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NJ TRANSIT NJ TRANSIT

NJ TRANSIT TRIP PLANNING NOW AVAILABLE ON GOOGLE

Partnership with ¿Google Transit¿ is regional first

March 12, 2008
NJT-08-018

NEWARK, NJ ¿ NJ TRANSIT today became the nation¿s largest public transportation agency to partner with Google, the global leader in online content, to provide online trip planning via "Google Transit."

Using the same scheduling data that drives NJ TRANSIT¿s online Trip Planner, Google Transit can provide specific trip times and transfers for travel between any of NJ TRANSIT¿s 164 rail and 60 light rail stations, integrating the data into the familiar Google Maps interface for convenient access to essential travel information.

The partnership also brings new features to NJ TRANSIT's website (www.njtransit.com) by integrating Google Maps with the information pages for each rail and light rail station, enabling customers to find local businesses¿dry cleaners, restaurants, car rentals¿without ever leaving the NJ TRANSIT site.

"For visitors to the region or the occasional rider who is less familiar with New Jersey¿s public transportation options, it gives them a starting point for learning about NJ TRANSIT and is a key tool for attracting new riders to our system," said NJ TRANSIT Board Member Kenneth E. Pringle. "We¿re bringing transit trip planning into the 21st century."

"In partnering with a heavily-utilized, widely-recognized search engine, we are increasing NJ TRANSIT¿s visibility among potential mass transit riders," said NJ TRANSIT Board Member Flora M. Castillo, who also serves as chair of the board¿s customer service committee. "We are also improving the experience of our existing customers by offering access to technology that gives them station locations, train departure times and nearby services at their fingertips."

"Our partnership with the world-renowned, highly popular Google not only allows us to offer NJ TRANSIT schedule information through Google Transit, but helps to pave the way for the seamless integration of regional transit information," said NJ TRANSIT Executive Director Richard Sarles. "As more transportation agencies in the region come online, customers will ultimately be able to plan their trips across multiple transit providers."

"Our partnership with NJ TRANSIT is another step in Google's continued commitment to provide users with truly useful local tools," said Google¿s New Business Development Manager Tom Sly. "We are delighted to bring this service to regular NJ TRANSIT riders and to the thousands of visitors to this region."

NJ TRANSIT is the first major public transit agency in the Northeast to partner with Google as it joins more than 30 transportation agencies in the United States and abroad that currently offer trip planning through the system.

Google Transit offers a number of features that benefit NJ TRANSIT customers, including:

  • Suggested trips with next available departure and arrival times
  • Ability to select desired departure or arrival time and date
  • Estimated trip duration
  • Reverse trips
  • Transfer times and locations
  • Visual depiction of the route on a geographical map
  • Integration with other tools such as Google Maps for driving directions and Google Local for searches of nearby businesses and local landmarks
  • Links to www.njtransit.com for customized planning tools and fare information

Bus schedule information is expected to be added to the system later this year.

The public-private partnership with Google Inc. was developed at no cost to NJ TRANSIT.

NJ TRANSIT customers can plan their trip via Google Transit at www.google.com/transit.

About NJ TRANSIT

NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing nearly 865,000 weekday trips on 240 bus routes, three light rail lines and 11 commuter rail lines. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 164 rail stations, 60 light rail stations and more than 18,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.