Apple Maps gains Los Angeles public transit data integration

Apple Maps received a quiet upgrade this week with the addition of public transportation data for Los Angeles, Calif., including rail line schedules, dynamic advisories and integration with directions.

Spotted by IT professional Tom Bridge, the Apple Maps update lets iOS and OS X device-toting Angelenos plot out trips with public transportation options, check for delays at nearby metro stations and more. Apple has yet to announce the addition on its Feature Availability or mapping service acknowledgments webpages.

According to the informational pop-up window provided for specific rail stations, Apple is acquiring at least some of its transit data from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Southern California Regional Rail Authority.

Transit data is a first for iOS 9, offering users routing, departure and other relevant information for a supported city's public transportation network. Depending on the locale, transit assets include buses, trains, ferries, subways and more.

To set its mapping solution apart from competing products like Google Maps, Apple Maps includes a virtual top-down view of underground subway and train stations, as well as realistic road signs, to better assist users en route.

Apple most recently activated transit data for Boston and Sydney in October.

6 Comments

dawaske 1 comment · 9 Years

About 8 years ago

Los Angeles has public transport :D ?

lales 34 comments · 15 Years

About time, and if it works as well in LA as it did in NYC, I'll be ecstatic. Unfortunately for now it appears to be iOS only. No OSx

applesauce007 1702 comments · 17 Years

lales said:

About time, and if it works as well in LA as it did in NYC, I'll be ecstatic. Unfortunately for now it appears to be iOS only. No OSx

I can pull it up on OS X without any issues.

Apple has really outdone itself with Apple Maps UI and details.
Nothing else comes close to Apple Maps transit directions.
I am looking forward to seamlessly integrated "Walk Over" views for indoors and outdoors.

D'ya think it's because I'm on OSx 10.10.5?

applesauce007 said:

lales said:

About time, and if it works as well in LA as it did in NYC, I'll be ecstatic. Unfortunately for now it appears to be iOS only. No OSx

I can pull it up on OS X without any issues.

jfc1138 3090 comments · 12 Years

10:11:2 (Maps version 2.0), no problem seeing LA Transit. Purp, Red, Blue, Expo, all listed with multiple arrival times (7th Street/Metro Center Station) and while the display only shows the rail lines the directions on the map include BUS routes (one of the 4 selections available to choose in the "View" drop down menu)! And when I click on a bus stop along the route I get times.

NYC on my phone is a treat.