The University of Arizona's Tech Launch Arizona helped UA professor Yi-Chang Chiu get Metropia launch the applicationListen:
A local company is launching a new app it thinks can help reduce traffic congestion, cut back on carbon emissions, and help give information about what roads need improvement.
Metropia's smartphone app analyzes current traffic conditions and uses turn-by-turn directions to get users to their destination as quickly as possible.
It also shows drivers how long their commute will be based on what time they leave.
The app will reward users for taking more ecological travel options by allowing them to earn points that go towards gift certificates.
The University of Arizona's Tech Launch Arizona helped UA professor Yi-Chang Chiu get Metropia off the ground and to launch.
"The goal is to get to the point where commuters start to realize they are part of the congestion, and they can be part of the solution," said Chiu.
The Metropia app will also provide data about road usage and commutes to the Pima Association of Governments, allowing PAG to better plan roadwork throughout the region.
Metropia is currently available in Tucson and Austin in the Apple App Store and through Google Play. The company plans to expand to other cities in the near future.
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