Today's Apps News

Dallas Area Rapid Transit adds handy features to its ticketing app

There's nothing more visually exciting than a photo of an app.

Photo courtesy of DART

Dallas Area Rapid Transit has stepped up the functionality on its popular GoPass app, adding new ways to pay for your passes and plan your DART and Trinity Railway Express (TRE) trips.

The original version was launched in 2013 and was one of the first transit payment apps that allowed customers to buy tickets on their smartphone with a credit or debit card. But technology has changed, and now so has the GoPass.

One major new feature: the ability to "load value" to the GoPass app with cash at hundreds of area retailers. You can find participating retailers in the PayNearMe network at GoPass.org.

The app also contains a GoPass Wallet that "stores value" which can be used to purchase tickets for use on DART, TRE, Trinity Metro, and the Denton County Transportation Authority.

Other new GoPass options:

allow customers to use "Touch ID" for quicker security acceptance
send receipts to an email address
view various events and offers
save their favorite stations and stops, making viewing vehicle arrivals and departures quicker
give the ability to track buses and trains in real-time.

The cost of a ticket purchased using the GoPass app is the same as tickets purchased from a ticket vending machine or bus farebox and must be activated before boarding any bus or train.

GoPass is free to download or update from the Google Play store or the Apple App Store. Search for GoPass.

Homeless News

Downtown Dallas homeless service Stewpot lands bigger better space

The Stewpot

It's official: The Stewpot, a community program that serves the homeless, has a new home. According to a release, First Presbyterian Church of Dallas — the organization that oversees the Stewpot — has acquired the CitySquare Community Center building at 1610 S. Malcolm X Blvd. where the StewPot will soon reside.

“This new facility will allow us to better deliver our programs and continue to support the 12,000 people served annually by CitySquare’s Neighbor Resource Center and Food Pantry programs,” said Brenda Snitzer, executive director of The Stewpot.

The Stewpot is a community ministry of First Presbyterian Church of Dallas. Established in 1975, it began with a concerned group of church members who started preparing lunch for the congregation's homeless and hungry neighbors.

It serves those experiencing homelessness and poverty. Its programs have tripled in size in recent years, and the ministry has outgrown its current space at 1835 Young St. across from the church.

When CitySquare announced earlier this year that it would cease operations and sell its property by the end of the year, First Presbyterian leaped in to make a bid on the space. Members voted on Sunday, December 8 to approve the acquisition. The closing is scheduled for Friday, December 13. The Stewpot will begin moving into the new space later this month.

As a part of the acquisition, The Stewpot will continue two of CitySquare’s core programs: its Food Pantry and its Neighbor Resource Center, which helps people with housing options, SNAP, WIC, healthcare, financial assistance, and mental health services.

The property is a mile from The Stewpot’s current facility on Young Street, across the street from the church. With this acquisition, The Stewpot will move its operations and offices, while continuing to serve more than 1,000 meals daily at The Bridge downtown.

charity downtown