Where's Google Transit? January 2010 edition

Transit

Where's Google Transit? January 2010 edition

by David Alpert • January 27, 2010 11:14 am

Several people have emailed recently to ask what's going on with Google Transit and WMATA.

Image from Google Transit.

I've been in contact with Metro folks who are working on it. They say that negotiations are underway and they are making progress. I can't share any more information right now.

As far as I can tell, Metro is now trying genuinely to work things out. The other cities that negotiated their contracts, like New York, Chicago and Boston, also spent some time doing that negotiation. Metro restarted negotiations late last year, and that means that unfortunately we have to wait for this delayed process to now run its course.

As I've always maintained, the agreement ought to look a lot like Chicago's, with no indemnification by either side and no payment by either side: basically, "here's the data, no warranties, do whatever you want" sort of deal. I'll keep talking to folks on both sides, and if either Google or Metro seem to be unfairly obstinate, we can all pressure that side to be reasonable.

In other Google Transit news, the new Charm City Circulator in Baltimore has a trip planner on its home page which points directly to Google Transit, but as tipster Josh F. points out, the Circulator doesn't actually appear to be in Google Transit yet. Even choosing a trip that's fastest by Circulator, it gives MTA bus routes instead. Oops!

9 comments

Tags: Baltimore, Circulator, Google, WMATA

WMATA, ART close to Google Transit participation (Feb 25, 2010)
Google and WMATA signed Google Transit agreement in July (Jan 27, 2011)
Boston Google Transit agreement is more balanced (Dec 8, 2009)
WMATA says Google Transit in mid-January (Dec 13, 2010)
Google paid for NYC data (or not); Chicago removed indemnification (Aug 20, 2009)

David Alpert is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Greater Greater Washington. He has had a lifelong interest in great cities and great communities. He worked as a Product Manager for Google for six years and has lived in the Boston, San Francisco, and New York metro areas in addition to Washington, DC. He loves the area which is, in many ways, greater than those others, and wants to see it become even greater.

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I contacted them in early January 2010 and got a response Jan 12 2010 saying the WMATA IT dept was working on it.

If I remember correctly they were supposed to re-begin working on this in late Nov / early Dec 2009.

Good wording choice 'now trying genuinely' , I don't even want to think about all the time and overpriced contractor salary they've wasted on this when simple true effort would have had this completed long ago.

We've been waiting for this for how long now? Since 2008?

by James on Jan 27, 2010 12:20 pm

There may be some delay on Google's end, too:

Due to overwhelming interest in the Transit Partner Program, we are currently experiencing a significant volume of partner requests. Although we are unable to accept new partners at this time, we encourage you to sign-up in order to be placed on the waiting list.

by Gavin Baker on Jan 27, 2010 12:23 pm

Gavin: That just applies to small transit agencies (maybe the Charm City Circulator?) Google is not making Metro wait on the waiting list.

by David Alpert on Jan 27, 2010 12:26 pm

Anybody keeping a running tab of local transit agencies' participation in Google Transit (and whether their data is available to other developers as well)?

Google's list of current partners includes Md. MTA, Alexandria Transit Company (DASH), Fairfax CUE, Loudoun County Transit, and Virginia Regional Transit.

That's missing a lot of important systems, including VRE, DC Circulator, Ride-On, Fairfax Connector, and Arlington Transit. Obviously WMATA is the most important, but having the others open their data would be valuable as well.

by Gavin Baker on Jan 27, 2010 12:36 pm

@Gavin: Ride On actually is on Google Transit. ART has wanted to submit their data but hasn't done so (wouldn't they qualify as a small agency?). Fairfax Connector refuses to join until WMATA joins, and quite foolishly.

What about The Bus in Prince George's County or PRTC down in Prince William County?

by Jason on Jan 27, 2010 12:43 pm

Ride-On isn't in Google's list. Maybe they've been lumped with MTA?

The Bus and PRTC (OmniRide) aren't on Google's list either.

by Gavin Baker on Jan 27, 2010 12:46 pm

I wouldn't try sending in a comment or question on the Charm City Circulator website. I haven't heard back from them in a couple weeks about that, and other questions.

by Chris on Jan 28, 2010 9:14 am

There is a very nice list of transit apps and agencies with public data at http://www.citygoround.com/
Check it out and report any holes.

by Tom on Jan 31, 2010 4:03 am

When is google maps going to finally get WMATA data for DC? They still don't have it, and it's very frustrating.

by anon on Jan 16, 2011 2:22 pm