22 Aug 2012: SEQ: Call for transparency with public transport data

[ozbob]

Media release 22 August 2012

SEQ: Call for transparency with public transport data

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has called for the routine public release of detailed and accurate, performance and load data for public transport, as in other states of Australia (1,2,3,4).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Detailed load and performance data for public transport in south-east Queensland is not made publicly available as in other states."

"The TransLink Tracker released publicly is a 'sanitised' version of a more complete version for non-public use. We would much prefer the non-sanitised version!"

"We call on TransLink to make publicly available timely and accurate performance and load data for all railway lines, bus and ferry routes."

"We call on TransLink to make publicly available complete go card data, including the number of free trips made on each day of every week."

"Why is it necessary to resort to Right To Information requests for data that is made readily available in other states?"

References:

1.  http://corp.ptv.vic.gov.au/managing-victoria-s-public-transport-network/facts-and-figures/

2.  http://corp.ptv.vic.gov.au/managing-victoria-s-public-transport-network/track-record/track-record-monthly-performance-bulletin-trains-metropolitan/

3.  http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/AboutUs/Surveysandstatistics/Archivedontimerunningstatistics.aspx

4.  http://www.cityrail.info/about/our_performance/otr_summary.jsp

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[somebody]

Vancouver probably set the standard here.  http://www.translink.ca/en/site-info/document-library-result.aspx?id={96D5C148-EF81-4F1D-91E6-387E6E4939F9}&ref={21ADD83C-4B6B-40BF-A72E-9A92988A1AE6}

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Premier Campbell Newman promises era of open information to encourage private sector solutions to problems

...

[ozbob]

Premier
The Honourable Campbell Newman

Queensland Government's 'open data' revolution begins

Tuesday, October 09, 2012

A new Assistant Minister will be appointed to drive the Newman Government's 'open data revolution', which aims to release as much information as possible to encourage the private sector to develop innovative new services and solutions to Queenslanders' problems.

Premier Campbell Newman said Member for Mermaid Beach Ray Stevens would be appointed Assistant Minister to the Premier on e-government, and a new website had been established as an accessible portal for all State Government information releases.

"The LNP is determined to change the culture of the Queensland Government to be more open by allowing more public access to Government information collected in all regions, in all kinds of formats, for all kinds of reasons," Mr Newman said.

"In the past, Governments gave away land to stimulate economic development. Now information is the new currency.

"Determining the data sets and statistics that are suitable for release, the best formats in which to release data, the appropriate timelines, and what legislative change is needed to promote the proper release and sharing of information is an enormous, important challenge I'm sure Mr Stevens will relish."

Mr Newman said examples of types of information that could be released include location information for 'trackable' government vehicles such as buses, trains and ferries, road usage data, crime and accident statistics, speed camera locations and hospital statistics.

"Open access to information held by the State Government will help stimulate the development of new, innovative applications by all sorts of private individuals, companies and non-government organisations," he said.

"It will allow the development of new services and solutions, and promote new thinking on how to solve issues that affect everyday Queenslanders. Importantly, in time, it will provide open access to key measurements to judge the performance of not just this Queensland Government, but all governments in the future."

Mr Newman said Mr Stevens would work alongside him and the Minister for Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts Ros Bates to drive the 'open information' revolution.

"In addition to the appointment of Mr Stevens as Assistant Minister, an Open Data Reform Group will be formed that will include the Director-Generals of all Queensland Government Departments to lead the culture change across government," he said.

"The Open Data Reform Group will seek feedback from the public and the ICT sector on what kinds of data, and what formats they need to develop solutions.

"Once we make more data accessible, the Queensland Government will be encouraging application and solution development through new competitions and incentives. This is all part of meeting the LNP's commitment to restoring accountability in Government."

[ENDS] 9 October 2012                             

[Fares_Fair]

Quote from above:

Mr Newman said examples of types of information that could be released include location information for 'trackable' government vehicles such as buses, trains and ferries, road usage data, crime and accident statistics, speed camera locations and hospital statistics.

[Golliwog]

If the buses, trains and ferries are so trackable, why is their real time bus timetable taking so long?

Personally, I'm more worried about the speed cameras:
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/rolling-coverage-premier-ministers-quizzed-at-hearings-20121009-27a99.html

1.58pm: Queensland police will be required to provide real-time information about where speed cameras are located as part of the state's "open government" push, Premier Campbell Newman has declared.

Mr Newman, who this morning flagged plans to release a wide range of government-held information to the public over the internet, was asked this afternoon to clarify what sorts of items would and would not be published.

Mr Newman made clear he was not talking about releasing commercial-in-confidence, confidential cabinet and private details, but would seek to put out as much data as possible.

"We're going to release where speed cameras are set up, real time. We're going to ask the Queensland police to regularly post where they're putting the speed cameras," he said as an example.

This morning, Mr Newman revealed he would appoint leader of government business Ray Stevens as an assistant minister, working with cabinet, directors-general and departments to deliver information and data services not before available to Queenslanders. (More information in the 10.55am entry.)

