To give users a closer look at the GoMyWayVA™ app and its benefits, we asked Metropia Inc. (the GoMyWayVA™ project vendor), Monica Backmon (NVTA CEO), Bill Cuttler (VDOT NoVA District Engineer), and Althea Evans, Director of Marketing at OmniRide (a public transportation agency partner), to share their perspective on the launch, the value of Dynamic Incentives, and what’s next for GoMyWayVA™.
Vision, Impact & Regional Importance
What makes the launch of GoMyWayVA™ significant for Northern Virginia’s transportation future
Monica Backmon (NVTA CEO)
- The launch of GoMyWayVA™ is a major milestone for Northern Virginia, marking a new era for improved regional mobility. Reducing congestion is essential to our rapidly growing area and this app is an innovative resource that enables our community to make the most of multimodal transportation options. By providing real-time information on current travel conditions, GoMyWayVA™ helps people see the range of choices that can get them to their destinations reliably and safely. What I find unique and exciting about GoMyWayVA™ is how it uses personalized and continuously updated incentives to reward you for taking a different route, beginning your trip a little later, or even trying a new travel mode. Even small shifts can collectively improve travel conditions across the entire network. As a decade-long partner of RM3P, NVTA is proud to support innovation that makes travel more efficient, more predictable and ultimately improves quality of life for everyone who moves through this region.
How will GoMyWayVA™ help reduce congestion and create a more reliable daily commute for residents, workers, and visitors?
Bill Cuttler (VDOT NoVA District Engineer)
- GoMyWayVA™ helps reduce congestion by empowering travelers with better information and meaningful incentives at the exact moment they need them. Instead of being stuck in traffic with limited alternatives, travelers can receive real-time alerts about incidents, construction, or emerging delays and then choose smarter travel options. When even a small share of commuters shifts their travel behavior, the entire region benefits from smoother, more predictable traffic flows.
Features, Technology & User Experience
How does the Dynamic Incentives feature work, and why is it an important addition to the app?
Metropia Inc. (App Lead Project Vendor)
- Dynamic Incentives are at the core of GoMyWayVA™ and are designed to help travelers avoid delays while reducing congestion across the region. When the system detects major traffic incidents, users receive real-time alerts with smarter alternatives. Each alternative comes with a reward offer that users can either accept immediately or negotiate, all within the app. This feature is important because it transforms traditional travel alerts into actionable, personalized options that benefit both the individual traveler and the broader network. By guiding users away from bottlenecks and rewarding them for flexible decisions, Dynamic Incentives improve mobility at critical moments and help keep the region moving.
What did the Pioneer phase teach you, and how did that feedback improve the latest verstion of GoMyWayVA™?
Metropia Inc. (App Lead Project Vendor)
- The Pioneer phase provided invaluable insights from more than 1,300 early users, with close to 200 users engaging with the app regularly over several months. Their feedback helped us refine everything from the intermodal trip-planner to how and when Dynamic Incentive alerts should appear. We gained a deeper understanding of what travelers need during real-time decision-making, particularly around transparency, timing, and simplicity of choices. Based on this input, we improved messaging, streamlined the reward negotiation process, enhanced predictive travel information, and refined the overall user experience. The Pioneers played a critical role in shaping the version of GoMyWayVA™, ensuring that the app reflects real commuter needs and performs reliably in the situations that matter most.
Partnerships & Sponsorships
Why is it important for public agencies to collaborate on travel incentives, and what motivates your organization to co-promote GoMyWayVA™?
Althea Evans, Director of Marketing at OmniRide (Public Transportation Agency Partner)
- Public transit agencies may serve different parts of the region, but we share the same goal: helping people move more efficiently and reliably. Collaborating on travel initiatives allows us to connect our services with tools like GoMyWayVA™, giving travelers real choices that can reduce congestion while improving their daily experience. For OmniRide, co-promoting this app is a natural fit because it supports transit use, encourages multimodal travel, and provides real-time information that helps riders make informed decisions. By working together across agencies, we can amplify the reach of these efforts and ensure that travelers have access to meaningful rewards, better options, and a more seamless regional network.
Future Program Efforts
Now that the app has officially launched, what future enhancements or program expansions can users and stakeholders expect to see?
Monica Backmon (NVTA CEO) Regional vision and strategic alignment perspective
- All new technological deployments come with a learning curve, and our current focus is on growing awareness and usage of GoMyWayVA™. In tandem, we’re closely tracking and analyzing user data for key insights into how the app is performing, what users value and where adjustments may be needed. If the insights continue to show positive outcomes, we expect opportunities to increase participation, integrate additional travel options and explore expansion/additional capabilities. I hope that these successes will attract more sponsors, which will in turn lead to more valuable and sustainable incentives. Our goal is to ensure GoMyWayVA™ aligns with regional goals by enhancing mobility, reducing congestion and improving quality of life for years to come.
Now that the app has officially launched, what future enhancements or program expansions can users and stakeholders expect to see?
Metropia Inc. (App Lead Project Vendor) Feature Perspective
- Now that GoMyWayVA™ is officially launched, our team is continuing to improve features based on user feedback, while exploring features that will further improve the travel experience for Northern Virginia travelers. One of the next additions underway is the addition of the Carpool feature which to further facilitate sluglines, allows commuters to coordinate shared trips more easily and support employer initiatives for their employees.We’re also evaluating several enhancements that could further streamline multimodal travel and strengthen the Dynamic Incentives experience. We are assessing the feasibility and benefits of enabling WMATA open payments through GoMyWayVA™, which would make transfers between modes even more seamless. Other potential improvements under review include refinements to the Express Lanes toll cost estimates , expanded real-time alerts, and additional integration opportunities with regional partners. While these enhancements are still being evaluated, our guiding priority is delivering features that offer clear value to travelers. We remain committed to evolving the app in ways that support smarter, more flexible travel throughout the region.