Collaborative public transportation feasibility study: Development of a database prototype

Abstract

The Ecology Action Centre (EAC) has recognized the need for a collaborative information-based transit service that would connect users and transportation providers in the Maritime Provinces. From this need, a multi-disciplinary research partnership between the EAC and Dalhousie University was developed. The research team developed a basic functioning prototype for a web-based transit service. Four main methodological thrusts define the transit database project: first, a review of transit database precedents; second, a usability study of potential database users (n=6); third, a feasibility study reaching of transit providers (n=10); and lastly, web-expert consultation. Additionally, a number of potential funding sources for this project were identified, including community and government grants, web-based advertising and cooperative membership fees. Moreover, the identification of an effective entity under which the Go Maritimes service will be operated (i.e. multi-stakeholder cooperative or private sector enterprise) has been a high priority. This research project has equipped the EAC with the tools it needs to plan, manage, and move forward with the Go Maritimes project.