Each morning, Gemma DeCetra just wanted to know when the next train would arrive. But getting that answer meant navigating clunky transit apps that didn’t match the rhythm of her daily commute between two Chicago stations.
So DeCetra teamed up with David Khachatryan, a software developer who shared her frustration, to build something better. Since October 2023, the pair have been developing EL Tracker, a free app designed to give Chicago commuters a straightforward way to check train and bus times without toggling between multiple apps.
The app launched as an iOS exclusive, initially offering information about the arrival time to various train stations along with widgets. When more people started to download the app, the team began to add more features and even developed an Android version.
Khachatryan also included more accessible features for riders with disabilities, such as compatibility with screen readers and voice-to-text services.
For those who may need elevators, the app denotes which stations have them and which elevators may be unavailable. It also offers information in other languages, including Spanish, Polish and Armenian.
Both Khachatryan and DeCetra felt that the app should be as user-friendly as possible.
“It is super important because having an app is one thing, but having an app that looks good and feels good to use is what we think has made this successful,” said DeCetra, who took on the role as the lead graphic designer of the app.
On Thursday, June 26, the EL Tracker team held a launch party for the release of the Android version of the EL Tracker app at the Transit Tees store in Wicker Park. The CTA-themed store also sponsored the team’s app.
“We decided to collaborate and sponsor their website and brand,” said Tim Gillengerten, the owner of Transit Tees and Columbia College alum. “We thought it was amazing.”
Grayson Snyder, of Evanston, has been using the app since September of last year.
“I love actually having widgets,” said Snyder, who attended the launch party. “I don’t have to open apps every time I want to check train schedules.”
Little Italy resident Maherah Shaik, who also was at the launch party, said she prefers the EL Tracker app over the official Ventra app. “I like how the graphics are vivid, and I feel like it expands more than the Ventra app.”
“It’s for Chicagoans. It’s for the commuters. It’s for the people who ride the train every day,” said DeCetra.
However unlike the Ventra app, riders cannot add value to their cards or manage their account through EL Tracker.
Columbia College students, who are eligible for a U-Pass card, which offers unlimited rides, could still benefit. A survey from 2023 shows that at least 53% of students identify as commuters.
Roughly 66% of those students use the CTA rail line on their commute, along with 51% who use the bus. Most students spend between 30 and 50 minutes commuting each way.
“It’s definitely not about us,” said Khachatryan, “It’s definitely about the people who share this interest.”
Copy edited by Emma Jolly
