Metro could be on Google Transit soon
By: Michael Neibauer
Examiner Staff Writer
October 23, 2009
Officials still waiting for agreement from search engine giant
Metro's top techies say Google Transit may be available to their riders by Jan. 1, but only if the search engine giant is willing to abide by the agency's terms, specifically Metro's demand that it is shielded from lawsuits spurred by bad data.
Washington has one of the last major U.S. transit systems operations not yet on Google Transit, a popular application that links riders with scheduling information, directions and maps. Suzanne Peck, Metro's technology chief, said Thursday that a relationship with Google is near -- if the two can strike a deal.
Metro currently operates its own revenue-generating Web site with a trip planner, and it makes its scheduling data available to software engineers who develop trip tools of their own, generally for the iPhone.
But those developers have all accepted Metro's terms, which include the right to "institute a license fee at any time" and indemnification, meaning the developer pays the legal costs arising from a lawsuit connected with their use of the transit agency's data.
"There is always the chance of some liability and we just want to minimize that," said John Catoe, Metro's general manager.
But Google, which has relationships with 121 transit systems natiowide, has refused to meet Metro's demands. Elaine Filadelfo, Google spokeswoman, said the firm is "excited to hear they're still interested in this and we're excited to talk to them."
Chris Zimmerman, Metro Board member from Virginia, said most visitors to the D.C. area are unaware of Metro's Web site. Google Transit is "ubiquitous," he said, and any revenue Metro loses because people use a different tool to plan their visit will be surpassed by increased ridership. Metro earns less than $100,000 annually from Web advertising.
"We bring revenue in when people are in the seats," Zimmerman said.
Gordon Linton, a Metro Board member from Maryland, said the transit agency must look at its data as an "asset," one that could feature in a revenue sharing agreement with Google.
"We need to make sure we're protecting the interests of the agency," Linton said.
