Mar 25, 2009 6:32 pm US/Central
Keeping Track Of Metra Delays With Twitter
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Tony Zale delivers Metra delay information via Twitter straight to your cell phone or handheld device.
CBS
Some Metra commuters are getting a sweet tweet from Twitter, the social networking site. CBS 2's Vince Gerasole introduces us to a man who's doing what Metra couldn't - putting delay information right in your hand.
Millions hop on board Metra each month, but one of these commuters took the service in a new direction all by himself.
"I guess everybody sits on the train and wonders about what can make it better," said Tony Zale of Park Ridge. "I got my first computer when I was in third grade and I've been hacking on 'em ever since."
Put that kind of thinking together and you get this: Metra delay information delivered via Twitter to your cell phone or handheld device.
"It started off as a weekend project, put about five or 10 hours into it on a weekend," Zale said.
It may be no small feat for Tony Zale, a software designer, but keeping track of the tracks costs him absolutely nothing.
"There's nothing more frustrating than standing up on the train platform, waiting 15 minutes for the train that should have been there a while ago," Zale said. "The 'aha' moment was that I knew Metra provided this information but it wasn't really easy to get."
Metra's current website is admittedly low-tech - delay information is entered by operators and accessed only by logging on. Zale's program directs that information directly to Twitter.
"It's not perfect any means but it's certainly gonna help people out on their commutes," Zale said.
It's a modern idea for commuters who don't want to be fumbling for information on a laptop or desktop computer. They want information they can hold in the palm of their hand.
Ironically, this comes at a time when Metra is reviewing bids for a website upgrade that would provide a very similar service. But in some ways, the bells and whistles can be had for free. Just ask Zale.
"It feels really good to do something useful that a lot of people like," Zale said.
Metra reports its current website is roughly a $30,000 a year proposition, and they will only say the upgrade will cost significantly more. It will have up to the minute tracking - unlike the current system that reports delays of 10 minutes or more.
Only about five dozen people are tweeting for free with Zale, but if you'd like to join the flock, log on to
Twitter.com and you can follow him @metradelays.
And don't forget to get all the latest from us - @cbs2chicago.
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