City launches new 311 mobile app
Calgarians can now use smartphones to report potholes, other complaints to city
There is a new way for Calgarians to report potholes, graffiti and other problems to the city.
Calgary today introduced a new smartphone application to handle complaints about municipal services.
The 311 Calgary app will allow city residents to use smartphones to report problems such as potholes, graffiti and dirty parks. The app allows the user to send photos of the problem and to report the exact location using the GPS found in many smartphones.
The city says it receives hundreds of duplicate complaints about problems with municipal services and this app will allow it to streamline the requests. Calgarians will also be able to track the progress of their complaints on the city's website.
Mayor Naheed Nenshi says the new app will not result in layoffs of workers at the 311 call centre. He says it will let the city respond more effectively to complaints.
Nenshi says development of the app cost the city about $90,000.