Uncategorized

Google Transit and SEPTA finally play nice

Let’s face it — SEPTA isn’t exactly quick on adapting new technologies. It took a group of determined Web developers and some HTML scraping to make the delightfully useful iSEPTA iPhone application, SEPTA has repeatedly delayed the implementation of smart cards and many stations (*cough* Tioga *cough*) still do not sell tokens or make change. […]

dsdsd

dsdsd
Let’s face it — SEPTA isn’t exactly quick on adapting new technologies.
It took a group of determined Web developers and some HTML scraping to make the delightfully useful iSEPTA iPhone application, SEPTA has repeatedly delayed the implementation of smart cards and many stations (*cough* Tioga *cough*) still do not sell tokens or make change.
But for all of its feet-dragging and delaying, the area’s transit system has finally accomplished its long-requested integration with one of the Web’s most used tools for travel planning.

SEPTA Watch is reporting that SEPTA will announce its transit schedules will be made available via Google Transit and Google Maps. Google Maps would previously disregard the option to take public transit. So if you were to, say, punch in a trip from 30th Street Station to Fishtown, it would tell you to stretch your legs and get walking as the Market-Frankford line travels along your route under your feet.
sdsds Google will now factor in SEPTA buses, subways and Regional Rails in its directions, making our fair city much more navigable for tourists and new residents. The new functionality translates to the “Maps” application the iPhone as well.
SEPTA had taken its sweet time handing over the data to Google, as the it acknowledged the lack of Google Transit support in an October 2008 survey on its Web site where availability on Google Transit was tied for the most requested new feature among regular riders.
Though maybe the reason for the delay was because the new feature on Google Maps easily makes SEPTA’s “Trip Planner” more obsolete that it already was. Google Maps carries the same functionality while displaying the data in well-designed map that most Internet users are already familiar with using.
As a SEPTA Watch reader points out, the partnership is not without its huccups. Google Maps mistakenly refers to trollies as “light rails.”
Also, in other news, the El is now referred to as “the love train.”

Before you go...

Please consider supporting Technical.ly to keep our independent journalism strong. Unlike most business-focused media outlets, we don’t have a paywall. Instead, we count on your personal and organizational support.

3 ways to support our work:
  • Contribute to the Journalism Fund. Charitable giving ensures our information remains free and accessible for residents to discover workforce programs and entrepreneurship pathways. This includes philanthropic grants and individual tax-deductible donations from readers like you.
  • Use our Preferred Partners. Our directory of vetted providers offers high-quality recommendations for services our readers need, and each referral supports our journalism.
  • Use our services. If you need entrepreneurs and tech leaders to buy your services, are seeking technologists to hire or want more professionals to know about your ecosystem, Technical.ly has the biggest and most engaged audience in the mid-Atlantic. We help companies tell their stories and answer big questions to meet and serve our community.
The journalism fund Preferred partners Our services
Engagement

Join our growing Slack community

Join 5,000 tech professionals and entrepreneurs in our community Slack today!

Trending

16 places to responsibly dispose of old electronics in Philadelphia

19 tech and entrepreneurship events to check out before the holidays

Are digital navigators the answer to closing Philadelphia’s tech gap?

Expect high-speed internet at 100 Philly rec centers in 2025, Verizon says

Technically Media