SEPTA to launch Google Transit bus routes this week, more redesign details

After redesigning its Web site last week, SEPTA got back to Technically Philly with a laundry list of plans and details to answer our questions about the transit authority’s retooled Web strategy.

The company is well aware of the bugs that were the subject of complaints, says spokesmen Andrew Busch. Rather than stall the site internally, the company felt it could push out the new version as long as no features were missing.

On the call, SEPTA let us know some of its upcoming plans. With so many juicy details to share, allow us to present them in convenient bullet point format:

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SEPTA gets a new Web site

While SEPTA transit workers were on strike this month, it appears the organization’s Web team was hard at work.

As announced via a tweet yesterday afternoon, the transit authority has released a brand spankin’ new Web site.

The new digs highlight SEPTA’s (sorta) cutting-edge features, like RSS feeds, Twitter account and a real-time train ticker. The home page is noticeably cleaner and continues SEPTA’s push in branding each of their services with a distinct color.

As pointed out by Colin over at SEPTA Watch, there are a few bugs to be worked out such as an empty Regional Rail page. It’s likely that the transit organization wants to fix these bugs before releasing any formal press announcements. Calls for comments to SEPTA have yet to be returned.

After the jump we take a look at some highlights from the new design.

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SEPTA opens Google Transit data to third-party developers

SEPTA passengers and city programmers alike have reason to celebrate.

The region’s transportation organization announced today that it has integrated its trip planning services with Google Transit and that it will give third-party developers access to location and scheduling data, as reported earlier.

The first phase of SEPTA’s Google Transit offering provides route planning automated by Google for its Regional Rail, Market Frankford El, trolley routes and Norristown high-speed services. Users can enter a start point and a destination and are quickly returned directions that utilize Philadelphia’s public transportation system.

“Google Transit will help us introduce SEPTA and the convenience of using public transit when visiting our destinations in the city and the region,” SEPTA General Manager Joe Casey told members of the press on the Mezzanine level of SEPTA headquarters on East Market Street earlier today.

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