Politics & Government

Bus News: Tracking Buses, New Buses, Donation Buses

WMATA announces it will make real time bus data available free to app developers, new express routes in Arlington, and ART buses taking donations.

On the heels of a new report showing bus ridership down 7 percent over last fiscal year, WMATA has issued new plans to make bus data transparent and to streamline and expand a few routes. In Arlington, buses are turning into charity drop boxes for the next three days.

Next Bus

WMATA has announced that on Dec. 9 it will give software developers free reign with certain bus data. This could allow for a wider array of bus tracking software for computers and mobile devices. A Dec. 8 meeting for developers appears to be a follow-up to WMATA's August developer's meeting, after which real-time Metrorail schedule data was released. Though the announcement appears to mirror the press release leading up to the Summer's developer's meeting, it does not specify what specific data will become available and which routes will be affected.

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A call made Tuesday to WMATA did not yield any answers to questions about the new data. AppTight, the developer of NextBus DC, was unable to immediately return our call. More details about the data are expected to be released at the meeting on Dec. 8. It was also unclear as to whether bus information which as of right now is proprietary to NextBus, would be handed over to new developers. Complaints about NextBus accuracy have lead to calls to improve the system.

When asked about a potential start date for Google Transit in the Washington area, Reggie Woodruff, a Public Relations officer for WMATA, said that the ball was in Google's court. WMATA handed over their data earlier this year and are still waiting for the end result.

Find out what's happening in Clarendon-Courthouse-Rosslynwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

New Bus

WMATA also announced today that it was extending the 16F, which runs along Columbia Pike, to the Federal Triangle Metro station, by way of Independence Ave.

Both announcements came on the heels of a WMATA report that ridership on busses was down 7 percent compared to the same time last year, due to fare increases and reliability issues.

Charity Bus

ART bus lines have kicked off the second annual "Stuff-a-Bus" campaign. From Nov. 30 - Dec. 2, riders on bus routes 41, 42, 45, 51, 52, 53, 74, 75, 77, 84 and 87 will be able to donate unwrapped gifts such as toys, books, clothes and stuffed animals by placing them in brightly wrapped receiving boxes. The presents will go to Shirlington Education and Employment Center and Clarendon's Doorways for Women and Families, who will distribute them to families in need.


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