Our belief is that the path to transportation equity requires developing accessibility-first data standards and the infrastructure to support interoperable data exchange, including tools to create, vet and consume the data are.
Our team of private and public partners is sustainably building and accelerating the future of equitable mobility and access to transportation by creating, improving, and extending data formats to describe (a) the pedestrian built environment (sidewalks and footpaths) [OpenSidewalks] (b) transportation stations and hubs (from bus stops to multi-level transit hubs) [GTFS-Pathways], and (c) demand-responsive travel services [GTFS-flex]. We are building tooling and open source data infrastructure to ensure the data is open, shared, consistent and interoperable. API’s are published for scalable deployment of innovative data applications.
The development of a novel interoperable open data sharing system for standardized transportation data is an important step towards improving access to transportation services for people with disabilities. For a minute, let’s extend the analogy to the standardization of shipping containers in the mid-twentieth century, which was transformative to access to good.
Prior to the standardization of shipping containers in the 1950s and 60s, the transportation of goods was a labor-intensive and time-consuming process. Goods were loaded and unloaded by hand and had to be carefully packed to fit into the limited cargo space of ships and trucks. This made transportation of goods expensive and slow, with limited access to goods and services for people in remote or underserved areas.
The standardization of shipping containers revolutionized the transportation industry. By standardizing the size and shape of shipping containers, goods could be quickly and easily loaded and unloaded from ships and trucks, reducing transportation costs and increasing efficiency. This step led to the building of infrastructure and an entire ecosystem surrounding standardized containers, including shipping ports that were tooled to receive standard size containers, train cars that enabled fast and easy transition from sea to land, and other innovations around the shipping container. This led to the creation of new trade routes and increased access to goods and services around the world.
Similarly, the development of a standardized transportation data sharing system has the potential to improve access to transportation services for all people, including people with disabilities. By standardizing transportation data, it will be easier to develop tools and technologies that can be used to improve accessibility and ensure that transportation services are available to everyone, regardless of their abilities.
For example, transportation providers will be able to use the standardized data to develop apps and other tools that provide static and real-time information about the accessibility of transportation services, including the availability of wheelchair ramps, braille signage, elevators, and other accommodations. This will make it easier for people with disabilities to plan their trips and access transportation services, improving their quality of life and increasing their independence.
Additionally, the plug-and-play ecosystem of tools that supports the production, vetting and consumption of the standardized transportation data will make it easier for transportation providers to adopt the data standards. This will reduce the cost and complexity of implementing transportation data streams and maintaining them, making it more accessible to smaller providers and those in remote or underserved areas.
By engaging with our project, you can influence the development of a standardized transportation data sharing system, including weighing in on what data should be included and how consumers can better utilize this information. Improving access to transportation services will increase independence and improve quality of life in urban and rural centers alike.