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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