sbc just left a comment with good news that TARC is moving forward with getting their data to Google for the Google Transit program.

I emailed the Metro Council about this and it was fowarded on to TARC. Here's their response - just the one we were hoping for:

Dear Mr. Coan - Thank you for your suggestion regarding Google Transit. We have been in touch with Google and intend to get our data included in their system as soon as possible. We are currently engaged with finalizing our own trip planner, working out some inevitable bugs, but we will be proceeding with Google in the coming months. Thank you for your interest.

Nina Walfoort
Transit Authority of River City
Director of Marketing and Planning
1000 W. Broadway
Louisville, KY 40203
502-561-5122

Unfortunately it sounds like they're so tangled with their own (perhaps overly flawed?) trip planner that it may take a while but at least we know they're aware of it and are actively working on it.

Allow me to take this opportunity to say to Ms. Walfoort that we have many talented people (specialists in mapping, web applications, social media, communications and other areas) in Louisville who would love to work with TARC both in paid consultant roles and as volunteers to help TARC move forward with these kind of initiatives. Please let us help.

The impressively named ConstantineXVI's Tumblr points out that Google's new Google Transit service does not have TARC's data in the system. So the exquisitely named one encourages us all to write to TARC asking them to send their data to Google.

Yesterday (June 5), Google updated their Google Maps for Mobile application to include routes for public transportation in various cities.  Unfortunately, Google does not have data for TARC's service in Louisville.  Google's help page for the service includes an address for transit companies to send them their data.  I ask you to help me convince TARC to work with Google to make it easier for us to get around Louisville via bus.  Please contact TARC and pass this message along to them, especially the above links.  If you happen to have direct contact with TARC officals or Metro Goverment officials, I encourage you to exploit those connections.

Update: Michael from Metro Mapper has been keyed into these kind of issues for a while and TARC has responded with a deaf ear. He's even offered his expertise for free and got no response. Come on TARC, step it up. If there is anyone who knows who we can contact at TARC, to have an actual conversation instead of just sending emails that never get responded to, about this kind of stuff please drop a comment or email.

Metro Mapper the local company that creates interactive maps for the Louisville metro area have released an interactive TARC Map.

Have you ever wanted to take the TARC, but had trouble navigating the myriad images and PDFs of all the routes on their site? Here is an interactive map that shows a satellite road map with a toggleable TARC route overlay on top! Zoom and pan instantly to your heart's content to see how to get around Louisville.