The Los Angeles Metro is now on Google Maps

Jul 03, 2009 by Lisa Newton

Hello there! If you are new here, you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed for updates on this topic.

Just in time for the 4^th of July weekend—now anybody can effortlessly access Los Angeles Metro routes simply by using Google Maps. This has been in the works for quite some time and now the service is live.

The coverage is world-wide also. LA Metro is now part of a network of 412 cities worldwide that use Google Maps to help consumers and citizens globally. Here are some Press Releases covering the breaking news.

How Google Maps and Metro routes Work

1. Plug in your starting address

2. Plug in your destination

3. Hit the public transit button

4. Google does the rest

An example of Planning a Metro Trip

Here’s an illustration and case-in-point of the bus route I previously took for my trip to the Skirball Cultural Center:

View Larger Map

Local Train Routes Included

Here’s the route I took on my recent trip to Long Beach:

View Larger Map

A Case Study – Plan your own Route

For purposes of discussion, let’s say that you live in Burbank and want to go the Michael Jackson Memorial on Tuesday morning at the Staples Center, and here’s the best Metro route that can get you there:

View Larger Map

Google Maps and the Los Angeles Metro it’s that easy!

The next time you’re Travelin’ Local and you want to ride the Metro– just use Google Maps. This is definitely a convenient and impossibly innovative service I—and many others–will be using all of the time.

Do you hate traffic and can’t stand the hassles of finding suitable parking? If so then you’re like me because when I’m Travelin’ Metro it’s a great—and the only– way to get around town.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or bringing Travelin’ Local home with you via the RSS feed.

Metro, SoCal

rosaria says:

July 3, 2009 at 8:18 pm

Thanks for dropping in with your comment. I just adore this site.
I wish I knew about it when I lived in L.A.

rosaria’s last blog post..Go west young man…

[Reply]

LisaNewton Reply:
July 6th, 2009 at 4:54 am

@rosaria, My site is pretty new. When did you live in LA?

Diane C. says:

July 4, 2009 at 6:35 am

I think it’s wonderful that it’s getting even easier to use public transit in L.A. I hope my city follows this great example.

Diane C.’s last blog post..Cactus Monday – Desert Dome

LisaNewton Reply:
July 6th, 2009 at 4:56 am

@Diane C., So many cities are listed. With Metro included, it’s good, but when all the other local mass transit systems are included, it’ll be great.

Brad says:

July 4, 2009 at 12:34 pm

They really need to clean up their data, I mean just look at this (http://tinyurl.com/kkqg66) It may not look so bad now, but once Google updates all the tiles with bus stop icons we’re going to have bus stop icons in the parking lot instead of the transit plaza at Union Station of all places!

LisaNewton Reply:
July 6th, 2009 at 4:58 am

@Brad, No system is perfect, but it’s better now. I really like the idea of hitting the public transit button and seeing what’s available.

Drum roll please: Los Angeles is now on Google Transit « Be A Green Commuter Home says:

July 6, 2009 at 9:51 am

[...] You can try this out by typing in your own itinerary at maps.google.com. And to learn more, check out Lisa Newton’s blog entry on Google Transit at Travelin Local: http://www.travelinlocal.com/the-los-angeles-metro-is-now-on-google-maps/. [...]

Christine says:

July 6, 2009 at 10:21 am

Very interesting…Does Google include bus arrival times and approx. time of transport? The LA Metro site includes this important info, and if Google doesn’t then it seems that I would still need to visit the official metro site.

LisaNewton Reply:
July 6th, 2009 at 6:59 pm

@Christine, Yes, you can input the time you want depart and arrive. Google will give you a timetable based on the route they choose for you.

Ara says:

July 6, 2009 at 10:59 am

What Google Transit really highlights is just how complicated it is to take public transportation in LA. In most cases, you have to change buses at least once. And the best case scenario is that you get to your destination in twice the time that it would have taken by car.

Maybe that’s why Metro fought using Google Transit for so long…

LisaNewton Reply:
July 6th, 2009 at 7:02 pm

@Ara, I totally disagree with you. I’ve taken many bus routes that were based on only one bus. Plus, if you live close by or have access to the Subway, it can be much faster than driving, especially in rush hour.

I don’t know about you, but I’d rather wait 10 minutes for my bus to come, relax and read or text, and let someone else do the driving.

EpicTrendz » Blog Archive » Google Transit Finally Launches in Los Angeles (Metro Calls it Data Test)* says:

July 6, 2009 at 4:00 pm

[...] much pushing and prodding by the public and media, Metro finally succumbed, quietly launching Google Transit this past weekend. Go ahead and play, it’s like we’re in a real big city [...]