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Edmonton launches new 311 app

WATCH: The city has unveiled its new, free 311 app. As Emily Mertz explains, it’s an easier way for people to report issues like potholes and graffiti.

EDMONTON – Reporting potholes became a whole lot easier on Monday with the launch of Edmonton’s new 311 app.

The city says the free mobile app is a faster and more convenient way for residents to report potholes, damaged sidewalks, damaged trees, litter and graffiti.

“The goal of all of this is to build new ways for citizens and the city to interact and to share information with each other,” said Mayor Don Iveson.

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“The new app opens a new channel for Edmontonians and city staff to work better together.”

To use the app, take a photo of the problem and write a brief description of it. The GPS pinpoints the location and the photo is instantly uploaded to the app’s display. The 311 centre receives this information and passes it on to the appropriate city department.

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The app is a part of the Edmonton’s Open City initiative, which aims at opening new channels of communication between Edmontonians and the city.

“We’re pleased now to have this free, new, easy-to-use channel to hear from Edmontonians about challenges they’re seeing in our city,” Iveson said. “This is how we build a great city.”

By launching the app, the city hopes to increase the number of service issues reported.

Through traditional channels, the city receives about 27,000 complaints annual on potholes, sidewalks, trees, litter and graffiti.

The city will continue to update the app and hopes to increase the number of service issues that can be reported.

The app is now available on the iTunes App Store and Google Play.

The cost of developing the app is expected to come in under $100,000.

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