Metro's ongoing stubbornness with Google Transit

December 16, 11:20 PMDC Transportation ExaminerKatherine M. Hill

Previous Next

1 comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the DC Transportation Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

My brother-in-law very nicely pointed out today that Google Transit won't make WMATA any money, hence the lack of interest.

Okay, well, yeah, I argue, but we really need this. And it's free!

Well, Metro has its own planner, he very nicely pointed out.

A few hours post-conversation, DCist covered the money issue and a few minutes ago I tried to give Metro's website another go.  (Edited to add: You can find answers from Metro here, and responses from Greater Greater Washington here. Got so excited, I left it out!)

And I remember what the website lacks.

If you want to plan the route from the webpage, you have to choose rail or bus. This is a particuarly big problem: what if the best route uses both? Google Transit includes all methods to reach your destination (and is willing to go outside the city you're in). If you bypass the options you can look at a map of the Metrorail and you can print it or put it on your iPod (good luck). The map is "interactive" and though I'm a fan of the classic Metro map, the option to use a Google Map is more helpful because it includes the surrounding areas of each station. This is the same content if you plan your route on the rail.

There is seemingly nothing new here. The new website is certainly better and easy to navigate, but the website lacks the specific and precise directions Google Transit can provide. And that's what we need. DCist is right: "We deserve better."