Google to Host “Unconference” for MTA App Developers

In January, the MTA took the long-awaited step of opening up its data to software developers, clearing the way for third parties to devise new and innovative ways to put current information in the hands of transit customers. Since then, the agency has received some 1,100 requests for data, reports AMNY. New apps provide everything from the location of the nearest subway stations, like acrossair, demonstrated above, to history trivia along bus routes.

So what’s next? On Wednesday Google will host the MTA Unconference, where developers will hear from Jay Walder, Bernhard Seefeld of Google Maps, and Nick Grossman of OpenPlans — the new moniker of Streetsblog’s parent organization (formerly The Open Planning Project). New data sets will be released, and there will be discussions on the present and future of transit data development.

The sign-up deadline for the event has come and gone, but we’re curious about what you’d like to see generated by this new relationship between the MTA and transit app providers. What transit apps would you be interested in?

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