b'FOGHORN FOCUSFrom left: NY Waterway is currently promoting their Shades of Autumn Fall Foliage Tours, riders can track Washington State Ferries vessels in real time via Vessel Watch, and guests on American Queen Voyages can listen to narratives at stops along their shore excursions. While these transactions can take place on a website, companies maySchedules and route maps are key to travel and are another feature of-find that an app offers a better solution on a mobile device. The teamfered in ticketing apps. Riders can get a quick glance at all routes or see at Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) foundthe ports serviced by a ferry system. Some apps, like WSDOTs Vessel that a large percentage of their riders were using their phones to accessWatch feature, allow riders to track ferries on a map and see exactly the operators website, but the site was not mobile friendly. Apps arewhere they are in their journeys at any given time. Passengers may have designed for use on a phone, creating a smoother user experience.the option to save their most commonly used or favorite routes in order to check schedules and status more quickly in the future. Many apps For San Francisco Bay Ferry, their app was a way to provide stream- offer real-time departure information so that customers can see when lined ticketing services for riders who dont use Clipper, the Bay Ar- the next vessel is leaving, even if there are service disruptions. Listing eas universal transit fare media. We needed an integrated ticketingthe duration of a journey or estimated arrival time can also help cus-system that provided regular mobile and paper tickets for familiestomers plan their trip. and out-of-town visitors, plus a system that could incorporate our reservation-based special event services, said Thomas Hall, public in- Keeping riders abreast of service changes can be a challenge, but service formation & marketing manager at Water Emergency Transportationalerts can be an app feature to make travel easier and help manage rid-Authority (WETA), which runs San Francisco Bay Ferry.ers expectations. Push notifications are an option that can be great for regular travelers. Passengers may be able to select which routes theyd As mentioned, apps can be set up to offer tickets to special events inlike alerts and notifications for in order to manage the communication addition to standard travel. San Francisco Bay Ferry offers the optionthey receive. Service alerts may also appear as a stand alone section in to buy Vallejo, Oakland, and Alameda ferry tickets for San Franciscoan app for customers to check as they plan their trip and book tickets. Giants games at Oracle Park during the baseball season. NY Waterways app is currently promoting their Shades of Autumn Fall Foliage Tours.Some of the larger ferry systems have features in their apps to help Guests can learn about the cruises, see a map of the routes along thepassengers plan their journey beyond their ferry ride. NY Waterway Hudson River, and purchase tickets. An app can be a great medium forincludes a bus locator feature to see routes near ferry landings. As reaching more customers for these types of specialty cruises and events.part of a transportation departments app, Washington State Ferries FOGHORN 14'