What is the justifiable reason for releasing speed camera locations? What reason is there to let people know so openly where they are located, other than to make it much easier for people to avoid them? If this happens, I really don't think it will be long before theres an app you can download for your smart phone that lists them all.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Open data opens minefield

[ozbob]

Data Queensland

http://data.qld.gov.au/

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

9 November 2012

Call for transparency with public transport data

Greetings,

When are we going to see the routine proper and full disclosure of public transport data? 

Good example reported by Brisbanetimes this morning:

Thousands claim free bus rides

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/thousands-claim-free-bus-rides-20121108-290y3.html

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

Media release 22 August 2012

SEQ: Call for transparency with public transport data

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has called for the routine public release of detailed and accurate, performance and load data for public transport, as in other states of Australia (1,2,3,4).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Detailed load and performance data for public transport in south-east Queensland is not made publicly available as in other states."

"The TransLink Tracker released publicly is a 'sanitised' version of a more complete version for non-public use. We would much prefer the non-sanitised version!"

"We call on TransLink to make publicly available timely and accurate performance and load data for all railway lines, bus and ferry routes."

"We call on TransLink to make publicly available complete go card data, including the number of free trips made on each day of every week."

"Why is it necessary to resort to Right To Information requests for data that is made readily available in other states?"

References:

1.  http://corp.ptv.vic.gov.au/managing-victoria-s-public-transport-network/facts-and-figures/

2.  http://corp.ptv.vic.gov.au/managing-victoria-s-public-transport-network/track-record/track-record-monthly-performance-bulletin-trains-metropolitan/

3.  http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/AboutUs/Surveysandstatistics/Archivedontimerunningstatistics.aspx

4.  http://www.cityrail.info/about/our_performance/otr_summary.jsp

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Ministerial Statement

Open data catches public transport

Wednesday, 28 November 2012 15:32

Public transport users can monitor the performance of their SEQ network in more detail with more data now available more often.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said an overhaul of patronage, customer satisfaction, fixed fare and public transport complaint data would be uploaded onto the open data website, providing more information than any other network in Australia.

"The Newman Government is committed to improving public transport with more frequent, reliable and affordable services and I want passengers to be able to monitor that performance," Mr Emerson said.

"Unlike the previous Labor Government where data was available every quarter, we will be providing a weekly overview with information uploaded every month.

"This will be the most open and accountable public transport information in Australia available through TransLink and the Newman Government's Open Data website.

"This information shows that patronage averaged 3.58 million trips a week and customer satisfaction for affordability is improving from its all-time low during the final months under Labor.

"I'm pleased that patronage has been steadily increasing – up by 600,000 trips between July and September – after four years of decline under Labor's policy of 15 per cent fare hikes."

The weekly analysis will replace the TransLink Tracker which provided much less detail, released in three monthly blocks.

"Earlier this month we improved the reporting of train on-time running information and ended Labor's charade, providing actual information on a line-by-line basis," Mr Emerson said.

The data will be available at http://data.qld.gov.au/ or http://translink.com.au/about-translink/reporting-and-publications/patronage-and-customer-satisfaction

[ozbob]

Discussion thread for this new public transport performance data

--> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9305.0

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

28th November 2012

Public transport performance data

Greetings,

Welcome move, thank you!

Refer 22 Aug 2012: SEQ: Call for transparency with public transport data --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=8988.msg107735#msg107735

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Scott Emerson

Open data catches public transport

Public transport users can monitor the performance of their SEQ network in more detail with more data now available more often.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said an overhaul of patronage, customer satisfaction, fixed fare and public transport complaint data would be uploaded onto the open data website, providing more information than any other network in Australia.

"The Newman Government is committed to improving public transport with more frequent, reliable and affordable services and I want passengers to be able to monitor that performance," Mr Emerson said.

"Unlike the previous Labor Government where data was available every quarter, we will be providing a weekly overview with information uploaded every month.

"This will be the most open and accountable public transport information in Australia available through TransLink and the Newman Government's Open Data website.

"This information shows that patronage averaged 3.58 million trips a week and customer satisfaction for affordability is improving from its all-time low during the final months under Labor.

"I'm pleased that patronage has been steadily increasing – up by 600,000 trips between July and September – after four years of decline under Labor's policy of 15 per cent fare hikes."

The weekly analysis will replace the TransLink Tracker which provided much less detail, released in three monthly blocks.

"Earlier this month we improved the reporting of train on-time running information and ended Labor's charade, providing actual information on a line-by-line basis," Mr Emerson said.

The data will be available at http://data.qld.gov.au/ or http://translink.com.au/about-translink/reporting-and-publications/patronage-and-custom

[Fares_Fair]

Enquiry sent via Open Data website under: requests for information to be provided.

Could the website provide train on time performance on a line by line basis, for both peak and off-peak periods.
Currently Queensland Rail provide the breakdown for peak times only and this openness is appreciated.
QR also show contractual and non-contractual (force majeure) event impacts which are also sincerely welcomed.

Off peak services need to be included to give a true overall picture of our rail network.