Public transit in L.A. is set to undergo massive expansion. For those of us who don't own cars or are unwilling to pay the prohibitively high cost of driving (I still find it bizzare that drivers have to pay for parking), this news is much welcomed and very overdue.  

But navigating the complex public transport system may seem like an indomitable obstacle to even the most direction-savvy of us. The rail lines are definitely the most user-friendly, but I often find myself needing to transfer to a bus to reach my final destination. That's where my frustration mounts - which line to take, which side of the street to wait at, and when the bus is set to arrive (and they often come late) is more information than I can feasibly look up before my trip. 

So for those of us reliant upon public transit and armed with a smartphone (which is the only tool you really need to conquer the unknown in a city of millions), here are 5 great apps that will help you get to where you need to go: 

1. Moovit (for iOS & Android)

Exclusively for planning trips via public transit, Moovit offers a flexible, user-friendly interface and options to peruse trip schedules for buses, subways, and rail lines, as well as a tool to plan your own trip with multiple travel options to choose from. It updates the arrival schedule in real-time to eliminate the frustration and uncertainty associated with waiting, and alerts you to any possible route changes due to maintenance. Not sure when you want to depart? No problem. Moovit lets you see arrival times for later trips with one tap. 

(Rated 4.5 stars on the App Store and 4 stars on Google Play)

*Note: I personally use it and have had no issues thus far. 

2. Transit App (for iOS & Android)

A minimalist, hassle-free app for getting you where you need to go. For those of us who prefer a more visual presentation of our trip, Transit App's trip planner displays your possible route options in a timeline, with segments in each trip indicating the amount of time spent waiting, riding, and walking. Users can also view all the metro stations near them in order of proximity, along with their locations and upcoming arrival times, as well as those nearest a particular intermediate stop in their trip. 

Possible drawback: although the directions tell you what your first and last stops are on a particular line, it does not say how many stops are in between or what those stops are. 

(Rated 4.5 stars on the App Store and 4 stars on Google Play)

3. Transit (for iOS)

Basic, no frills. Search for your destination by name or enter the address, and Transit will return a list of possible routes. The app labels for you the fastest route, the one with least transfers, and the one that involves the least walking. When you select a route, departure times, distances, and the direction the bus/train should be heading in will be listed. Adjust your departure/expected arrival time if you're checking for a trip in the future. Drop a pin to save a location. 

Possible drawback: the app doesn't seem to filter out the most convoluted, inconvenient routes that a logical traveleer wouldn't consider.

(Rated 4.5 stars on the App Store)

Honorable Mention: Google Maps (for iOS & Android)

Good ol' Google Maps. It's a great, classic product - but then again, Google has generally had a great history with rolling out comprehensive, user-friendly tech. Originally developed for driving directions & navigation, Google Maps' public transit feature is relatively new, but that implies nothing about its functionality or ability to deliver accurate, easily understandable trip options. When you search, Maps clearly indicates the estimated trip time, how much walking is involved, and a map of your journey for each option. Zoom in to figure out where you are and which side of the street you need to wait at to go in the right direction (I've found that to be the most uncertain part about riding buses). Maps also keeps a fairly long history of your past searches, and you can even integrate your Google account to star your favorite locations.

Possible Drawback: you have to refresh the entire page for the arrival times to update. I often needed to do that, because as veterans of public transport know, the bus never actually comes on time. 

(Rated 4.5 stars on the App Store and 4 stars on Google Play)

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