Developers,

I hope all is well and that you are enjoying the warm weather (finally)!

As many of you know, we have been working to provide developers with a pilot
feed of real-time commuter rail information over the last few months.  Next
Wednesday, June 15th at 6pm we will be hosting an MBTA developers event to
announce next steps for commuter rail real-time information (hint, hint).  The
event will be at the State Transportation Building at 10 Park Plaza in
Boston.  For full details and to RSVP, please click here:*http://bit.ly/mzRmzP
*

While commuter rail is the topic of the event, we will be talking about the
current status of our efforts, what is next, and answering your questions.  If
there are any topics you want to see on the agenda, please reply to this
post.

As many of you probably saw today, Google announced that they are now
including MBTA real-time data in their transit product.  I know some of you
may have questions about what this means for you – local developers.  While
Google certainly has a lot of users, you know our system and riders best!  We
are more committed than ever to working with 3rd party developers – large
and small – to put data in the hands of our riders.  Feel free to ask away
here if you have any questions!

Looking forward to seeing you next Wednesday!

Best,

Josh

____________________________________

*Joshua K. Robin*
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority

JRo...@mbta.com

I know that you've said before that the Green Line real-time data is
more problematic to gather due to the signaling infrastructure.
Perhaps you could elaborate on what the MBTA's roadmap is to
eventually making this available, as well as a rough timeline.

Thanks!

Jim

Jim,

In short, Green Line data is a few years away.  We are happy to elaborate
more at the meeting/event next week but the bottom line is that we do not
have the same resolution tracking for the Green Line as other lines.  We are
in the early stages of designing a system to truly track the Green Line but
between that work, procurement, installation, testing, the timeline is
pretty long.  Folks more involved in the project will be at the meeting next
week and are more than happy to discuss details then!

Looking forward to seeing you there.

Josh

On Jun 8, 8:35 pm, Josh from MBTA <joshua.ro...@eot.state.ma.us>
wrote:

I've been riding the MBTA since 1971. Until the mid 1980's or so, when
wayside signaling still prevailed on all rapid transit lines, departing
platforms of feeder bus routes were sometimes fitted with white signals
indicating approach of trains. Presumably, these were simply repeaters
of the wayside signaling, eliminated white to mean block occupied, dark
otherwise.  The purpose was to suggest to drivers of departing bus runs
to tag-up a little before pulling out, and help passengers avoid near
misses.

SAt Lechmere, for example, there was a horizontal sequence of white
lights that indicated the progress of Green Line cars/trains across the
viaduct from Boston. The drivers of outbound 69, 80, 87, and 88 were
supposed to look at them and think about waiting a little, especially if
it were Sunday or other time of infrequent service, or if had been a
long time since the previous train arrival.

This is all gone now, and I experience quite a few near-misses trying to
catch a bus upon arriving at Kendall.

Do the information systems on modern buses receive information in real
time from a central point. Perhaps the concept could come to life again
of telling bus drivers of approaching connections (train or bus) to help
passengers avoid mear-misses.

Do you have any information on when the tracking data will be
available for the other trolley line in the system. . . the Mattapan
trolley? The Mattapan line never goes underground, so if anything,
could the trolleys be fitted with the GPS technology used on all the
buses?  I think there are only 10 or so trolleys in service , so if
they're not already being tracked via GPS or some other signaling
system, what are the chances of getting this implemented sooner rather
than later?

- James

All,

I just wanted to remind you about tomorrow's Developer event focused on what
is next for Commuter Rail data.  For full details, please click here:*
http://bit.ly/mzRmzP*

The meeting is tomorrow, June 15th at 6pm and will be at the State
Transportation building at 10 Park Plaza in Boston.  When you arrive at the
building, please take the escalator to the information desk on the second
floor.  Once you are there, we will meet and head up to the event in room
3910.  

Here are directions to the State Transportation Building:
http://bit.ly/lwlRj1  

We promise the meeting will be short so everyone can head out to watch the
Bruins!    

Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow!
Josh

Would it be possible for a summary and notes of the discussion to be posted
here after the meeting?  For those of us who can't make the meeting, it
would be very helpful and informative.

Thanks,
  Kyle

On Tue, Jun 14, 2011 at 7:30 PM, Josh from MBTA <