I was reading one of many comments , this particular one was from Los Angeles, remarking that it was nearly an impossible task to coordinate intermodal connections via a travel plan between Amtrak, municipal buses, light rail, subways etc. I thought what would be handy are a series of regional sites or perhaps one associated with Amtrak as a trip planner that uses a software to coordinate connections arrivals and departures between these services that is also a layered map like Mapquest, Google etc. Does this exist in any regional form? I doubt it but it would seem to promote the use of public transport, while making it easier to navigate.
Nothing is more fairly distributed than common sense: no one thinks he needs more of it than he already has.
No and yes. No because there really isn't a concerted effort by any agency to coordinate on line general travel as you describe. One has to know the timetable schedules and possible connections in order to piece the whole thing together oneself. Yes because within some agencies there are "trip planners" and "travel planning" or something to that effect. These are programs which may or may not do what you say. NYC's MTA will tell you to walk a block this way or that way to get such and such a train or bus or combination. NJT's trip planner can mix transportation forms to give you a plan. I have used both on occasion but you have to know the exact name of your locations in order to get what you want...you can't just type in a town or a street and necessarily get what you want...you may play with it until you do,but it is frustrating and time consuming. But it is a start. However, neither will give all available options at any given point. NJT for instance will send you to Secaucus Jct. when changing between Corridor and Hoboken DIv. trains when there may be a quicker connection with Newark LIght Rail between the two stations. OR there may be a bus hop someplace instead of going the long way. I've met with similar situations working LIRR routes and MNRR. And of course the Amtrak alternative is missing on both except that NJT's Departurevision shows Amtrak arrivals and departures at NYP, Newark Penn, and Trenton but no other Amtrak information. I don't know, never had need to use, SEPTA or other agencies....so I can't say anything more.
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