For those not from the Toronto area, GO transit provides commuter train & bus services from the burbs to union station (downtown hub). Now, GO is waaaaaay behind technologically speaking, and is plagued by constant delays & technical difficulties. As a web developer, i was excited when i learned today that BART in San Francisco is now exposing it’s data to the community. It got me thinking, and a little bit angry though. Why aren’t our transit companies offering the same things? If they are i want to know when we can expect it.
So… i sent them an email with a few recommendations:
1. Create a http://code.google.com/transit/spec/transit_feed_specification.html for the trains, which would get the detailed station & scheduling information into Google Maps.
2. For each train station, come up with a way to track the # of mins until the next train arrives and publish/maintain this information as XML for the developer community on the GO website.
3. Publish/maintain the Go Transit train schedule as XML for the developer community.
4. Publish/maintain all service advisories in XML format for the developer community in realtime.
I doubt i will get a response, but i will update if i do.
February 17th, 2009: Update – i received a response from Metrolinx (who i also sent my inquiry too). Here is what they had to say:
Note that you have sent your comments to Metrolinx. We are a provincial agency created by the Government of Ontario in 2006 and are tasked with addressing the urgent need to improve and integrate transportation in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA). Our mission is to develop a state-of-the-art transportation system that moves people and goods efficiently, economically and in an environmentally sustainable way. In doing so we are working closely with all of the transit authorities in the GTHA. However we are not involved in their day-to-day operations.
The GO Transit website is administered by GO Transit and as such I have passed your inquiry on to their Public Relations department publicrelations@gotransit.com. If you wish you can send further comments on their website to this e-mail address.
Metrolinx continues to maintain a close relationship with GO Transit as reflected in “The Big Move”, our regional transportation plan for the GTHA. You can review and/or download “The Big Move” at: http://www.metrolinx.com/thebigmove/index.html .
Best Regards,
JacquieJacquie Menezes
Senior Associate, Public Affairs and Media
Metrolinx (Greater Toronto Transportation Authority)
Jacquie.Menezes@metrolinx.com
416.874.5923
www.metrolinx.com
And the response from GO Transit directly:
Thanks for writing about the GO Transit Web site. I have forwarded your suggestions to our Web committee for review. In the meantime, thanks again for sending valuable feedback — we appreciate your ideas and links to other sites.
Allison Derin
Webmaster
GO Transit
mailto:webmaster@gotransit.com
Again, i will update as i receive updates. Follow me on Twitter and i will send a Tweet as/if it happens.
Related Posts:
- Recipe for anger: Track 27 at Union Station
- Some tips on using social media for bands
- How to use Evernote to monitor your SEO efforts
Tags: GO Transit
Yea, all these transportation industries in Toronto are FAR behind the times!
TTC is a joke!
Go Transit is a joke!
Viva (The north suburbs of Toronto) have one of the best layouts you could ask for, with details of when the next two buses will arrive right at the bus stop!
I think the TTC should be a private company.
Any failing parts of a government owned industry should be privatized.
If the government can’t turn a profit charging $2.75 per person, per trip – with MANY people using it daily, they shouldn’t be in control!
Imagine you’re a CEO of a big company, your company cannot turn a profit to save itself, who’s to blame?
Toronto tries to tell its people that it’s a world class city!
as a Torontonian, I don’t believe it!