvard Transit looks forward to continuing to improve the rider experience and welcomes ongoing feedback from the community,” the press release read.
—Staff writer Alma T. Barak can be reached at [email protected] and on Signal at almabk.54. Follow her on X @almabk_.
—Staff writer Theresa F. Bartelme can be reached at [email protected] and on Signal at theresabartelme.15. Follow her on X @theresabartelme.
