8/8/2019 Real-Time Apps Keep Newton T Commuters on Time
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Real-time apps keep Newton T commuters on time
By Laura Paine/Staff writerWicked Local Newton
Posted Aug 17, 2010 @ 02:10 PM
Newton
Long waits for MBTA buses while regularly checking the clock is
a common ritual for many
Newton commuters, but new real-time bus applications have been
created to cut back on waitingtimes, finally answering the age-old
question: where is my bus?
The MBTA began releasing real-time data to allow bus riders on
135 routes to access real-time
information on bus locations and arrival time predictions for
all of the bus stops. Data has beenreleased for a number of buses
in the Newton area, including the Number 60 bus to the Chestnut
Hill Mall via Cypress Street; the 502 to Watertown via Newton
Corner; and the 556 to NewtonCorner. Davey expects the remaining
routes will be released by Labor Day.
Weve had a lot of success, he said. The idea is that the
real-time information becomes as
ubiquitous as the weather. Weve been getting excellent feedback.
The number-one complaint Ihave received is, why is my bus not yet
available.
The MBTA has been working with a volunteer consulting firm that
has helped to create a
predictive algorithm.
The trick is predicting when it will arrive, where our customers
are from, and where it is at thatvery moment, Davey said. It
considers time of day, traffic, other patterns and also how the
bus
has performed recently in terms of on time and distance. It
takes all that information and thenpredicts when the bus will
arrive.
He also said the system is very accurate.
Were able to predict largely within 30 seconds to the bus
arrival, Davey said. Occasionally
that may change if there is some serious traffic somewhere or
some unexpected issues on theroads, but the algorithm takes in
traffic patterns depending on the time of day.
There are a number of applications available to smartphone
users, which are varied in price as
well as visual style and function. Applications for iPhone users
include MassTransit andOpenMBTA. Android users should look for
BostonBusMap and AnyStop. RailBandit has been
created for BlackBerry users.
The MBTA is not endorsing any applications, but Davey said
opening the data up for outsidedevelopers has been a real asset for
the MBTA.
For the T being in debt as we are and trying to manage our
limited resources wisely, to use this
company and to really call upon the public and the developer
community to help us. They havereally responded tremendously, Davey
said.
