NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
August 27, 2013
Contact Information:
Stephen O’Neil, Administrator, Worcester Regional Transit Authority, (508) 453-3403
BOSTON _ The Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA) has taken another giant step into the future with the inclusion of all its routes and schedules on Google Maps.
According to Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Secretary and CEO Richard A. Davey, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and all 15 Regional Transportation Authorities in the Commonwealth will soon have all of their routes and schedules fully accessible through Google Maps.
This initiative was made possible by the efforts of the MassRIDES Statewide Travel Options Program at MassDOT, in partnership with Bridgewater State University. These organizations worked together to help provide assistance to each Massachusetts Transit Authority by compiling the necessary data to access Google Maps.
“Over the past two years, we have been working diligently on bringing world class technology and innovation to the WRTA. The integration of Google Maps is one more advancement that we are proud to offer our ridership community.” Said Stephen O’Neil, WRTA Administrator. “Google Maps is an excellent feature, and we are grateful that the MassRIDES Statewide Travel Options Program at MassDOT made this possible for our organization, as well as for our counterparts throughout the Commonwealth.”
This service will make all public transportation authorities in Massachusetts available under one umbrella. By utilizing Google Maps, a rider will have the ability to plan a trip using only one website to obtain route and schedule information for multiple transits, as opposed to using multiple websites. In addition to the routes and schedules, Google Map directions guides a rider from one transit station to another with detailed walking directions for the beginning and end portions of the trip.
“People want convenience today, and this Google Map integration will make it easier to plan travel.” Said O’Neil. “It’s perfect for business people who rely on public transportation from city to city, for the collegiate traveler, or leisure travelers on the weekends.”
Along with the WRTA and MBTA, the other Massachusetts Regional Transit Authorities on Google Maps include: Brockton Area Transit Authority, Berkshire Regional Transit Authority, Cape Ann Transit Authority, Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority,
Franklin Regional Transit Authority, Greater Attleboro-Taunton Regional Transit Authority, Lowell Regional Transit Authority, Martha’s Vineyard Transit Authority, Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority, Metrowest Regional Transit Authority, Montachusett Regional Transit Authority, Nantucket Regional Transit Authority, Pioneer Valley Transit Authority, and Southeastern Regional Transit Authority.
For more information on Google Maps, visit www.maps.google.com/transit