The New York State Department of Transportation, in cooperation with public transportation providers in New York State, is developing transit service information portal via its www.511NY.org program. The initial focus of this portal is to provide a one-stop Statewide location for static schedule data. However, the Department is endeavoring to create a Next Generation Transit Service Information Portal (TSIP) to expand and enhance the range and quality of transit service-related being made available.

To support the information and requirements gathering needed for a robust and effective portal design and development the Department will conduct a one-day workshop for third party transit information providers and application developers. The Workshop will engage interested parties in a discussion of what transit data are of greatest interest for inclusion in the Portal, how developers wish to access such data (formats, timing, tools, etc.). The input being sought at this event is intended to inform the development of system and data requirements that that may be reflected in a future Request for Proposals (RFP). NYSDOT has released the Request For Information (RFI) (pdf).

Third party developer requirements comprise one dimension of the overall multi-agency portal project. Aspects of the portal pertaining to transit agency operational coordination and planning will not be covered in this Workshop. The Workshop is not intended to preview other aspects of a future RFP, and it is not an informational session oriented to potential bidders on the TSIP. It is focused on technical requirements that would enhance the usability of transit service data, by third party developers.

Additional background on the Transit Service Information Portal Project can be found here.

Workshop Objectives:

• Inform third-party vendors and developers about the proposed TSIP
• Increase common understanding among vendor, developer and Agency stakeholders of transit data management and dissemination issues
• Gather potential requirements for TSIP from third-party vendors and developers.