As I suspected, this is more than an idea and is starting to be a big deal. A Seattle system was getting 2.4 million hits per month back in 2001: Now they're putting up electronic signs with arrival times. See: http://www.govtech.net/magazine/story.php?id=5458&issue=8:2001

How many extra rides per year might it take to pay for the systems upgrade (for Seattle the entire signaling system costs about as much as it costs to run a single bus)? And what environmental and energy benefit would society gain for rides switched from cars to buses? I'm not sure, but I'd be interested in finding out.

Then I was pointed to the Traveline.org site in the UK:  http://www.traveline.org.uk

This service offers multi-modal trip planners integrating all types of public transport: buses, the underground, trains, ferries (and even walking, showing whether you need to go up or down steps or if escalators are available). Tell it where you want to go and when you want to start and it will offer optional routes including transfer times and directions, total time for the trip, and pricing (when available).

The idea is to reduce uncertainty, perhaps especially for trips that haven't been taken before. This should reduce at least somewhat a barrier that keeps people away from public transit.

To give you a taste of what's available in the UK (Seattle is working on multi-modal also), here's a notional trip I planned from the Maharaja Tandoori Restaurant in Piccadilly Square to Oxford (I understand there's a university there): http://www.3ecompass.net/content/Journey_Planner_route_details.pdf

Building and operating such a cross-boundary service is probably easier in a society like the UK with its heavy reliance on public transport and a unified government able to pull the institutional stakeholders together.

Still, it looks like an interesting XB example to me. Anyone know how it was financed?

I'll try to find out and report it back at our March workshop on financing cross-boundary innovations. Come join us to work these issues: http://www.3ecompass.net/public/governance_and_finance/

As they say in the UK: Cheers,

Jerry