Revamped T website debuts new features

A $466,000 revamp of the MBTA website debuts this morning , and for the first time uses interactive maps to show bus and subway routes over detailed street maps. The site also includes a revised and detailed trip planner and the ability for commuters to personalize the site to their own subway stations and bus routes.

Officials at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority said yesterday that the site ( mbta.com ) has the most user-friendly features of any transit agency in the world. Users will have the final word, however, with a link for feedback and a pledge to make changes.

Starting today, commuters can go to the site to purchase monthly bus and bus/subway passes for January, when a fare hike takes effect. Once purchased, the T plans to send out the new passes already loaded on plastic CharlieCards within three days.

Eventually, T officials said, the website will allow wireless access and e-mailed transit alerts. In a week, users of video iPods will be able to download bus and subway routes and schedules.

There are plans to link the site to global positioning systems on T buses, allowing users to view bus locations along routes in nearly real time.

General Manager Daniel A. Grabauskas said the new features are an attempt to boost bus ridership.

The new trip planner can detail routes that are the quickest, require the least walking, have the fewest transfers, or use only disabled-accessible stations. All routes can be printed.

RDVO , a small Web design firm in Somerville, revamped the site while helping upgrade the MBTA's Web servers, which they said are now four times faster. The web site sees an estimated 500,000 visits per day .