Metro News Release
For immediate release: August 16, 2004
Metro’s RideGuide trip planner expanded to include more transit options
Metro’s on-line trip planner, The RideGuide, has been expanded to include trip planning for six additional transit modes. Starting today customers can get trip planning information for MARC, Virginia Railway Express, Annapolis Transit, Howard County Transit, Loudoun Commuter Transit and Frederick (MD) Transit in addition to trip planning information for Metrorail, Metrobus, Arlington Transit, DASH, Ride-On, THE BUS, Connect-a-Ride, Fairfax Connector, Fairfax City CUE, Falls Church GEORGE, OmniRide and OmniLink.
With these additions, The RideGuide now includes routing, scheduling and fare information for all 17 of the major commuter transit providers in the Washington Metropolitan region. Customers can log on to plan a trip within the Metropolitan region and receive a single integrated trip itinerary that includes scheduling information for the commuter transit systems as well as the Metrorail and Metrobus system. They can also access a voice-activated RideGuide via telephone at 202-637-7000.
Launched in September 1999, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority was the first major transit agency in the country to offer this service, via its web site, www.metroopensdoors.com. In October 2002, The RideGuide was expanded to include a telephone-based voice-enabled service available 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, 365-days-a-year, making it just as accessible to those who do not have Internet access. The web-based RideGuide averages approximately 525,000 itineraries per month and the voice-enabled RideGuide averages12,300 uses monthly.
The easy-to-use trip planner tells riders how best to travel to their destination in the Washington metropolitan region by bus or rail. The RideGuide also is available anytime, anywhere in the world. All a person needs is access to a computer with connection to the Internet. And from the convenience of home, office or a hotel, riders can log on anytime, anywhere in the world. When customers visit Metro’s web site, a box on the home page allows them to follow the easy, step-by-step instructions to obtain their destination information by rail, bus or a combination of transit providers. Customers need not know the exact address of their destination as The RideGuide lets them access locations by street intersections and landmarks as well as the exact address.
The service offers bus and rail schedules, route descriptions, fares, and peak and non-peak hour information. It allows customers to travel by minimizing walking, transfers and travel time.
For more information on riding Metro, call 202-637-7000 (TTY 202-638-3780) or log on to Metro’s Web site at www.metroopensdoors.com.
News release issued on August 16, 2004.