MetroMATE

Established: 1927
“The South Australian Department for Transport has evolved over time. It was initially formed as the South Australian Highways and Local Government Department in 1927. This department later evolved into the Department for Transport and Urban Planning (Transport SA) in 2002. In 2010, it became the Department of Infrastructure and Transport. The current Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) was formed in 2013.”

Employees: 2,281
Headquarters: Adelaide, South Australia
Website: www.dit.sa.gov.au

DIT’s purpose is to connect South Australians through safe, reliable, and efficient transport and infrastructure networks. The department leads major public projects and digital initiatives that enhance liveability, accessibility, and sustainability across the state – with MetroMate serving as an early example of its commitment to digital innovation in public service delivery.

The Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) sought to make public transport easier and more accessible for everyday South Australians. Before this initiative, commuters relied on paper timetables, static signs, or clunky web tools, creating confusion and deterring usage.

The Department recognised the need to modernise the public transport experience through a reliable, mobile-first solution that simplified route planning, encouraged adoption, and ultimately reduced congestion in Adelaide’s CBD. They wanted a digital product that gave users real-time confidence in their travel decisions while maintaining government control over the customer experience.

The Distillery partnered with DIT to design and build South Australia’s first official public transport app, powered by the Google Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) – the same data framework used globally by Google Maps.

Working closely with DIT, The Distillery:

• Mapped all bus, train, and tram data into a unified, intuitive platform.
• Developed journey planning features allowing users to compare routes and arrival times.
• Integrated accessibility functions informed by previous research into vision and cognitive impairments, ensuring the app was inclusive for all users.
• Delivered an iterative development model, launching an MVP within six months, then refining and expanding functionality over four years.

The app combined Google Maps usability with local data precision, resulting in a best-in-class navigation experience for Adelaide commuters.

Upon launch, the app quickly became the most downloaded public transport app in Australia – a major achievement for a state with a comparatively small population.
Key results included:

• Rapid adoption and positive user feedback across all age groups.
• Recognition and awards for innovation in digital government services.
• A long-term partnership with DIT spanning over seven years of enhancements and maintenance following The Distillery’s self improvement cycle methodology.
• A measurable increase in public transport confidence and convenience, directly supporting the Department’s congestion-reduction goals.

The project demonstrated that with the right collaboration and iterative process, government agencies can deliver world-class digital experiences at scale.