AI Tools Cut Commute Times and Shopping Hours for Centrum Residents

More than 182,000 residents downloaded the city’s new AI assistant app in the ten days after its June 30 launch.

The rollout follows months of testing by the Centrum Digital Services office and arrives as residents juggle higher transit fares and crowded stores in the post-pandemic economy. The app combines real-time navigation, automated grocery ordering and bill payment into one interface that links directly to local bank accounts and transit cards.

Shifts on Harbor Boulevard and at Central Station

Shop owners along Harbor Boulevard report that customers now place orders through the app while riding the light rail, then pick up bags at a dedicated counter inside the 14th Street market. At Central Station, the same system shows platform changes and suggests alternate routes that avoid the construction zone on River Drive. The Lakeside district program, which began pilot testing in April, added 12,000 users last month alone after the city installed new sensors at three bus stops on Oak Lane.

Internal data released July 10 show average morning commute times dropped 14 minutes for app users compared with the same week in 2025. The city recorded 47,000 automated grocery orders placed between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. on July 8, with 92 percent completed within 35 minutes of the scheduled pickup window. Subscription cost remains $3.99 per month for full features, though basic navigation stays free.

What comes next for users

City officials plan to add direct links to utility accounts by September, letting residents schedule payments for water and power through the same dashboard. Residents can download the app at any public library branch or through the official Centrum website and connect it to an existing transit card in under four minutes. Those who want in-person help can visit the tech desk at the Main Library on 5th Avenue every weekday morning.