Importing Google Transit data to Google Maps

October 21, 2023 9:24 AM

I am building a google map of Halifax, Nova Scotia with several layers for things I want to know about when I am there, and I would really like to be able to include the information from their Google Transit maps, but I can't figure out how to do it - everything seems to be in PDF. Is there a way to import this data to a Google map?
posted by joannemerriam to Computers & Internet (3 answers total)

Best answer: Can you share more detail on what you were expecting to see? Where are the PDFs you refer to?

Google Transit is a behind-the-scenes technology which allows local transportation agencies to provide Google with their data on (for example) bus stop locations, routes and schedules, and live bus progress etc. It's not something end-users interact directly with. But when a Google Maps user sees live transit data, it's Google Transit that has made that happen.

To see transit data in Google Maps, I tap the layers icon, select Public Transport (which may have a different name in your locale). Then I tap a bus stop icon on the map and live bus data shows up.

Maybe you know all this and I have misunderstood the question.
posted by Klipspringer at 11:47 AM on October 21, 2023

Best answer: Your question is a little confusing, I'm not entirely sure what you mean by making a Google Map? Is this Google Map Maker? Saving data for Offline Google Maps?

Transit information is uploaded by the transit agency to Google using the General Transit Feed Standard (GTFS). (The G used to stand for Google.) This can be downloaded and used in different programs.

That link above goes to Halifax RM's GTFS page, where you can download that feed, which is the only standard format that data appears in.

If you're trying to save it for offline maps or draw a feature in map maker, there's no way to do this.

The link above also lists a variety of apps that use the same GTFS feed to provide transit information. If your goal (I'm guessing) is to have the transit information available offline, some of those apps might support that. (I think Moovit might? I'm pretty sure Transit doesn't.) Although obviously, this won't be real time -- if a truck full of donair sauce overturns on Spring Garden Road and transit is detoured around the sticky mess, an offline app will still just show the normal schedule, just as a paper map would.
posted by Superilla at 4:58 PM on October 21, 2023

Response by poster: Thanks for the answers—I’ve never used Google Transit so all I knew about it was it was something you used to get around. I’m making a Google Map (in the My Maps section, maybe I am using the wrong name) which is meant to be static because I’m not using it to get around Halifax but to see what places are close to transit (on normal non-donair-disaster days) and what places I’d need to have a car to get around. Ultimately it’ll help me figure out what parts of the city to live in, I hope. I’ll have other layers for stuff like hiking trails and groceries and maybe flood plains or whatever other info we decide we need to know. I’m basically hoping not to have to manually put in bus routes if that data can be imported but it sounds like it doesn’t work that way.
posted by joannemerriam at 6:48 AM on October 22, 2023