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New York Gets New Transit Tool to Ease Commute Planning
Wednesday, October 01, 2008 5:23 PM

 

GoogleTransit logoThe nation's busiest transit system just got easier to navigate with Google Transit, an on-line feature that provides on-line maps and trip plans for New York City's 5,000-square-mile transportation network.

 And soon, Houston commuters will their own version of Google Transit.

On Sept. 23, a host of government officials - from Gov.David A. Paterson to New York's deputy mayor Edward Skyler - kicked off the official launch of Google Transit, calling it a tool that will help make New York's transit system less complicated.

Google Transit, which started in Portland, Ore., and has expanded to include such cities as Austin, Los Angeles and Tokyo, used transit schedules provided by the Metropolitan TransitAuthority (MTA).  It covers the MTA's subways, buses and commuter rail lines, along with PATH (the heavy-rail transit system between Manhattan and New Jersey) and the New Jersey Transit commmuter lines.

Featured prominently on the MTA's home page, you'll find the familiar Google logo with "Transit Maps" on it. Click it and you'll link to a page that invites commuters to plan their trips and get info about their destination before they go, including hours, addresses and reviews for businesses and attractions. Plus, they can see a 360-degree photo of their destination.

You can also click on a video demo, showing users how to plan their trips across selected cities in the United States and Canada. Go to Google Maps,  then go to "get directions," then click "take public transit."

You'll find specific directions of how to get to your destination by walking, or by taking the bus or train. Travel times and transfer information are given for each leg of the trip. The information is available in both text and on maps.

Click here to see a list of all Google Transit cities. 

METRO is working with Google now to make sure our customers will be able to use all those cool features here.  

"Google Transit is a great tool for our customers to supplement what METRO already provides," said Denise Wengler, deputy chief information officer/IT. "It's fantastic that Google is interested in enhancing public transit, and we're very excited to partner with Google on this effort.We hope to have it up and running before the end of the year." 

 

 

Posted by Mary Sit
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    • Comments

    DominicMazoch said:

    Now, how about this?

    Suppose you put in, say Houston Zoo.  Depending on the zoom, will the bus and rail lines show up?  Hint, Hint, METRO is articulate enough to go there.

    (Pun intended!)

    # October 1, 2008 7:30 PM

    ChloeMireille said:

    I actually played with Google Transit a bit for Austin so I could see how long it would take to go from their Greyhound station to the airport. I rather like it, and I'm looking forward to Houston having it the foreseeable future.

    Now make sure it's kept up to date when you do service changes. Yahoo!Maps already got in trouble once in California for sending someone down a road that's been closed for 3 years.

    # October 2, 2008 8:45 AM

    Cedric Collins said:

    Nice looking list that Google has there but need more cities to jump on board, IMHO.

    "METRO is working with Google now to make sure our customers will be able to use all those cool features here."

    OK--we got that part.  Now---when is this going to be done?  I would really like to try it out to see if it's ACTUALLY better than METRO's current trip planner.

    # October 2, 2008 9:23 AM

    Cedric Collins said:

    "Now---when is this going to be done?"

    As far as an actual date, of course.

    # October 2, 2008 9:24 AM

    Mary Sit said:

    Cedric

    We don't have an actual date yet because we are still working with Google, but here's a narrower window of time - look for it sometime in November or December.

    # October 2, 2008 4:50 PM

    DominicMazoch said:

    Now will that be the same time the 402 QL will be running?  I've been asked when it will be running....some from some bus ops!

    # October 2, 2008 8:42 PM

    ChloeMireille said:

    Oh, so by the end of the year? Nice little Christmas present.

    I'm not surprised that many cities haven't jumped on this yet. New York City JUST joined up in the last week or two. I'm not surprised Austin's on it, since they love being ahead of the game so much.

    # October 3, 2008 8:27 AM

    Cedric Collins said:

    Mary?

    I'm hoping that METRO can be 100% sure on that because there's too much stuff being pushed back---like---the 402 QL Bellaire route, for instance.

