Google Transit and SEPTA finally play nice
A screenshot of SEPTA's new integration with Google Maps
Let’s face it — SEPTA isn’t exactly quick on adapting new technologies.
It took a group of determined Web developers and some HTML scraping to make the delightfully useful iSEPTA iPhone application, SEPTA has repeatedly delayed the implementation of smart cards and many stations (*cough* Tioga *cough*) still do not sell tokens or make change.
But for all of its feet-dragging and delaying, the area’s transit system has finally accomplished its long-requested integration with one of the Web’s most used tools for travel planning.
SEPTA Watch is reporting that SEPTA will announce its transit schedules will be made available via Google Transit and Google Maps. Google Maps would previously disregard the option to take public transit. So if you were to, say, punch in a trip from 30th Street Station to Fishtown, it would tell you to stretch your legs and get walking as the Market-Frankford line travels along your route under your feet.
Google will now factor in SEPTA buses, subways and Regional Rails in its directions, making our fair city much more navigable for tourists and new residents. The new functionality translates to the “Maps” application the iPhone as well.
SEPTA had taken its sweet time handing over the data to Google, as the it acknowledged the lack of Google Transit support in an October 2008 survey on its Web site where availability on Google Transit was tied for the most requested new feature among regular riders.
Though maybe the reason for the delay was because the new feature on Google Maps easily makes SEPTA’s “Trip Planner” more obsolete that it already was. Google Maps carries the same functionality while displaying the data in well-designed map that most Internet users are already familiar with using.
As a SEPTA Watch reader points out, the partnership is not without its huccups. Google Maps mistakenly refers to trollies as “light rails.”
Also, in other news, the El is now referred to as “the love train.”
Dave on June 30th, 2009
Definitely a major step forward, but no bus schedule data, at least as of 6/29. Once we get buses, I will applaud septa roundly.
Jerm on June 30th, 2009
yeah RR, the El, and trolleys are not nearly as confusing or unreliable as the buses.
riders need to know where the nearest bus stop is, when the bus is actually coming, and where that bus is headed. then we will be living in the future.
elbergel on June 30th, 2009
London has as a system like that.
They had information scrolling across a screen telling you how long of a wait until your bus arrived.
The only problem was that real-time traffic situations messed with the system to the point that the times were all over the place and it never helped much.
Still it was reassuring to see that your bus (or tube train!) had only minutes until it’s arrival.
I don’t think we’d be living in the future if SEPTA installed that service on the L and Subway. Heck, I might write a letter asking why this system hasn’t been installed!