The CTA Just Got Better - Chicago Tribune Article

Google, CTA teaming up to aid trip planning
Online site offers step-by-step travel instructions, plus photos

By Jon Hilkevitch | Tribune reporter
11:17 AM CDT, April 8, 2008

CTA customers can now use Google to plan their rides on trains and buses under an agreement announced Tuesday.

The new technology partnership between the transit authority and the Internet search-engine giant incorporates a trip-planning function with photographs of locations provided by Google's mapping service. The site is available at www.maps.google.com/chicago.

Riders can enter the start and end points of their trip, and the computer software will produce several itineraries to choose from. The agency hopes the service, which is being provided at no cost to the CTA will generate new ridership, President Ron Huberman said at a news conference Tuesday in the agency's headquarters at 567 W. Lake St.

"We hope people will see this as an alternative to find a faster way to work," Huberman said. The announcement was made in a CTA meeting room that was transformed into a sound stage, complete with loud, pulsating music, pyramids of large colored cubes in Google's color schemes, futuristic ergodynamic chairs and a large buffet table.

The service is similar to the Regional Transportation Authority's online Trip Planner, but the Google program also provides photographs to help orient travelers a bit more.

For instance, by showing a photo of the Red Line stop at Addison Street near Wrigley Field, transit riders who aren't familiar with the area will see from the photo that after exiting the CTA Addison station they should turn right and walk west to Wrigley.

The new service is expected to be especially popular among tourists and techno-geeks. Information is provided in 11 different languages.

"Out transit system will appear as an alternative to driving," Mayor Richard Daley said at the news conference.

The CTA is the largest transit agency to sign on with Google, but the company does provide a link to more than 25 transit agencies across the country.

The service does not provide travel information for Metra or Pace.

jhilkevitch@tribune.com