TL;DR: This PRD defines the problem, the users, the core features, the requirements, the design direction, the risks, and the timeline for delivering a polished, user ready app for UAlbany students.
This project delivers a simple, reliable shuttle‑tracking app for UAlbany students. The current system makes it hard to know where shuttles are, when they’re arriving, or which route to take, so the app focuses on the essentials: live shuttle locations, accurate ETAs, and a lightweight trip‑planning flow built around campus stops and buildings.
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· UAlbany Shuttle App · Transit & Navigation · v1.0 · June 2026 · Draft
This Product Requirements Document was written independently.
All research, problem framing, metrics, and product decisions are my own.
Written by: Lucille Idokogi
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UAlbany students face frustration with navigating the shuttle bus system. It’s a good feature put in place to help students get around the school campus. However, students find it hard to make use of it with its immense lack of user friendliness and understanding. They have limited information on whether a shuttle has already left, is about to arrive or running late, which makes it hard to for them to use efficiently or even at all.
The current solution to tracking and navigating the system is Alpine Systems' student interface that provides static schedules with no real-time information. Students cannot see where the shuttle is, when it will arrive, or whether it is running on time. The interface is poorly designed and is not built for easy navigation especially on mobile devices.
The moment this product solves:
It is 9:21 AM. Class starts at 9:30. The shuttle to Campus Center was scheduled for 9:20. The student is at the stop. They have no idea if the shuttle already left, is about to arrive, or is running late. They must guess whether to wait or walk- with real consequences either way.
Product goal: Eliminate shuttle uncertainty and deliver a user friendly experience for UAlbany students by creating an live shuttle tracking and route planning system, making campus navigation easy and efficient.
Business goal: Demonstrate sufficient value to UAlbany Parking & Transit to warrant official adoption, replacing Alpine Systems' student-facing interface as a mobile app available for student use.
Personal goal: Deliver a working demo by end of summer 2026 to pitch to UAlbany administration.
| Metric | Target |
|---|---|
| Live shuttle position accuracy | Within 30 seconds of actual position |
| Page load time | Under 3 seconds on mobile |
| Pitch outcome | Meeting secured with UAlbany Parking & Transit by September 2026 |
| Student Adoption | Over 100+ users and downloads within first month of official launch |
| Decision confidence | In post-beta surveys, 70%+ of students report the app changed a wait-or-walk decision they would have otherwise made by guessing |
| Repeat usage | Median user opens the app 3+ times per week during the semester, indicating habitual reliance rather than one-time curiosity |