Metro News Release

For immediate release: June 21, 2011

Metro makes more bus data available for building better customer apps

Effort to provide riders with more accurate information

Metro is continuing to expand the amount of data it is making available to developers in an effort to provide customers with third-party apps featuring more accurate information and useful tools to enhance their travel experience.

Today Metro began providing expanded Next Bus data to developers that will allow for better real-time apps for customers. The data includes real-time arrival predictions, as well as road closures and traffic conditions that could impact bus service.

“The expanded bus data that is now public will provide more accurate bus arrival predictions for our customers and more useful information that developers can integrate into their apps,” said Metro General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Richard Sarles.

Prior to today’s enhancement, developers had access to basic bus data that showed the location of each bus and information about speed and direction. However, the data did not include more accurate NextBus predictions of when a bus would arrive at a particular stop. These predictions are refined through a complex process that accounts for traffic conditions based on time of day and day of week.

Metro has been a leader in the transit industry in offering public access to real-time data. Metro’s transit data is available for download from Metro’s website.

Metrobus routes, schedules and bus stops have been available since December 2010. Metro initially began offering transit data, including real-time train arrival status, service disruptions and schedule information, to developers in August 2010.

Last month, Metro announced a partnership with Google to make Metro schedule data available on the popular Google Maps platform to help riders plan their trips.

News release issued at 11:53 am, June 21, 2011.