MASSDOT DEVELOPERS
Chris Dempsey and Joshua Robin
Massachusetts Department of Transportation
http://www.mass.gov/eot/developers
@massDOTdev
http://www.mass.gov/eot/developers Twitter @MassDOTdev 1

WHAT IS MassDOT?
• The Massachusetts Department of
Transportation has oversight of:
– MBTA
– State Highways and Massachusetts Turnpike
– Registry of Motor Vehicles
– Aeronautics Division
– Regional Transit Authorities
– Relationship with MassPort
http://www.mass.gov/eot/developers Twitter @MassDOTdev 2

IF YOU TRIED TO BUILD A TRANSPORTATION
APPLICATION 6 MONTHS AGO…
• Beg MassDOT or one of its agencies for data
• Scrape data yourself
• Jump through hoops to get data in digital formats
– Worry about how that data is kept up to date when
schedules change
• Worry that even when you release a successful
application, MassDOT/MBTA would object
http://www.mass.gov/eot/developers Twitter @MassDOTdev 3

NEW MODEL: OPEN DATA
• “Open” MassDOT data by making it available in
standard formats
– RSS, XML, GTFS, etc.
• Harness the power of developers to build
interesting and useful applications with our data
– Creates value for both transportation agencies AND
developers
• Better serve customers across many platforms
http://www.mass.gov/eot/developers Twitter @MassDOTdev 4

EOT DEVELOPERS PAGE BETA
• July 2009, EOT launches the EOT Developers
as a resource to developers interested in
working with transportation data!
http://www.mass.gov/eot/developers
http://www.mass.gov/eot/developers Twitter @MassDOTdev 5

A NEW APPROACH
• In addition to opening data, EOT Developers efforts
strive to engage the developer community in a new
and different way
– A focus on allowing developers to shape the direction
this effort takes
– Monthly meeting with developers
– An open conversation through the MassDOT Developers
Google Group
– Use of Twitter for updates @MassDOTdev
http://www.mass.gov/eot/developers Twitter @MassDOTdev 6

A NEW APPROACH
“This approach is a smart 21st-
century alternative to hiring some
consultant who develops inelegant
software at exorbitant costs.”
Boston Globe, Saturday, September 5, 2009
http://www.mass.gov/eot/developers Twitter @MassDOTdev 7

EOT+DEVELOPERS: RELATIONSHIP PRINCIPLES
•Respect Resources
•Succeed Together
•Expect Change
For the full Relationship Principles Document visit:
http://bit.ly/massdotdevrelationship
http://www.mass.gov/eot/developers Twitter @MassDOTdev 8

EOT+DEVELOPERS: RELATIONSHIP PRINCIPLES
•Communication is key
•Open, open, open
•Legal
– Read the Developers License Agreement:
http://bit.ly/massdotdevdla
http://www.mass.gov/eot/developers Twitter @MassDOTdev 9

WHAT DATA IS AVAILABLE?
• MBTA
– T-Alerts feed
•Service advisories and updates
– GTFS Files
•Files with route and scheduling information
–For Rail, Bus, Subway, Boat
– KML Files
•Station Locations and Routes
• RTAs
– GTFS Files
– Real-time tracking
http://www.mass.gov/eot/developers Twitter @MassDOTdev 10

WHAT DATA IS AVAILABLE?
• Highway
– Highway construction events xml feed.
•Feed of planned road closures and other
events.
• Registry of Motor Vehicles
– Branch wait-time feed
• EOT Blog
– News and Updates about EOT
http://www.mass.gov/eot/developers Twitter @MassDOTdev 11

GOOGLE TRANSIT
http://www.mass.gov/eot/developers Twitter @MassDOTdev 12

WHAT IS GOOGLE TRANSIT?
• Google Transit is a transit trip-planner integrated
into Google Maps.
• Free and available to the public at
www.google.com.
• Provides schedule information (not real-time) for
publicly accessible transportation services.
• Includes locations of stations and stops.
• Multi-modal: users can also search driving
directions and walking directions.
http://www.mass.gov/eot/developers Twitter @MassDOTdev 13

WHY IS GOOGLE TRANSIT IMPORTANT?
• GTFS is a rapidly-developing international standard
for trip-planning (more than 400 transit systems
use it on six continents).
• Our riders expect it and will use it!
• Constantly updated, at no cost to public agencies.
• Integrated with other information (shopping,
restaurants, health-care, schools, etc).
• Free to users AND agencies.
http://www.mass.gov/eot/developers Twitter @MassDOTdev 14

THE RESULT?
• Existing and new transit users have better
information about our services.
• We are close to our long-sought-after goal of a
statewide transit trip planner.
http://www.mass.gov/eot/developers Twitter @MassDOTdev 15

WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO WITH GTFS DATA?
• Because GTFS has become an international
standard, this data can be used by more than just
Google.
• Hosting this data publicly unlocks the creativity and
entrepreneurialism of third-party developers who
can be our partners in sharing information about
transit services.
http://www.mass.gov/eot/developers Twitter @MassDOTdev 16

APPS TO DATE
MassTransit: To a T: RMV Wait Times:
http://bit.ly/hmQ2R http://bit.ly/2ajqVt http://tinyurl.com/massrmv
http://www.mass.gov/eot/developers Twitter @MassDOTdev 17

MAKING AN IMPACT
“Open data” does not mean much to most
people…
…but most people want to know when
the bus, train or ferry is going to arrive.
• We need to spread the word about these
applications and open data!
–The more people ask for open data
and transportation applications, the
easier opening more data becomes!
http://www.mass.gov/eot/developers Twitter @MassDOTdev 18

LONG TERM GOAL: REAL TIME
• At this time, most available data is static
data such as routes and schedules
• Long-term, our goal is to make real time data
public
• Many challenges exist
http://www.mass.gov/eot/developers Twitter @MassDOTdev 19

LONG TERM GOAL: REAL TIME
• Real time data on locations and speed of
buses will allow developers to create many
interesting and useful applications –
Possibilities are already being realized in
other cities
• These applications will create a great
possibility to increase public transportation
use and change the way people use transit
http://www.mass.gov/eot/developers Twitter @MassDOTdev 20

REAL TIME: CURRENT MODEL
1 2 3
http://www.mass.gov/eot/developers Twitter @MassDOTdev 21

REAL TIME: IMPACT OF OPEN DATA
1: Open Real Time Data and
see what happens…
http://www.mass.gov/eot/developers Twitter @MassDOTdev 22

WHAT’S NEXT: DEVELOPERS CONFERENCE
• Saturday, November 14th
• Opportunity for developers to meet other
developers, transportation officials, and
other interested parties
http://www.mass.gov/eot/developers Twitter @MassDOTdev 23

WHAT’S NEXT: DEVELOPERS CHALLENGE
• The Challenge calls on developers to create both
applications and data visualizations
– Applications for mobile, web, and other formats.
– Visualizations using EOT Developers data to tell the story
of the MBTA.
• The top two submissions will receive prizes and
recognition at the Developers Conference
• The initiative is part of the Patrick Administration’s
commitment to comprehensive transportation
reform and creating a modern, efficient, and
customer-friendly transportation system
http://www.mass.gov/eot/developers Twitter @MassDOTdev 24

JOIN US/SPREAD THE WORD
• Website: http://www.mass.gov/eot/developers
• Twitter: @massdotdev
• Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/massdotdevelopers
• Contact: Joshua.Robin@eot.state.ma.us
http://www.mass.gov/eot/developers - Twitter @MassDOTdev 25