The document discusses making MBTA transit information more accessible like weather and traffic reports by making data open. When the MBTA released a real-time data feed for 5 bus lines, developers quickly used the data to build many innovative applications within weeks, showing high demand. These included apps and websites that showed bus locations and countdowns on maps, desktops, phones, and signs. The document advocates opening full real-time bus location data to further unlock developers' potential to create useful transit tools and argues a hackathon could demonstrate this.

1. MASSDOT DEVELOPERS
Chris Dempsey and Joshua Robin
Massachusetts Department of Transportation

2. WHY IS IT SO EASY TO FIND
WEATHER AND TRAFFIC REPORTS…
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3. BUT SO HARD TO FIND TRANSIT
INFORMATION?
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4. TWO THEORIES
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5. THEORY #1 – NO DEMAND
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6. Where is the
Where’s the
#%*(#&$
Green Line?
train?
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7. THEORY #2 – NO SUPPLY
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8. SO, WHAT’S DIFFERENT?
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9. TRAFFIC AND WEATHER
INFORMATION ARE “OPEN”
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10. AS A RESULT, DRIVERS
HAVE LOTS OF CHOICES

11. TRANSIT INFORMATION WAS “CLOSED”
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12. T RIDERS HAD JUST ONE CHOICE FOR
MBTA INFORMATION: THE T
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13. SO, WE DECIDED TO MAKE MBTA
INFORMATION OPEN
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14. IN SEPTEMBER 2009, THE MBTA MADE
BASIC TRIP PLANNING DATA OPEN
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15. BY NOVEMBER, THERE WERE 6
INNOVATIVE APPLICATIONS BUILT
WITH MBTA DATA
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16. 1/29/2010 10:31 AM 16

17. WHAT ABOUT REAL-TIME DATA?
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18. TRADITIONAL MODEL
First, (1) Countdown Signs
Then, (2) Web and Phone Distribution
Then, Maybe, (3) Share with Others

19. WHAT IF WE RE-THOUGHT THIS?

20. COULD WE MAKE MBTA BUS
LOCATION INFORMATION
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21. AS EASY FOR OUR RIDERS TO FIND
AS THE CURRENT TEMPERATURE?
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22. IMPOSSIBLE, RIGHT?
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23. ON NOVEMBER 14th, AS PART OF A
TRIAL PROGRAM, THE MBTA
RELEASED A REAL-TIME DATA
FEED FOR FIVE BUS LINES
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24. WITHIN ONE HOUR…
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25. WITHIN ONE HOUR…
A developer integrated the trial data into Google Earth to
show the real-time locations of the buses:
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26. WITHIN TWO DAYS…
A developer integrated the trial data into a free, easily-
accessible web page, where T riders can track the buses
from any internet-accessible computer:
http://mbta-bus.appspot.com
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27. WITHIN ONE WEEK…
A developer built a desktop application that displays the
countdown information for the rider’s favorite stop:
http://www.wirelust.com
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28. WITHIN TWO WEEKS…
A developer built a simple web application that displays the
bus countdown information without the need for a map:
http://www.clickteam.info/davidn/mbta/mbtabuses.php
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29. WITHIN ONE MONTH…
A developer built an LED sign that shows real-time bus
countdown information on Centre Street in Jamaica Plain:
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30. WITHIN FIVE WEEKS…
A developer built iPhone and Android apps that integrate the
real-time trial data. The apps cost just 99 cents:
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31. WITHIN SEVEN WEEKS…
A developer built a system that delivers the real-time data to
any phone, mobile or landline:
*
*Try if for yourself by dialing 617-213-0911
Use stop code (0330) or (0085)
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32. WITHIN EIGHT WEEKS…
A developer built a system that delivers the real-time data by
text message to any mobile phone:
*Try if for yourself by texting 617.299.6591
this message: bus: 39: 51391
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33. WITHIN EIGHT WEEKS
Developers launched more apps included free applications:
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34. AND PEOPLE NOTICED:
These apps received positive press from:
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35. WITH THOSE RESULTS*
FOR JUST FIVE BUS LINES
IN SEVEN WEEKS…
*ALL AT NO COST TO THE MBTA
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36. WHAT MIGHT DEVELOPERS
CREATE IF WE UNLOCK
LOCATION DATA FOR
THE ENTIRE BUS SYSTEM?
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37. HERE’S WHAT DEVELOPERS HAVE
DONE IN OTHER PLACES:
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38. Baggage
Claim
Info at
Portland
Airport
Real-Time
Train Arrival
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39. Community
Advertisement
in a Chicago
Bakery
Real-Time
Bus Arrival
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40. $130
Sony
Bluetooth
Wristwatch
Real-Time
Bus Arrival
*YES, THIS REALLY EXISTS IN SAN FRANCISCO
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41. HOW DO WE GET THERE?
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42. MIT C4FCM/MBTA HACKATHON
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43. TOGETHER, LET’S DEMONSTRATE
THE POTENTIAL OF OPENING UP FULL
SYSTEM BUS LOCATION DATA

44. GOALS

45. LED SIGNS

46. MBTA REAL-TIME
WATCH

47. WHAT ELSE?

48. http://www.mass.gov/eot/developers

49. http://www.mass.gov/eot/developers
christopher.dempsey@state.ma.us
joshua.robin@state.ma.us
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