GTFS DIGITIZED DATA Maryland. Prior to this project, very few systems had any GTFS available, and only the large, well-funded systems were available on Google Maps. A visitor to Maryland would fi nd that, at fi rst glance, there was no public transportation outside of Baltimore or Washington, and no connections could be made to suburban and rural communities. Because of Maryland’s geographic proximity to the nation’s capital, the need to demonstrate connectivity within and throughout the region is crucial. As a result of limited fi nancial and time resources within transit agencies; GTFS and public transit data are oft en forgotten, incomplete, or out-of-date. Because many third-party application developers rely on current and accurate GTFS data to create tools, applications and resources, the need for such data cannot be understated. With this in mind, there are very few states that have all of their transit information provided to the public in the GTFS format. Maryland, through the TRIP project, is the fi rst state to create these feeds for transit agencies for no cost, using tools that most transit agencies already have access to. Finally, having transit data in a GTFS format makes information more accessible. For individuals with disabilities who rely on paratransit, having descriptive and interactive directions can open new doors to personal freedom on fi xed route systems. For those with diff ering visual abilities, GTFS can serve as the baseline for wayfi nding applications and can provide information on cardinal directions, distances, and transfer points. Google Maps also translates directions into numerous 38 | Mass Transit | MassTransitmag.com | APRIL/MAY 2017 languages, allowing low-English profi ciency and non-native speakers to have access to transportation information in their own language. C. Community Partnerships Th e professionals on our team were mindful of the challenges of training colleagues at the local transit systems. Th e team approached this portion of the project with a keen understanding of limited staff time and resources and were available and fl exible throughout to better support these agencies. Th e team also worked hard to incorporate advanced technology with a more human twist, promoting a deeper understanding of the work and why it was important to the agencies’ users, all while communicating with the agencies in a way that ensured they felt valued and understood. Th is programmatic eff ort represents enhanced partnerships and collaboration throughout not only the Central Maryland region, but the entire state. Jaime McKay is the interim manager of Direct Services at Central Maryland Regional Transit (CMRT). For more information, visit www.MassTransitmag.com/10718970
MassTransit_AprilMay_2017
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