Announcement coming soon about new T-Alerts feed (and more)

[Developer at MBTA]

All,

You may be hearing that we're launching a new T-Alerts service. Subscriber signup is beginning today, and the service is scheduled to launch on June 4th. You may also have heard about a new API; we're getting ready to roll out a new API that will include the new T-Alerts and a whole lot more. We're getting it ready for you now and will tell you all about it right here as soon as it's ready (before June 4th.) In the meantime our press release about the new service is below, and you can subscribe now on mbta.com to begin receiving alerts on it when it launches June 4th. 

Sincerely,

Developer at MBTA

MBTA ANNOUNCES NEW & IMPROVED T-ALERTS SYSTEM TO LAUNCH IN JUNE

Improved format with more information presented in a clearer way will keep customers informed in less time.

 

BOSTON – May 16, 2013 –The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority announced today that it will re-launch its “T-Alerts” customer notification system on June 4th as a new service built to get better information out faster and more reliably to more people.

 

Customers can subscribe to receive alerts through email and text messages at mbta.com. They can sign up today and will start receiving alerts from the new service on June 4^th. Customers currently signed up for T-Alerts should note that they must sign up for the new service to continue to receive alerts, as the old service will be discontinued. The MBTA will send current subscribers messages to help them sign up for the new service.

 

The existing system, launched in 2007, has proved incredibly popular with over 50,000 current subscribers who receive an email or text message to let them know when their bus or train is running late or if there’s some other disruption to service. The MBTA’s new T-Alerts system is built around data structures that enable sharing, encouraging innovative third-party development. It uses emerging standards introduced by Google in 2011. The MBTA has become a data-sharing leader in 2009, rolling out real-time bus data directly for developers, and over 50 third-party apps use MBTA data. Developers interested in writing apps can visit developer.mbta.com to learn more.

 

Alerts will continue to be listed on the Service pages of mbta.com with visual enhancements made to page layout and format for clarity, ease-of-use, and reader-friendliness. Direct service advisory notifications via email and text messages will receive improvements with more reliable delivery times through the MBTA's new partnership with GovDelivery, a leader in public digital communication. Service alerts and notifications will be clearer and more detailed with additional information regarding specific trip times, service schedule changes, and distinct directional, branch, and station communications.

 

The MBTA operates subway, bus, commuter rail, ferry, and paratransit service in the greater Boston area and serves 1.3 million customers daily.

[Brian Lalor]

On May 16, 2013, at 3:10 PM, Justin Sabourin <sabo...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hopefully the new API will have a way to separate alerts from advisories?

I'm hoping for a web-hook so I can get real-time notifications. :-)

--
Brian Lalor
bla...@bravo5.org

[Developer at MBTA]

We'll tell you everything as soon as we have it ready. 

Sincerely,

Developer at MBTA 

On Thursday, May 16, 2013 3:10:21 PM UTC-4, Justin Sabourin wrote:

Hopefully the new API will have a way to separate alerts from advisories?

Thanks!