Data Sharing Seen as Crucial to the Future of Public Transit

When civic leaders from around the world gathered for Vancouver's 2012 Cities Summit last week, urban transport was on everyone's lips, and information sharing was seen as the key to unlocking future successes.

1 minute read

February 9, 2012, 1:00 PM PST

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


Fortuitously, as Alexis Stoymenoff reports, for cities and transportation agencies strapped for funding, improvements to transit systems can be made relatively simply, with better use of information that is already at hand.

"By opening up data collected by different municipal departments and agencies, cities can offer new and creative services (like transit apps) with little cost to taxpayers."

According to Gordon Feller, Director of Cisco Systems' Urban Innovations program, "It's not something that the city has to spend money to develop. Third parties will develop it, and the city can take advantage of it."

Thursday, February 2, 2012 in Vancouver Observer

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 7, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

The mayor of Baltimore speaks into a microphone in front of a rally for more state transportation funding from Maryland.

‘Going backwards:’ Baltimore mayor, students rally against state's transit funding plan

Maryland's proposed six-year plan provides no funding for Baltimore’s BMORE bus program and reduces its road maintenance funding.

October 2, 2026 - Baltimore Sun

A rendering of the waterfront development, which shows a lit-up stage by the waterfront and people walking about.

Detroit to transform waterfront with $2.2 billion investment

Developers will convert about 18 acres of unused parking lot space into civic spaces.

October 2, 2026 - ABC 7

A row of cars parked next to a building. One car drives perpendicular to the parked cars.

Less housing, wasted money: study reveals impact of city parking mandates

The study found that 71% of carless households in the United States pay for a parking space they don’t use.

4 hours ago - California YIMBY

A brick building with windows and a stone plaque that reads "The Elmer L. Andersen Human Services Building"

Minnesota seeks to replace fraud-ridden Housing Stabilization Services with new program

Federal prosecutors have charged over a dozen people in fraud cases involving at least $26 million.

5 hours ago - Minnesota Reformer

A flooded road in Oakland.

A multi-billion dollar problem is brewing under Oakland’s streets

Oakland’s stormwater drainage systems are in desperate need of upgrades and repairs. The El Niño will only further strain the city’s infrastructure.

6 hours ago - Mercury News