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Lodi is now part of Google Transit
Aug 13, 2010 (Lodi News-Sentinel - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
While behind the wheel of a Lodi Grapevine bus, driver Lisa Mead often hears from her passengers that they are using the Internet to map out the best routes.
"A lot of them are looking for ways the buses connect from city-to-city," she said.
Lodi has teamed up with Google to get the city's bus schedules on Google Transit with the goal of making public transportation more accessible. Google Transit makes Lodi's bus and train schedules searchable and linked with the transit schedules of other cities to help people plan trips, said Julia Tyack, Lodi's transportation planner.
The mapping software will allow Lodi residents to see possible routes with times, similar to directions on Google Maps. It also has cost comparisons with the amount it would cost to drive versus taking the bus.
People with Internet access on their phones can use it as they travel, or residents can go to the library or somewhere with Internet access to map out routes in advance.
The city plans to start promoting the new service by passing out fliers and even doing demonstrations of how it works at bus stops or on the bus, Tyack said.
Lodi city staff will be responsible for updating schedules as the routes change permanently or when there is construction disrupting a route.
"That is why it is such an effective program," Tyack said. "When we make changes, we are required to update Google, so people are getting up to the minute information."
Even though she drives buses in Lodi, Mead said she still has to use the Internet to check schedules of other cities when she is traveling. She has not yet used Google Transit, but said she might use it on her next trip.
"I use the Internet when going to the Bay Area," she said. "Otherwise, I'm lost."
Students often have their cell phones on the bus, and when Delta College starts on Monday, Mead said some of them might use Google Transit.
Staff is still working to get all of the routes updated. For example, with the Lodi Avenue reconstruction project, Tyack said she is working with Google to make changes for the third phase of the project.
Most of the changes for construction will be updated by the end of next week, she said. The city can even add notes about the individual bus stop locations. For example, they can say when sidewalks are uneven or when there is debris from construction.
To get the project online, Lodi teamed up with the California Center for Innovative Technology, which is a part of the University of California, Berkeley Institute of Transportation Studies.
It converted the city's schedule, routes and fare data into a format compatible with Google software.
It was free for the city to get the transit schedules online because the California Department of Transportation project funded the project.
The center is also targeting other smaller cities in the Central Valley to participate in the pilot program. Tyack hopes more cities will participate, so passengers will have even more options when they travel.
"Hopefully, if we can get everyone on board, you can go anywhere on public transportation," Tyack said. "It's cheaper and better for the environment."
Because she mainly rides the routes in Lodi, resident Marilyn Coba said she will most likely use Google Transit.
But Sacramento resident Ronda Rae said she will probably try it. While riding on route 2 on Thursday afternoon after going shopping, Haworth said she plans to go to San Luis Obispo soon, and might use it to find the best way.
To access the service, go to www.google.com/transit. The site also offers walking, car and biking directions. You can also access the service at www.lodi.gov/transit
Contact reporter Maggie Creamer at maggiec@lodinews.com. Read her blog at www.lodinews.com/blogs/city_buzz.
To see more of the News-Sentinel or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to
http://www.lodinews.com. Copyright (c) 2010, Lodi News-Sentinel, Calif.
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