One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Who's Next on Google Transit? A Sampling
Yesterday was a big day for Los Angeles transportation. Metro, the county's behemoth transit agency, officially announced their partnership with Google. But the county is large and there are various partner agencies throughout. Here's a sampling, with more to come in later days, of where other city transit systems stand with Google Transit:
Los Angeles (LADOT): "Basically, our information, all of it, whether it's DASH or Commuter Express, will be included in whatever Metro provides [to Google]," said Laura Keller of the department's Public Information Office. However, Metro was a bit bemused upon hearing this and could not confirm this fact immediately. UPDATE: Metro is looking into the possibility, but Google wants to pursue individual agreements with every municipal operator.
Culver City: "Culver City is interested in the program," says Art Ida, who manages the city's transit division. "However, we do not have an expected implementation date."
Santa Clarita: The city's Webmaster, Ryan Drake, explains it from a technical side: "It is something we have looked into in the past but due to the way our routes are set up we are not able to provide them with the data they require. However, once we have fully implemented our new Transit Information Network (TIN) we plan on revisiting the application." When Google Transit was gearing up to launch a few years ago, the city had applied to be part of the beta test, but their application did not make it through.
Santa Monica (Big Blue Bus): Yes, hopefully by the end of the calendar year, they said in a comment left on Green LA Girl.
Who else locally is already on Google Transit? Burbank, Irvin, Orange County, Riverside, San Bernadino County, Foothill Transit, Metrolink and Thousand Oaks.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
