Google has a transit-finding component to Google Maps, and starting soon, the Charlotte Area Transit System (a.k.a. CATS) will be a part of the service.
You’ll be able to look online, click on where you are on the map, click on where you want to go, and you can get transit directions. Just like driving directions.
CATS chief Keith Parker says the program uses CATS routes and and schedules, so it will tell you when the bus or Lynx is supposed to arrive, but won’t be able to say, for example, Bus 20 is running 20 minutes late.
CATS isn’t spending money on this, he said. Google does it.
If you go to the link above, or try transit.google.com, right now, you’ll see a big map of the U.S., with no transit options offered in North and South Carolina. Hmm, you’d think Amtrak might want to at least load its passenger service into this.
This news came via a tip from Harry Johnson. Check out his Carolina Transit blog.
An addendum: In giving it a test run, I checked for directions from our house to the Dowd Y on Morehead St. No transit directions (yet), but there is an option for walking directions. I got the walking directions, but also a caution note popped: “Use caution – This route may be missing sidewalks or pedestrian paths.” So very Charlotte.