By popular demand, the
Port Authority of Allegheny County has made its raw route and schedule data publicly available through its
website and on
Google.
It looks like gibberish, but in the right hands Pittsburgh bus schedules could be transported into the next dimension, says Jim Ritchie of the Port Authority.
"We've had a number of requests from computer developers and transit enthusiasts," explains Ritchie. "Now we're hoping that people take it and run, come up with neat gadgets like the ones we see in other transit cities. The sky is the limit."
Not to be confused with the bus schedule, which is already on the website, the data is the
raw code behind the entire transit system. Developers in other cities have developed web applications with the information or used the information for mobile applications like finding the nearest coffee shop. The information will be updated every three months.
This is the latest move to make the Authority user friendly and more responsive to its riders. Others changes are underway as well. Among them: Individuals who wish to
attend and speak at public hearings or file a
complaint can fill out an online form; Board agendas and resolutions are posted on the website and the Port Authority is now on
Twitter.
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Writer: Deb Smit
Source: Jim Ritchie, Port Authority