Home Google May Map the New York City Subway System

Google May Map the New York City Subway System

In December 2005 Google announced a Labs project called Transit to help residents of Portland, Oregon plan local trips on the TriMet public transit system. The Transit app is essentially a Google Maps mashup that lets users plan local trips and navigate public transportation systems. Google Transit now covers 15 cities in the US, including Seattle, San Diego, and Dallas, and all of Japan.

This morning Bloomberg is reporting that Google is now working with the grand daddy of all transportation systems New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Along with the New Jersey Transit, which is also working with Google, the New York/New Jersey metro area transit systems transport 9 million people each day.

According to Bloomberg, the Transit service provides Google with a lucrative venue for selling ads. New York, being the nations largest transit system, would be a gold mine for the search giant.

“U.S. companies spent about $922 million last year to place ads alongside local searches and maps, according to Kelsey Group Inc., a market research firm in Princeton, New Jersey. That will almost triple to $2.61 billion by 2011, the researcher says. Google probably got about $500 million in sales last year from local ads, or about 8 percent of its U.S. revenue of $6 billion, said Greg Sterling, an analyst at Sterling Market Intelligence in San Francisco.”

While Google declined to confirm that it was negotiating with the MTA and NJT, both transit authorities confirmed to Bloomberg that they were working with Google in some capacity. If Google Transit expands to New York City and New Jersey it would certainly be the most complicated endeavor for the service. As Bloomberg notes, the MTA’s 468 subway stations is just 35 fewer than the total number of all other subway stations in the United States, and New Jersey operates the largest statewide transit program in the country.

Edit: As commenters to this post point out, while you’re waiting for Google’s MTA/NJT transit maps, check out HopStop, which covers a number of major US metros including New York, and this NYC transit map built on top of Google Maps.

About ReadWrite’s Editorial Process

The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the gambling and blockchain industries for major developments, new product and brand launches, game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to in-house staff writers with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.

Get the biggest iGaming headlines of the day delivered to your inbox

    By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime.

    Gambling News

    Explore the latest in online gambling with our curated updates. We cut through the noise to deliver concise, relevant insights, keeping you informed about the ever-changing world of iGaming and its most important trends.

    In-Depth Strategy Guides

    Elevate your game with tailored strategies for sports betting, table games, slots, and poker. Learn how to maximize bonuses, refine your tactics, and boost your chances to beat the house.

    Unbiased Expert Reviews

    Honest and transparent reviews of sportsbooks, casinos and poker rooms crafted through industry expertise and in-depth analysis. Delve into intricacies, get the best bonus deals, and stay ahead with our trustworthy guides.