People now can use Google to map their trips around the Washington area by Metro, not just by car, foot or bike. The transit agency and Internet giant announced Thursday that Metro’s transit network is now synced into Google Transit.
“It’s a great step forward for Metro, catching us up with the rest of the Northeast,” General Manager Richard Sarles said.
The deal had been more than two years in the making and represents a change not just in technology for Metro, but also of attitude.
Transit advocates had pushed Metro for years to release its transit data like other agencies worldwide. But in 2008, a Metro spokeswoman said Metro wanted to be paid for giving Google such access. “We also have to get something out of this deal,” she said. “It can’t just be a private company getting something off the back of a public agency.”
After much prodding, though, Metro released the data for free in August to computer programmers. Sarles said Thursday that no money changed hands.
“We stepped back from it being a problem and saw it as important for our customers,” Metro board Chairwoman Cathy Hudgins said.
Metro has a trip-planning tool on its website, but it does not extend outside the region. Google extends the reach for transit users, letting them plan trips using multiple mass transit agencies even when traveling farther afield. Sarles, for example, said he used the site to plan a trip via transit to Yankee Stadium from Washington.
The site also encourages transit use, showing Metro as an option when otherwise people might hop into a cab or drive.
Google project manager Noam Ben Haim said the company plans to add more features in “a matter of weeks.”
It will add bus stops on the Google maps with additional scheduling data to help users take buses, not just rail trips.
But fares won’t be included. He said Metro’s complicated fare system is different than what they are used to handling.
