Transport
Simplified
Portal is a unified transportation app that combines shuttle services, bike/scooter sharing, and parking management into a single platform for San Marcos residents. The app provides real-time information on transportation options, allowing users to track shuttles, locate available scooters, and manage parking permits through one interface instead of multiple apps.
The San Marcos transportation system is fragmented across multiple services and apps, creating inefficiencies for users who must navigate unpredictable traffic, unsafe pedestrian conditions, and disconnected transit options. Students and residents struggle with poor mobility across campus and the city, causing frustration, tardiness, and safety concerns.
70% of Residents
use their car exclusively to travel around and throughout the city
Unification
is how the city of Copenhagen tackled their fragmented transit system. All of it can be accessed under one app.
Parking
is far and away the largest concern for commuters who drive into San Marcos every day.
"Between the trains and the construction I always feel trapped in this city when I need to rely on only my car to get around."
— San Marcos Resident
Transport Problems
are reported in various areas across the city, not localized in a specific area.
80% of Students
say they would use public transit if they had reliable, real-time information
See the
Solution
Top College Transit
The best schools cut costs for students to use public transport, with it being free in the best examples.
All the best schools have a deep integration between their transport solutions and the city's making things easy and seamless.
City Transit Solutions
Copenhagen integrates several public transport providers into one system with integrated user accounts, ticketing and more.
Hangzhou is known for its sprawling public bike network that integrates with an already impressive public transport system.
Key Takeaway
Our team conducted surveys with San Marcos residents and Texas State students to understand transportation challenges and needs. We gathered feedback about current mobility habits, pain points, and desired features for potential solutions.
64%
of commuter students spend at least an hour looking for parking before class.
80%
of students who use public transit have been late or missed class due to outdated information
"I'm always just driving in circles trying to find a spot. It feels like such a waste of time and gas."
— Design Student
"Even when its hot out, sometimes I just give up and walk because it's more reliable than waiting for a shuttle."
— Management Systems Student
"I pay for, like, three different transportation apps. It adds up really quickly."
— Engineering Student
1
Poor infrastructure deters alternative transit use.
2
Unpredictable wait times cause frustration.
3
Multiple apps create unnecessary complexity.
4
People plan around transportation limitations.
Sean Chadwick
He lives off-campus in an apartment complex about 2 miles from the university. Sean balances a demanding course load with a part-time job at a local research lab, which requires him to move efficiently between multiple campus buildings throughout the week. He owns a car but tries to limit driving due to parking costs and environmental concerns.
Checks his phone first thing in the morning to plan
Prefers digital solutions over paper-based systems
Frequently switches between transportation modes depending on weather and schedule
Values efficiency and timeliness above all else
Tech-savvy and quick to adopt useful apps
Primarily uses campus shuttles but supplements with scooters for last-mile trips
Sean aims to graduate with honors while maintaining a healthy work-life balance, which requires efficient time management. He's motivated to minimize transportation costs to better manage his growing student loans and reduce his environmental impact without sacrificing convenience. Sean needs to arrive on time to classes and lab shifts consistently.
Misses shuttles due to inaccurate arrival predictions
Wastes 20-30 minutes daily searching for parking
Gets frustrated juggling multiple apps for shuttles, scooters, and parking
Often caught unprepared by unexpected construction detours
"I just need transportation to work so I can focus on what actually matters."
Ideation
Phase
High
Real-time Shuttle Tracking
Unified Transportation Map
Parking Availability Dashboard
Digital Permit Management
Favorites System
Mid
Transit Route Visualization
Rider Pass Integration
Reservation Capability
Integrated Payment System
Low
Carbon Footprint Tracker
Community Reporting
Carpool Coordination
Weather Integration
Pain Point
"The trip planner is buried within the menu structure."
"The transit and scooter sections feel like completely different apps."
"I have to navigate through multiple screens to check both shuttle times and parking."
Opportunity
Elevate trip planning to a primary navigation element
Unify design language and navigation patterns
Create a dashboard view that shows primary information for all transport types
Our
Solution
Your mobility command center brings everything together in one place. Pin your frequent bus routes, favorite parking lots, and preferred e-bike stations for instant updates. See shuttle ETAs, parking availability, and nearby transport options at a glance, saving valuable time on your daily commute.
Manage your parking permits digitally, check real-time lot capacities, and get traffic alerts before you leave. No more circling campus looking for spots—Portal shows you exactly where parking is available and lets you handle all permit details without visiting the parking office.
View every transit route in San Marcos with actual vehicle locations and precise arrival predictions. Know exactly when your shuttle will arrive, which bus is serving your route, and plan multi-stop journeys with confidence using real-time data instead of outdated schedules.
Your Rider Pass subscription unlocks access to e-bikes and scooters from multiple providers at one bundled price. Find available vehicles on the map, reserve them in advance, and enjoy seamless last-mile transportation without switching between different rental apps.
Like the transportation branding of old, the Portal trademark needed to come with an air of trust and longevity. The simple forms in the mark achieve that, while using bright, energetic colors to express forward motion.
For an app designed to make a city more accessible to its residents through transportation, it was only natural to select a typeface designed with accessibility in mind. Efficiency is important to apps like ours and the "hyperlegible" nature of this typeface brings the prefect blend of style and readability to Portal.
A mix of simple, neutral tones with a burst of energetic bright colors creates the trust needed for a transport app, while maintaining a feeling of speed and efficiency.
Problems
Solved
Simplifies parking permit management through digital integration
Makes micro-mobility options (scooters/bikes) more accessible through a unified map
Provides reliable, real-time shuttle arrival predictions instead of inaccurate schedules
Improves awareness of available transportation options throughout the city
Increases utilization of sustainable transportation alternatives
Creates a more connected, accessible San Marcos for students and residents