Google Transit in Beta
 

http://www.google.com/transit

Nowadays any respectable online map service provides driving directions, but Google Labs is now testing transit directions. It is currently only available for Portland, Oregon and with only most basic functionality, but seems to work well enough:

• TriMet bus as well as rail lines
• time-aware scheduling (the samples specify routes "at 7pm on 12/9" or "by 8pm") as well as ride and walking duration. Times around the time are provided and clickable.
• total fare, with a comparison to the cost of driving (based on the IRS mileage allowance)
• maps of the route and the neighborhoods of end points and transfers.

Not (yet) available:

• restricting by mode (e.g. bus-only, commuter rail-only, subway-only etc.)
• weighting a search to minimize time, cost, transfers, or walking
• searching by landmarks (general weakness of Google Local) including station names
• accounting for construction or other delays/closures (not that we expect this from driving directions of course)
• a list of available stops or lines from which to select start or end points
• displaying all stops enroute
• links to the relevant operator/transit authority
• reflection of special fares such as senior or student-- but maybe
• disabled accessibility information

At the least this should become handy for traveling, when you might not even know the name of the local agency.

Pure genius.

I wonder why they chose Portland. Nevertheless Google continues to impress.

I think, no question, that for colder climates, the killer app is to be able to link from cell phones to gps coordinates of transit in motion. Knowing that the next bus is running ahead/late makes a big difference in sub-freezing windy climates.. In fact I think I'd pay for that.

Cynically? Because the local transit system, trimet (www.trimet.org) has much of the same functionality already online, you'd just need to slap the google map interface onto it.

In fact, most major transit agencies have route planners. I surmise they chose Portland because it is a medium-sized city with a simple public transit network. Trying to test a new system on something as large and complex as NYC wouldn't make any sense.

But it is true that I expected transit agencies would build sites like http://www.tastypopsicle.com/maps/cta.asp , not that Google would circumvent them. Besides the convenience of having this on the road, it'll be useful for building web applications as well since there is no API, XML feel, or other way to to plug into all the data on 511.org or mbta.com or stationmasters.com.