MTA Open Data Challenge!

[Aaron Donovan]

Hello everyone, I wanted to make sure everyone had seen that the MTA is launching an open data challenge seeking web apps, maps, data visualizations, written reports, or works of art that make use of the Authority's 134 open data sets. Submissions are due Oct. 25. 

Obviously the winner will receive bragging rights, and will be featured in a blog post on the MTA’s Data & Analytics blog and on the MTA’s social media accounts and receive an item from the vintage New York City Transit memorabilia collection.

Assets that may be of use:

• Open Data Challenge Homepage
• Sept. 24 press release announcing the launch of the challenge.  
• Full list of open data sets available for use
• Sept. 24 Streetsblog post featuring one of the newest datasets.

Any questions, concerns, thoughts, post 'em right here. 

[Victor Kuang]

I'm reading the official rules but it doesn't seem like there's any rules about team projects. I was wondering what the team size limit could be, if allowed.

[Aaron Donovan]

The MTA doesn’t have a team size limit, but any awards ceremony would likely need just a single person or perhaps a very small leadership team to convey the accolades to. 

[Aaron Donovan]

Hi everyone,

We had an incoming message that seems to have gotten lost in the gremlins or the machinery of posting. But here is the inquiry:

The MTA eligibility section says only 18 or above are able to participate. Could the rules be changed to allow minors to participate? I’m a student and there are other students who may be doing it. I would really appreciate it

I am tracking down what the answer is and will report back. 

[Aaron Donovan]

As a response to the latest inquiry: Unfortunately we’re not in a position to update the challenge rules this far into the process, but thank you for raising this issue, which generated a review of our policies. If we do the challenge again, we will look to expand eligibility to those over the age of 13. In the meantime, we’d love to see what you made with the data, even though it can’t formally be considered as the winner.