Welcome to the digital age, MTA.
The agency unveiled a complete overhaul of its Web site today, finally placing up front an easy-to-read list of service conditions by subway, bus, rail, and bridge.
In past years, the agency’s site became a jumble of information that wasn’t easily accessible, critics said.
Straphangers can now glance at www.mta.info to see at a glance whether service is “good,” “changed,” or has “planned work” on any specific line.
The new site also includes:
A trip planner on the front, left of the homepage.
A digital data page so developers have easy access to information that can be used for smartphone or web applications.
A mobile phone Web page that’s much easier to read and will also show real-time service changes.
A Metro-North home smartphone application that gives ” up-to-the minute train arrival/departure information, train stops, track assignment, train status, and final destination information for the next 12 trains at those stations,” officials said.
The page will also directly link to the agency’s Twitter and Facebook pages.
MTA chief Jay Walder said he expects people who write applications for smartphones to come up with creative ideas to use the agency’s slew of data, like timetables, delays, and line reroutes.
“We need to get out of our own way and instead get out in front of the data sharing revolution,” he said.