Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 14, 2008
METRO TRANSIT PARTNERS WITH GOOGLE TO EXTEND TRIP PLANNING SERVICE
MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – (Aug. 14) – Metro Transit today announced a partnership with Google in which the Minneapolis/St. Paul transit agency’s schedule information will be integrated into Google Maps (TM). The agreement will provide Twin Cities’ trip-planning service to users of the popular search engine.
Google’s trip planner is similar to the one on Metro Transit’s own website in which customers enter a starting point, destination and time of travel. The trip planner returns a transit itinerary, which features step-by-step instructions, including detailed walking directions when necessary.
“We are pleased to be among a growing number of transit agencies joining Google Transit,” said Brian Lamb, Metro Transit general manager. “We are committed to giving current customers and potential customers access to the best information tools to help them make the best use of our service.”
Lamb said he is impressed with the robust mapping, satellite imaging and Street View photography of Google Maps and sees the value of these features for transit customers.
“We view Google Transit as an effective supplement to our own on-line trip planner, especially for those planning to visit the Minneapolis/St. Paul area,” Lamb said. “People heading to the Twin Cites may not know our name, but they certainly know Google and may well be using Google to gather information about Minnesota. Having our information on Google Maps will help us introduce Metro Transit to a wider range of new riders.”
Lamb said it is not an accident that Metro Transit is going live on Google just ahead of the Republican National Convention, which will draw 45,000 visitors to the Twin Cities Sept. 1 through Sept. 4.
Joining Google Transit (http://www.google.com/transit) is the latest customer-focused initiative of Metro Transit. Earlier this year, it added mapping capability to its on-line trip planner. Last month, it rolled out NexTrip, which makes real time bus departure information available to customers by phone, by computer, via hand-held devices and by signs at key transit stations and park-and-ride lots. NexTrip gives customers access to the same satellite bus tracking system used by Metro Transit to manage its on-street performance.
Metro Transit is a service of Metropolitan Council. Customers rode Metro Transit buses and trains 77 million times last year, the highest annual ridership in 25 years. Through June 2008, ridership is nearly eight percent higher than first half of last year.
Google, Google Maps, and Google Transit are registered trademarks of Google Inc.
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(Editors: For information contact Bruce Howard, Metro Transit director of marketing, at 612-349-7694 or bruce.howard@metc.state.mn.us. Direct media inquires to press@google.com)
