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September 23, 2009
Transit Info Envy
Streetsblog in New York is decrying the state of available online transit info from the MTA and holding up Portland as the shining example.
Posted by Chris Smith at 10:24 AM
Comments
September 23, 2009 12:05 PM
Allan Says:
i had an interesting thought today and i was wondering if anyone knows the answer. do long-distance transit services like bus companies/amtrak qualify as groups that could put their information up? it seems like it would be interesting to compare taking transit multi-hop trips versus long-haul busses that you might have to wait hours to get a ride would be interesting to show side-by-side here. just a thought
September 23, 2009 12:31 PM
EngineerScotty Says:
Is it possible to go coast-to-coast (say, Seattle to Miami) using nothing but transit? Greyhound, Amtrak, etc. don't count obviously.
September 23, 2009 12:36 PM
R A Fontes Says:
Maybe through Canada or Mexico, Scotty?
September 23, 2009 12:54 PM
EngineerScotty Says:
Maybe...
September 23, 2009 2:28 PM
Jason McHuff Says:
Are you talking about having Amtrak on Google Maps? Because the trains are on there. But overall, from what I've read of the TA, it doesn't seem too surprising that they aren't being helpful. Also, that post doesn't mention how when somebody asked for schedule data from one of the NYC agencies, they received a collection of paper schedules.
September 23, 2009 8:20 PM
Dave H Says:
Is it possible to go coast-to-coast (say, Seattle to Miami) using nothing but transit? Greyhound, Amtrak, etc. don't count obviously.
If a walk of more than 30 miles between transfers is unappealing, I doubt it's possible. Without Amtrak/Greyhound (or a subsidiary like MetroLink) you can't even get from Orange County to San Diego County, and they're only separated by 12 miles of Marine base.
As far as I know, even San Francisco to Los Angeles (the two most populous metro areas on the west coast) can't be done without using either an Amtrak affiliate, a car/truck, a boat, a Greyhound affiliate, or an airplane. Same with New York to Buffalo, the two most populated cities in NY State.
Maybe through Canada or Mexico, Scotty?
In Canada no way, without using the Canadian versions of Amtrak, Greyhound, or flying. You can't even cover Toronto to Niagara Falls or Fort Erie without switching to a long-haul bus/train. Buffalo to Toronto (about 100 miles, similar to Tijuana from Los Angeles) can't even be done without Megabus, Amtrak, Greyhound, or similar.
September 23, 2009 10:07 PM
Jason McHuff Says:
you can't even get from Orange County to San Diego County
Yes you can. Check out Breeze Route 395. Even has some trips that bypass the base if time is an issue.
For connections up here, check out Evan Siroky's work.
