Have you heard of Google Transit, a feature of Google Maps that began in October of 2007 and now covers 445 cities worldwide? Google Transit helps you get around town using the “Get Directions” feature of Google Maps and the option to use public transit.
Valley Metro has been working with the 14 member cities of the Regional Public Transit Association (RPTA) to bring this feature to Valley residents. We’ve covered a lot of ground in the testing phase, but it’s a big Valley with a lot of transit routes to verify so we’re not yet ready to introduce it for use. Here’s a little more about what Google Transit will do once it’s online (using a test account set up for us by Google): Like any trip using Google Maps, I input my origin and destination. In this case I want to leave the Valley Metro offices to go to the Phoenix Zoo. I’ve expanded the options section to tell Google I want to leave the office at 10:00 am, and I want to use public transit.
When I click on “Get Directions” the map shows me public transit options, and I can click on the bus icon to get more information on the route selected.
The text on the left side of the Google Transit webpage gives me the specifics of the trip, and shows multiple transit options if they are available. Note that all Valley Metro Transit Book information is uploaded to Google Transit – the transit feature knows that a Route 3 bus is scheduled to depart Central station at 10:14, and should arrive at the Phoenix Zoo at 10:47 am.
More complex trips for Google Transit may involve taking an Express Bus or RAPID to downtown, connecting to METRO Light Rail, and then walking to your final destination. Add to that the comprehensive time schedules involved with each transit route, and you can see we’ve got our hands full. It takes careful coordination to get all of the correct information in the right format to Google so that residents can use an accurate online transit service. Once the service is online, our Share The Ride users can see their Google Transit options with just one click. Their origin and destination information is already saved to their profile, along with their commuting schedule. A “Show Transit” button will change their commute map into a Google Transit map, as shown below in a demonstration account.
ShareTheRide users can then find carpool, vanpool and transit options for their commute all in one place, using one account. When can you see, test and travel around the Valley using Google Transit? We hope to have it ready by the end of April, and we’re working closely with transit agencies around the Valley to make that happen. We know Google Transit will help both residents and tourists visit all the great destinations the Valley has to offer.
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Big thanks to Valley Metro for sending this information to Rail Life today! We are REALLY looking forward to Google Transit being available here!
There are so many reasons why this rocks. I don’t even need to make the green argument about this showing an easy alternative to a car. It’s just really cool to be able to map out my route and quickly dtermine if it’s car or transit. Take the guesswork out of it and you’ll see more riders. Phoenix, you’re really stepping up. Great news!
Shane, you make some great points. Not only is this cool, it really does make it easier for people to decide to try public transit. Props to Valley Metro for working so hard to bring this to the area.
See ya around! 🙂
That is great news! That Bus directions icon on the iPhone’s Google Maps has been taunting me for ages.
Looking forward to it finally working!
.-= Gridman´s last blog ..Neil deGrasse Tyson on Science Fiction Movies =-.
those dang bus icons won’t be able to taunt people much longer. 🙂
.-= Rail Life´s last blog ..Google Transit Coming Soon To Rock The Rail Life! =-.
Amen! It’s about time Valley Metro. Nice work!
Serious, this is a cool addition to the system. Thanks so much for stopping by!
.-= Rail Life´s last blog ..Google Transit Coming Soon To Rock The Rail Life! =-.
This is going to be awesome – and I know one dad and son who will use it at least a couple of times a month…
Me and my kid!
Thanks for letting us know it was available.
.-= Justin McHood´s last blog ..Resiliency: I See It Everywhere =-.
Justin, you are welcome. Looking forward to seeing you and “mini me” on the trains again soon…
.-= Rail Life´s last blog ..Google Transit Coming Soon To Rock The Rail Life! =-.
We’re super excited to be helping Valley Metro get integrated with GoogleTransit over here at Integrum. We’ve done a lot of work with them and they really are an organization who understands how powerful the web community can be to help them out.
Chris, thanks so much for all of the work you guys have been doing. You make a great point about Valley Metro. I have been impressed with them lately. It seems they are finally embracing the fact that reaching out to people and providing good information helps us all.
.-= Rail Life´s last blog ..Google Transit Coming Soon To Rock The Rail Life! =-.
What a great idea! Can’t wait to see the Google Transit maps in action – from convenience to accuracy. The true success of these maps will definitely be in the marketing and making sure people know they’re there! Kudos to Metro & Google. Thanks RailLife for keeping us abreast of what’s going on!!
.-= CWaterhouse´s last blog ..Real Estate Bar Camp Phoenix 2010 #REBCPhx =-.
Hi Calie, thanks for the kind words. I am looking forward to try this out as soon as possible.
Thanks for stopping by!
.-= Rail Life´s last blog ..Google Transit Coming Soon To Rock The Rail Life! =-.
I have used Google Transit and it is super cool! It saves you a ton of time and it is very accurate.
.-= Dennis´s last blog ..Industrial Divider Curtains =-.
Nick,
I’m already a huge fan of all the applications Google offers, and I didn’t even know about this one! As a suburbanite way out in Southeast Gilbert, this will be a cool tool to help me find a way to effectively use mass transit…
.-= Bill Risser´s last blog ..Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-02-28 =-.
it’s up! how awesome!
Love Google Transit. In Chicago, it maps all the CTA and Metra Rails as it seems to do in Phoenix as well. Incredible stiff.