MTA Maryland Expands Access With Translation Tool
MTA Maryland adds website translation tool supporting Spanish, Chinese, and other languages
MTA Maryland Adds Website Translation Tool
Maryland Transit Administration riders can now access transit information in multiple languages through a translation tool on the agency's website. The service supports Spanish, Chinese, and other languages, transit officials said. Specific details about when the feature was implemented weren't available by publication time.
Federal Requirements Drive Language Access
Transit agencies receiving federal funding must provide language access services to Limited English Proficiency populations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and Executive Order 13166. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, approximately 8.5% of Maryland residents speak English less than 'very well.' Google Translate integration is a common website accessibility tool used by many public agencies to meet these requirements. Officials didn't provide details about what prompted the implementation or whether it was in response to specific community requests.
Service Details and Scope
The translation feature is available on the MTA Maryland website, including the service alerts page. Officials confirmed the service supports multiple languages but didn't specify the exact number of languages available. The agency hasn't released information about usage statistics or how many riders have accessed the translation tool since implementation. Cost estimates for the service weren't available. Transit officials said the tool aims to help non-English speakers navigate service information, schedules, and updates.
Implementation Timeline Unclear
Officials haven't said when the translation service was first implemented or whether additional language access improvements are planned. The feature is currently active on the website, but the agency didn't provide a timeline for when it was launched. Holly Arnold, Administrator of the Maryland Transit Administration, didn't comment on the translation services by publication time.
Accessing Multilingual Information
Riders can access translated content directly through the MTA Maryland website. The translation tool is designed to make service information more accessible to the region's diverse communities, though officials haven't released data on how many riders are using the feature. Moovit provides real-time transit information for MTA Maryland routes in multiple formats to help riders navigate the system.
