Discovering Transit in Montana

A lot of well-used transit systems have a few things in common:  they are easy to understand and use because they have information that is readily accessible.  The importance of readily available schedule and route information can’t be overstated.  Here’s a few grand examples:

1. Up-and-coming in the world of trip planning, is Google Transit. Google Transit is like the MapQuest of transit trip planning.  You specify your trip parameters (i.e. from University of Montana to Missoula International Airport, arriving by 6:45 AM) and Google returns the different trip options.  The service has expanded rapidly, and will surely be an industry standard in a matter of time.
2. Schedule information in a huge variety of formats is catches people in a way that is most convenient to them.  This obviously includes, but goes beyond, braille and large print schedules.  Schedule data should be presented though mobile web interfaces accessible via cell phone and BlackBerry and through schedules and route maps available for download to iPods and PDAs.
3. Telephone-based schedule information (through the 511 traveler information hotline) provides information to riders who are blind, and also to sighted riders who prefer an audio interface.
4. Real-time information takes the wait out of waiting for the bus.  GPS tracking devices on buses can give real-time arrival information to keep you in your warm office a few minutes longer if a bus is going to be late.
5. You’re idea here!  Agencies like TriMet in Portland are making their schedule information available to developers.  The theory is that ambitious people will use the schedule information to create software or web interfaces that suit their needs.