MapQuest Adds Public Transit Directions, Helping Travelers Plan Complete Trips by Bus, Train, and More

After a surge of attention around Lake Ontario brought millions of new users to MapQuest, the company prioritized the most-requested feature: public transit.

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MapQuest, the pioneering navigation platform owned by System1 (NYSE: SST), today announced the launch of public transit directions in the MapQuest app. Travelers can now plan complete journeys that combine buses, trains, trams, and walking between them in a single route, with coverage at launch spanning nearly 2,000 cities in more than 70 countries and real-time information available in over 350 cities. The launch makes MapQuest a true option for how people actually get around, whether or not they're behind the wheel.

The new feature is a direct answer to MapQuest's most requested capability. Earlier this year, MapQuest drew widespread attention for declining to rename Lake Ontario, and millions of people rediscovered the brand overnight. Amid the wave of goodwill, one message from users in major metropolitan areas came through loud and clear: they were ready to make MapQuest their everyday navigation app, but they needed public transit directions first. So MapQuest built them.

With the new transit experience, MapQuest users can:

• Plan complete trips from door to door. Routes combine public transit with walking segments for the first and last stretch of a journey, so users know exactly how to get from their starting point to the platform, and from the station to their destination.
• See real-time departures and delays. Where available, MapQuest shows live departure times, delays, and service alerts, with published timetables filling in everywhere else. Users can check the next departure from any nearby stop before they leave.
• Compare alternatives and travel their way. Users can view multiple route options and see them on the map to decide which route they prefer.
• Navigate complex stations with confidence. Walking directions account for station entrances, access points, and pedestrian paths, taking the guesswork out of large hubs. Tap any step to zoom into that segment on the map.

"When we made headlines over Lake Ontario, we heard from an incredible number of people who wanted to make MapQuest their daily navigation app," said Doug Berger, General Manager of MapQuest. "The most common request, especially from people in major cities, was public transit. We listened, and we built it. Whether you're commuting to work, catching a train to the airport, or exploring a new city on vacation, MapQuest now gets you there."

Today's launch is a starting point rather than a finish line. Alongside expanding coverage, the MapQuest team is continuing to invest in the transit experience itself, with a steady stream of improvements planned. Among them is live navigation, which will guide riders through their trip in real time, from the walk to the station through every stop and transfer along the way.

Public transit directions are available now in the MapQuest app on iOS and Android, and coming soon to mapquest.com.

About MapQuest

MapQuest is one of the most recognized names in digital navigation, helping tens of millions of people every month find their way across the United States and around the world. Launched in 1996, MapQuest pioneered online mapping and turn-by-turn directions, and continues to deliver trusted maps, routing, and local discovery through MapQuest.com and the MapQuest mobile app. Beyond consumer navigation, the MapQuest Platform offers a developer-grade suite of geocoding, routing, and mapping APIs that power location experiences for businesses across logistics, real estate, retail, and SaaS, and the company's RoadWarrior product serves last-mile delivery drivers with multi-stop route optimization. MapQuest is owned and operated by System1, Inc. Visit MapQuest.com to learn more.

About System1

System1 (NYSE: SST) operates flagship consumer brands across shopping, travel, and search — including MapQuest, Startpage, CouponFollow, and Dogpile — alongside a best-in-class customer acquisition and marketing platform powered by AI and machine learning. For more information, visit System1.com.