Dhaka Public Transportation System faces significant operational challenges, including overcrowding, unreliable schedules, and a lack of real-time commuter information. These inefficiencies contribute to daily inconvenience, lost productivity, and increased congestion. To address these issues, this study presents “ShuttleNav,” a user-centered smart shuttle system designed to improve public transportation by integrating real-time GPS tracking, live schedule monitoring, and seat reservation functionalities. The study followed a structured methodology, including (i) a need-finding analysis, (ii) the development of hardware and software prototypes, and (iii) usability evaluation at the Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB). A survey of 100 undergraduate students identified key concerns for commuters, such as unpredictable shuttle timings, lack of route optimization, and difficulty accessing transport information through mobile platforms. Based on these insights, ShuttleNav was developed with intuitive features to enhance the commuter experience. A usability study involving 75 participants assessed ShuttleNav’s effectiveness using the System Usability Scale (SUS), generating a mean SUS score of 73.00 (standard deviation = 9.16). The results highlight a strong user preference for real-time GPS tracking (27.31%) and live schedule monitoring (25.6%), reinforcing the importance of accurate and accessible transit information. However, challenges related to GPS accuracy, privacy concerns, and technical reliability were noted, indicating areas for future improvement. The study demonstrates the potential of ShuttleNav as an effective solution to improve commuter convenience and urban mobility. Future research will focus on transitioning the prototype into a functional mobile application, performing real-world tests under diverse conditions, and leveraging predictive analytics for route optimization.