    # October 3, 2008 9:26 AM

    Rich said:

    BRAVO METRO!!!  We as riders would like to see some of these innovations adopted early, to make our lives easier.  You have heard the requests for participation in this service, and you have now committed to make it happen.  Again, BRAVO...and THANK YOU!

    # October 6, 2008 10:50 PM

    J. Liggins said:

    Metro has given no updates on the 402.  I'd expect nothing else from our favorite transit agency.  It must be nice having those 10 hybrids sitting out there collecting dust for over a year and a half.

    # October 7, 2008 9:06 AM

    Cedric Collins said:

    J. Liggins said:  "Metro has given no updates on the 402."

    For once, I agree and METRO will probably NEVER give any updates on the 402---unless it's almost done with what else needs to be done.  Seems as if someone jumped the gun, took in those 10 hybrids for this service and for what?  ZIP!  Are those models even being tested?

    That's ANOTHER thing being pushed back.

    # October 7, 2008 9:50 AM

    J. Liggins said:

    I saw the buses being tested the week before the service was to begin.  The buses looked dusty from sitting around for a year plus and now there seems to be no end in sight.

    It's been over a month since the service was supposed to debut.  Up until the day of the service changes Metro assured the public the QL qould be up and running.  However, seeing as how the service has been delayed indefinitely Metro had to know for weeks in advance of the proposed start that it would not be ready.  More dishonesty from Metro.

    # October 7, 2008 5:11 PM

    Cedric Collins said:

    J.Liggins,

             If you don't mind (even for me), just keep us informed as to how much longer will those buses receive dust before they can run loose where they need to be.

    My advice to ALL at METRO:  Do NOT give specific dates in regards to any---how can I say this---"unveiling(s)" when you know doggone well you're not going to meet that date.  At least be smart enougn and just say the month and let us bug you as to when in that month will things like the 402 route go online or when buses like those Orion VII NG HEVs will hit the streets for testing.  Just a thought.

    Thanks!

    # October 8, 2008 2:08 PM

    J. Liggins said:

    Will do Cedric.  As of now, there seems to be NO activity regarding the 402 even though Metro stated in a press release there was more construction to be done.  Well, I've yet to see a soul so I have no idea what is going on.  Those 3500s are almost two years old though.  It'd be best just to pull the tech out of those, place them into ten Orions and repaint the New Flyers into the regular paint scheme.  

    Hopefully Metro rethought the  totally useless TMC-Palm Center idea completely and is focusing on Westheimer.  Well, one can dream can't they?

    # October 8, 2008 4:19 PM

    James said:

    Mary, you're usually very good at getting information for us. What's the word on the 402 QL?

    # October 8, 2008 5:04 PM

    Cedric Collins said:

    WHAT?!  More construction?  Wait just a doggone minute here.  I thought METRO would have much of that done already and just use the time to test out the route---and the buses that I do NOT like to see collecting dust.

    Oh well---the wait continues.

    # October 9, 2008 8:23 AM

    ChloeMireille said:

    I'm willing to bet that the QL is being held up by the road construction on Holcombe. Have you been through there lately? It's a nightmare. Snail-paced traffic in MIDDAY!

    # October 9, 2008 10:18 AM

    Cedric Collins said:

    ChloeMireille,

                 I may be somewhat of a bettin' man but count me out.  I'll take your word for it.  I think I've been there but not too recently.  *lol*

    # October 9, 2008 1:28 PM

    J. Liggins said:

    It's not like Metro cares about running late buses so why would they care if the QL buses were late?  As long as the driver can operate the gas and brake pedals and some poor fools have paid their dollar, Metro could care less about on time performance, it's very low on their list of priorities.

    # October 9, 2008 3:23 PM

    Cedric Collins said:

    J. Liggins,

              Another one of those things I---as a rider---would have to 100% agree on.  No---seriously, I do agree with what you said 100%.

    Maybe what they're trying to say is as long as y'all drive and we ride, everything's a-ok.

    NOT!

    # October 9, 2008 3:30 PM
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