New HOV GoCarma App Simplifies Carpooling, Saves Drivers Big Money

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GoCarma — the newest mobile app aimed at helping carpooling North Texas drivers with an NTTA TollTag save half of their regular toll expenses — just rolled out its newest iteration, and it’s smarter than ever.

The mobile application is free to download and join on both iPhone and Android, and its main function is helping carpoolers save 50 percent in tolls on TEXpress lanes during peak periods.

Natalie Bettger is the Senior Program Manager, Congestion Management and System Operation, for the North Central Texas Council of Governments. She told LegacyConnect the redesigned application is simpler than ever to operate.

“Once users download the app, register their account, and link it to their TollTag, the app runs in the background,” she said. “When they are traveling on those TEXpress lanes, it can determine how many people are in the car, and it automatically gives them a discount on those facilities.”

The difference between GoCarma today and its former iteration is the updated version does not make drivers self-declare. The former version of the app, she said, required drivers to register online 15 minutes before beginning their commute, or else their trip would not be valid and no discounts would be applied.

Another difference the updated app makes, Bettger said, is police are no longer required to sit by the side of an HOV lane and manually enforce whether or not drivers are actually carpooling, creating more fair conditions for everyone using the lane. Instead, tax dollars go toward the actual HOV discount, not enforcement.

Bettger said she’s often asked if passengers without smartphones still qualify for the discount. The answer, luckily, is yes.

For passengers without a smartphone, drivers are still able to benefit from a discount by requesting an occupant pass. As long as one person in the car has a smartphone, she said, the discount can be applied.

For users new to the application, Bettger said there’s one important fact she wants everyone to hear: Drivers new to the app do not need to get a new TollTag.

At the end of the day, Bettger said, it comes down to two things: saving drivers money and lessening congestion.

“If you are carpooling, take advantage of the app,” she said. “That's why we have it: to give people an incentive to carpool and help with the congestion.”

Visit GoCarma’s website to learn more.