Thanks to a tip in the comments of our recent post on implementation of Google Transit in the Silicon Prairie, we’ve learned that Omaha, the city we reported had no plans to implement the service, will be launching it by the end of September.
“On behalf of Metro Transit, I just wanted to confirm that yes, we are working on Google Transit, and have been for months now,” Metro planning assistant Evan Schweitz said in an email yesterday. By the end of the week, Metro plans to have its application submitted to Google. (Above, screenshot of the current Google Transit implementation in the Midwest with notation by Danny Schreiber.)
This is great news for Omaha and the Silicon Prairie, as each of the region’s three major cities – Omaha, Des Moines and Kansas City – are either currently offering the service or have plans to do so in the coming year. Though the implementation of Google Transit won’t have a noticeable impact on the region, it’s another element that we see increasing the overall quality of life in the region. Without a doubt, it’s a useful tool for residents and visitors alike.
Here are more details from Schweitz’s email on Metro Transit’s implementation:
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We have already previewed our data in a beta testing site from Google, and everything seems to be working correctly. After receiving our file, Google requires about 8 weeks of lead time on their end to get things set up for the first time. Assuming all goes according to plan, we’ll have it up and running by the end of September. (From what I’ve heard from other agencies, we should expect a few bugs that will need to be fixed before a final launch). We are really looking forward to this new feature, and feel that it will greatly enhance our riders’ ability to navigate Omaha.
Also, thanks to the commenter, Kevin, who connected us with Schweitz. We greatly appreciate when readers let us know of a needed correction, from a misspelled word to an erroneous fact, and we encourage you to let us know of any in the past or future. Please email corrections to editor@siliconprairienews.com.
