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The Google Transit-powered trip planner on the Maryland Transit Administration's web site isn't working. According to a reader, it's been out of operation for several weeks.
These things happen, but why wouldn't the MTA put a notice on its web site informing customers the service is out of order? This appears to be part of a pattern with the MTA of treating its web site as an afterthought instead of using it as a powerful tool to communicate with riders.
Michael Dresser has been an editor, reporter and columnist with The Sun longer than Baltimore's had a subway. He's covered retailing, telecommunications, state politics and wine. Since 2004, he's been The Sun's transportation writer. He lives in Ellicott City with his wife and travel companion, Cindy.
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Comments
A Google employee said last week that it should be back up in one to two weeks:
http://groups.google.com/group/googletransit/browse_thread/thread/344527b7a0a45feb
Apparently the cause is that the MTA tweaked some of their route schedules and Google hasn't put the new schedules in yet. Not sure why this affects the whole network rather than just the specific routes. It's also not clear whether the MTA was too late getting the new data in, or if Google is backed up entering the data.
Posted by: jfruh | March 1, 2010 12:55 PM
Business as usual for MTA! They do not notify customers who endure hour-long delays, sometimes in unsavory conditions, why should the website be any different?
Posted by: missnj | March 1, 2010 4:40 PM
Yeah when Google Trip Planne told me that there was no way to get from Linthicum Light Rail Station to North Linthicum Light Rail Station via public transit I knew something was up!
Posted by: Richard | March 2, 2010 9:57 AM