The slides from our O'Reilly Media Webcast on 11/5/2009! Please follow us on Twitter @massdotdev!

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

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

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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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