RTD ‘BLUE BUS’ CUSTOMER FRIENDLY TRIP PLANNER NOW

RTD ‘BLUE BUS’ CUSTOMER FRIENDLY TRIP PLANNER NOW AVAILABLE THROUGH GOOGLE MAPS

The North Central Regional Transit District (NCRTD) is now offering a customer friendly trip planning feature, in partnership with Google Maps, that will offer convenience and ease in planning a trip utilizing any of the transit district’s RTD “Blue Buses.”

In Google Maps you can access transit directions and departure times, and have your trip planned for you. It also provides seamless information for connecting from RTD routes to the NM Rail Runner Express for trips into Albuquerque and connecting to Rio Metro Regional Transit District Buses and ABQ Ride, as well as NMDOT Park and Ride. Users can access the feature through the NCRTD website, www.RidetheBlueBus.com

“The availability of NCRTD transit information on Google Maps now makes trip planning easy for everyone from transit novices to seasoned travelers alike,” commented NCRTD Executive Director Anthony Mortillaro. “The ability to connect data with neighboring transit agencies will greatly improve inter-agency connectivity and improve transit options to residents as well as visitors to our region.”

The Google Maps transit interface will also be included within the NCRTD suite of technology-based features under the Blue Bus Tracker which currently provides customers with the ability to track their bus in real-time and know the precise time at which it will arrive at their stop.

The NCRTD provides service throughout the Counties of Los Alamos, Santa Fe, Taos and Rio Arriba.

Among the many features that riders, visitors and the public in general can enjoy:

• Customize your route: Riders don’t have to sort through timetables and schedule brochures — one can simply enter the date and time that they need to arrive at their destination (or depart for the trip) and the trip planner will provide the most convenient options.

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• Walking directions: Google Maps can provide walking directions, so you can find out exactly how to get to the nearest transit stop, and how to get to your destination once you exit the bus.
• Data rich integration: The online mapping service will also provide other useful information, such as real imagery, business listings, user reviews, and street-level views. It gives users a thorough understanding of the neighborhood before they set foot on it.
• Information accessible by mobile device: Google Maps for Mobile makes transit trip planning available on mobile phones and smart devices so users can access information from wherever they are.
• Using business names or place names instead of addresses: With integrated local search results, you can search by landmark or business name – or even type of food (“pizza”); in the “to” and “from” fields, you can enter a business name (“Century Bank”) or category (“medical center”) even if you don’t know the address.
• Street View imagery of locations: Google Maps offers Street View ground-level images in hundreds of cities and towns across the country; this allows riders to preview a transit center or bus stop, to see things such as whether there is a covered shelter or bench, where exactly the stop is located, how far it is from a business, and other practical uses.
• Support for over 40 languages: Google Maps provides support in multiple languages which makes it very convenient for foreign language riders, whether residents or international tourists, to find directions and information in their spoken language.

The North Central Regional Transit District provides fare-free and premium fare bus service Monday through Friday to a service area that encompasses over 10,000 square miles of north central New Mexico including the Counties of Taos, Los Alamos, Rio Arriba and Santa Fe; the Cities of Santa Fe and Española, the Towns of Taos and Edgewood and the Village of Chama; as well as the Pueblos of Pojoaque, Ohkay Owingeh, Nambé, San Ildefonso, Santa Clara and Tesuque. The agency’s signature “RTD Blue Buses” provide additional transit connections to New Mexico Rail Runner, Santa Fe Trails, New Mexico Park and Ride, Los Alamos Atomic City Transit, Taos RTD Chile Line and Red River Miner’s Transit.