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.