The document discusses making real-time MBTA bus location data openly available like weather data. It notes that while weather data is easily accessible through many choices, MBTA data was previously closed, only providing one choice. The MBTA then opened some basic trip planning data, leading to several applications being built. However, these didn't provide real-time arrival times. The document proposes opening the MBTA's GPS bus location data so developers can build applications providing real-time arrival times, similar to accessible weather reports. A pilot program released this data for 5 bus lines, showing growing use over weeks. This could allow real-time arrival wristwatches like those in San Francisco.

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

2. WHY IS IT SO EASY TO FIND
REAL-TIME WEATHER REPORTS?
4/20/2010 10:15 AM 2

3. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
INFORMATION IS OPEN
4/20/2010 10:15 AM 3

4. AS A RESULT, CONSUMERS
HAVE LOTS OF CHOICES

5. WHY IS IT SO HARD TO FIND OUT
WHEN THE NEXT BUS WILL ARRIVE?
Where’s the
#%*(#&$
bus?
4/20/2010 10:15 AM 5

6. MBTA INFORMATION WAS “CLOSED”
=
ONE CHOICE
4/20/2010 10:15 AM 6

7. SO, IN SEPTEMBER 2009 WE DECIDED
TO MAKE MBTA BASIC TRIP PLANNING
INFORMATION OPEN
4/20/2010 10:15 AM 7

8. BY NOVEMBER, THERE WERE SIX
INNOVATIVE APPLICATIONS BUILT
WITH MBTA DATA
4/20/2010 10:15 AM 8

9. GREAT, BUT WHEN IS THE NEXT BUS
ACTUALLY GOING TO SHOW UP?
4/20/2010 10:15 AM 9

10. TRADITIONAL MODEL
First, (1) Countdown Signs
Then, (2) Web and Phone Distribution
Then, Maybe, (3) Share with Others

11. WHAT IF WE REVERSED
THE ORDER?

12. COULD WE MAKE MBTA BUS LOCATION
INFORMATION AS EASY TO FIND AS A
WEATHER REPORT?

13. ON NOVEMBER 14th, AS PART OF A
TRIAL PROGRAM, THE MBTA
RELEASED A REAL-TIME DATA
FEED FOR FIVE BUS LINES
4/20/2010 10:15 AM 13

14. 1 HOUR 2 DAYS 1 WEEK
4/20/2010 10:15 AM 14

15. 2 WEEKS 4 WEEKS 5 WEEKS
4/20/2010 10:15 AM 15

16. 7 WEEKS 8 WEEKS 8 WEEKS
4/20/2010 10:15 AM 16

17. $130
Sony
Bluetooth
Wristwatch
Real-Time
Bus Arrival
*YES, THIS REALLY EXISTS IN SAN FRANCISCO
4/20/2010 10:15 AM 17

18. WE BUILD A SIMPLE, RELIABLE
INTERFACE BETWEEN THE EXISTING
BUS GPS SYSTEM AND 3rd PARTIES
GPS
COMPLEX, DIVERSE,
CUSTOMER-FACING
APPLICATIONS ARE
BUILT AT NO COST TO
THE MBTA
4/20/2010 10:15 AM 18

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

20. http://www.mass.gov/eot/developers
christopher.dempsey@state.ma.us
joshua.robin@state.ma.us
Twitter: @massdotdev
4/20/2010 10:15 AM DRAFT 20