SEPTA and Open Data Philly

**septoid** · 05-19-2011, 07:43 PM

Open Data Philly has a "Data Nomination" which allows people to vote on
what data should be released to the public and to 3rd party developers.

Top on the list is "Real-time positions of SEPTA buses and trolleys"...
OpenDataPhilly - Nominate Data

If this data was released into the public domain, web and mobile device
apps would increase, which would be great for riders.

Be sure to cast your vote!

**BarryG** · 05-19-2011, 09:35 PM

Does this data actually exist?

**TBG** · 05-19-2011, 10:10 PM

yes, SEPTA uses GPS transmitters on buses and trolleys to track movement and location from its HQ.

**joek** · 05-20-2011, 01:01 PM

I've actually talked to someone at SEPTA about this. Apparently they use a third-party company out of Conshohocken to collect this data or something. And from what I can gather they aren't very cooperative about making it available. Don't really have any additional details, sorry.

**evilpatrick** · 05-23-2011, 07:40 AM

Other detail (having talked to various SEPTA employees). The GPS data only updates once every 3 minutes. Sometimes less. This is due to a bandwidth limitation on the vehicles.

**Andy Sharpe** · 05-23-2011, 12:10 PM

Just to iterate the opening post, make sure to vote for "Real-time positions of SEPTA buses and trolleys." I did.

Andy Sharpe
Communications Director
Delaware Valley Association of Rail Passengers
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