Using Google Transit, a trip from Union Station to Chatsworth on a Metrolink Train

Last week, vowing to help make NYC transit less complicated, New York City and Google officially launched Google Transit's ability to help people navigate the city. So it got us thinking. If New York City has it and Chicago has it in addition to Orange County, San Diego, Burbank, Irvine, Metrolink Trains and Thousand Oaks, when will Metro, Los Angeles' main transit operator, launch the tool?

"Google Transit has approached us on participating in their service," explained Metro Spokesman Dave Sotero in an e-mail to LAist. "We’re looking at it. In the meantime, we are in the process of making upgrades to our own online Trip Planner." Translation: Google Transit will not be here anytime soon. In the meantime, walking directions throughout Los Angeles are abundant.

The Trip Planner, which people often complain about, has added one new feature that is actually very useful, especially for those who have phones that can access the web.

NexTrip, which is in beta testing, should tell riders when their "NexTrip" will arrive and will also will give customized route information, schedules and maps. We've tested it streetside on Ventura Blvd. and while obtaining the schedule was definitely useful, the arrival time estimate was even better--it came within a minute of when it said. We haven't seen the customized route or maps launch yet, but you can give it a try here.