SEPTA 2.0
STEP by step, SEPTA is joining the Internet age. The latest: The transit agency will be partnering with Google Maps to put schedules and other service information online.
SEPTA already has a Web site, but this will be a major improvement over the outdated interface. Riders will be able to find arrival times, plan trips, locate stations and download maps of surrounding areas. And, unlike that available on SEPTA's Web site, users will be able to search for businesses, addresses and other locations near transit stops.
These conveniences should be particularly useful to out-of-town visitors who may be unfamiliar with SEPTA and don't know where to go for information. Combined with new unlimited one-day passes, SEPTA is making strides to make public transit more tourist-friendly.
But one group seems to be left out of the tech update: city bus riders.
According to SEPTA, it will take several more months to map the 15,000 bus stops. That's a big undertaking for sure, but we can't help noting that many bus lines serve low-income neighborhoods that are already underserved by public transit. We'd like to see that update happen as soon as possible so that all riders can enjoy this tech upgrade. *
