The MBTA today unveiled their new web site, and all I can say is wow. Its way more than I would have expected out of them (this is a site where the outages page was updated by hand editing before). Theres a clean and modern new look, plus an array of new, useful tools.
Theres a revamped trip planner integrated with google maps, with “suggest” for landmarks when you type (which doesn’t work quite right yet..)
My favorite, and the most impressive is the new My MBTA feature which allows one to save planned routes and sign up for customized alerts. (but I’m not sure if they email them). There’s a hidden, unlinked tool (with the old look) called VIP Alerts that seems to let one do email and sms alerts.
UPDATE: It looks like the MBTA didn’t like people using the t-alert system before it was public so they took it down.
There’s another tool that isn’t linked up yet (it’s commented out in the source, I wonder why?) is system schedules for your ipod.
Hey great find with the VIP Alerts! How did you find that? Wondering what other cool stuff is hidden out there.
As a pro designer myself I could not agree more. The new website is really well done. Now only if the MBTA services could match it.