Sneak preview of Open Trip Planner opens minds and excitement

TriMet's new trip-planning tool.

TriMet's newest trip-planning tool has people buzzing despite being nearly a year away from release to the public. More than 50 people came to Metro on Tuesday, July 20 for a sneak peak at the trip planner that is based on open source technology and data.

The new tool will go a big step further than TriMet's current and popular trip planner. The new version will have the ability to integrate multiple modes of transportation for a single trip, helping users easily plan routes on foot, bike, train, bus or any combination thereof. For example, the tool can be used to plan the best biking or walking route to a MAX station, show where users can catch a train, and help them arrive at their final destination using the preferred mode.

Bibiana McHugh of TriMet and OpenPlans' Michael Keating shared the exciting developments about the Open Trip Planner, which is still a work in progress.

Michael Keating and Bibiana McHugh.

Funded by a $69,000 grant from Metro's Regional Travel Options program, the planner is currently in beta testing with developers and data experts.

Since it is based on the open source approach, once the Open Trip Planner is fully up and running agencies around the world will be able to use it to encourage transit riding and active transportation use, ideas Metro encourages and supports.

Learn more about the Open Trip Planner in this BikePortland.org article

Check out TriMet's existing trip planning tool

Find out about Metro's Regional Travel Options grants