Urban Engines uses real-time transit data, and raffles, to encourage transit riders to commute during non-peak hours.
Urban Engines, a startup run by Shiva Shivakumar and Balaji Prabhakar, is using 'crowd-sensing' real-time transit data and financial incentives to draw transit commuters away from peak hour traffic.
According to Eric Jaffe, Urban Engines' use of real-time data allows them to "produce interactive data visualizations that give short-term congestion insights (this platform is overcrowded, trains on this line are bunching) and longer-term traffic trends (on rainy days this station needs more cars). Transit operators can use that information to scheduled and dispatch train supply more efficiently."
Urban Engines' model of financially incentivizing off-peak commutes has already proven successful in three cities (Bangalore, Singapore, and Palo Alto). Per Jaffe, during a six month pilot study in Bangalore, "[roughly] 14,000 locals were given the chance to commute outside peak hours; every time they did, they improved their odds of winning a weekly raffle that paid out prizes ranging from $10 to $240. Over the course of the pilot, commuter traveling pre-rush hour doubled, and the average morning commute time of all bus riders fell from 71 to 54 minutes."
As Jaffe points out, Urban Engines' model has not been applied to drivers nor does it address "the generally entrenched nature of commute habits." And, while Urban Engines' real-time model helps identify system needs, it does not deal with systemic issues within transit agencies such as "limited equipment and personnel" to respond to such needs.
FULL STORY: Using Insights and Incentives to End Rush Hour

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

Cal Fire Chatbot Fails to Answer Basic Questions
An AI chatbot designed to provide information about wildfires can’t answer questions about evacuation orders, among other problems.

What Happens if Trump Kills Section 8?
The Trump admin aims to slash federal rental aid by nearly half and shift distribution to states. Experts warn this could spike homelessness and destabilize communities nationwide.

Sean Duffy Targets Rainbow Crosswalks in Road Safety Efforts
Despite evidence that colorful crosswalks actually improve intersection safety — and the lack of almost any crosswalks at all on the nation’s most dangerous arterial roads — U.S. Transportation Secretary Duffy is calling on states to remove them.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie