Chicagoist: CTA Using Google Maps

rascaltwitch

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 18:55:13 -0600

Would be nice if it worked with Metra and Pace. Once again, the RTA FAILS at working together.

Ed Knittel

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 07:16:50 -0600

The system is not without flaws. Of the more noticeable is that the station closures are not up to date. According to Google I can board and exit at the Wellington station. I don't see how Google will be able to be perfectly timed when the CTA is constantly rerouting the trains in the evenings and on the weekends.

lamgray

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:33:50 -0600

They had some light computer displays that they were trying to get to work this morning at the Clark/Lake stop. . .they got one working (by plugging it in). . it then took 4 men to figure out how to plug the other one in! WAY TO GO!

tamalechica

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 13:55:25 -0600

"Not bad but it should give you the option of taking a train or a bus." Absolutely! I just plugged in some address locations where I use the trains because it gets me to the south side much faster. The new system automatically gave me three bus routes only. When I modified one of the addresses just a little, their system returned train routes. I have used Google Maps just to see where the train stations are though -- since the street views are helpful in recognizing where the heck you are if you're not familiar with an area. I like the idea of integrating GMaps... they just need to program in trip planner preferences, like minimum walking and taking the train vs. bus. People who have mobility issues but aren't disabled need those options!

Spav1

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 13:42:57 -0600

Please let them add "Huberman's Commute Playlist" so that we can all see what he listens to. "The Duchess" by Fergie is No. 1 guess.

sparky

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 13:26:01 -0600

Frp, the same people that are fixing the tracks are likely not web designers as well. But I could be wrong. We also do not know how the funding is allocated, so the CTA may be able to prioritize maintenance and web design separately. But it does feel like a myspace page. They should have Hubermans's favorite artist and song on there, with a picture of a CTA train.

E

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 13:05:12 -0600

frp- you do know why the Kennedy is getting backed up, right? Because, you know, they're working on the tracks! Everything you "suggested" is already underway. Sometimes it takes time to finish things, k? Why can't the CTA work on repairing the infrastructure and improving client relations at the same time?

Rachelle Bowden

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:45:20 -0600

Come to Clark/Lake, 95th, Midway or Ohare today and there will be Google employees explaining the new service and handing out schwag.

Kevin

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:33:12 -0600

Regarding the Web site, CTA Tattler posted last week that there will be a full site redesign within six months. The new homepage is simply an interim improvement, done completely in-house.

peteypants

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:30:08 -0600

whoa, chill there trp...maybe you should start driving/biking it more often.

ajs

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:23:53 -0600

It's nice to finally see some progress in this area. The Google Maps integration is pretty handy, particularly when trying to plan a route using a mobile phone. I think that the Paris Metro (RATP) interactive map kicks serious ass: http://www.ratp.info/orienter/cv/cv_en/carteparis.php But, seeing as this is the CTA we are talking about, I have much lower expectations. Too bad, as others have mentioned, that the transitchicago web site still has the same shitty static content hidden behind a slightly less craptastic home page. -A

frp

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:13:41 -0600

Jeebus! Who gives a rat's ass what the fucking website looks like? Doesn't the "leadership" (and I use that term very loosely) know how to prioritize work? The CTA should expedite and finish the Brown Line upgrades, the track repairs, and the Blue Line repairs (and stop fucking backing up the Kennedy on the fucknig weekends), and NOT worry about riders are planning their trips or how the website looks or whether or not it uses the latest fucking mapping technology. Goddammit, someone needs to put some fucking "leaders" in fucking place at the fucking CTA who fucking know how to fuckinbg run a fucking business for fuck's sake.

Slaphappy

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:01:25 -0600

Actually, now that I look at it, they only redesigned the home page, which is the website equivalent of using nice brick to cover the front of a new construction and that shitty concrete to cover the other three sides, like no one will notice how shitty it looks.

peteypants

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 11:59:10 -0600

aside from the myspace-esque homepage, i don't notice much of a difference.

matty

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 11:46:08 -0600

I'll take crappy

Slaphappy

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 11:36:26 -0600

It seems the CTA site has gone from shitty to crappy.

matty

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 11:28:39 -0600

It's great however I would like real time tracking information included. One thing at a time though.

mike_thoms

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 11:26:27 -0600

Not bad but it should give you the option of taking a train or a bus.