ConnectSmart mobility app celebrates first anniversary milestone with new partnerships, programs, and a commuter challenge

THE WOODLANDS, TX – Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) officials announced how during its first year the ConnectSmart app has made the Houston metropolitan area – including The Woodlands – more connected and less congested. Through the Houston ConnectSmart app, commuters receive tailored suggestions to improve their daily travel and have access to transportation tools and services that you cannot find anywhere else.

Since its launch last fall, nearly 20,000 area travelers have used the ConnectSmart app to drive, carpool, take transit, bike, and walk, not only reducing the daily stress of traveling but also reducing congestion; by adopting the app’s personalized travel suggestions and embracing alternatives to driving alone in rush hour traffic, ConnectSmart users have reduced their miles driven by over 55,000 miles—that is the equivalent of more than 30 round trips across the state of Texas and back. But using ConnectSmart does more than just save time and reduce traffic; in just one year, ConnectSmart users have reduced their CO2 emissions by nearly 24,000 pounds by making more sustainable travel decisions, including riding more than 23,000 miles on public transit, sharing a ride for more than 16,500 miles via carpooling, and pedaling over 1,300 miles on bicycles.

Additionally, more than 125,000 personalized travel, construction and safety alerts were shared with users of this regional mobility app before they would even hit the road, enabling them to stay on schedule and avoid potential roadway dangers. Additional features like the app’s School Zone alerts help keep children safe throughout the program’s 13-county region.

Houston ConnectSmart is celebrating its first year of operation through several exciting initiatives including innovative programs, partnerships, and a mobility challenge.

New Program

ConnectSmart announces the launch of its Employer CommuteSuite. The CommuteSuite of programs allow a business to customize commuting programs for their corporate culture and structure including carpools, public transit, and work from home options. CommuteSuite supports a business’s ability to manage, measure and report on the environmental, sustainability and governance goals of a business as required by federal and state governments.

New Partnerships

Houston ConnectSmart will serve as an Advocacy Partner for the Transportation Advocacy Group’s (TAG) Houston Region’s State of TxDOT event taking place October 24th, 2023, at the JW Marriott Galleria, 5150 Westheimer Road. Participants of that event are encouraged to use the carpooling function of the app to travel to the event with a friend or co-worker. By utilizing the carpool function or taking alternative transportation to the event, participants are eligible to receive valuable incentives to explore the app.

New Challenge

Between now and October 31, area residents are encouraged to join the ConnectSmart Challenge by downloading the app and participating in a series of multimodal challenges where they can win prizes, including up to $100 in ConnectSmart Coins, that can be redeemed for transit tickets and gift cards to retailers such as Amazon, Starbucks, and Target.

The Houston ConnectSmart app can be downloaded for free at https://www.houstonconnectsmart.com/.