‘Digital Infrastructure’ Foundational to Integrated Transportation

Concepts like mobility data specifications are serving as the foundational pieces of digital infrastructure that will enable the development of more integrated and complete urban transportation systems.

Creating a truly integrated transportation ecosystem will require a form of digital infrastructure built on a foundation of shared data, common language and more collaboration between the public and private sectors.

Experts explored the idea of "digital mobility" as an organizing force for more multimodal and seamless urban transportation experiences during a panel organized by CoMotion LIVE earlier this month.

“I do believe that if cities are able to use the digital infrastructure and have better insight and ability to manage the multiple modes of transportation and travel on the street, it will create a more efficient, a more equitable and a safe, climate-friendly system. And so that’s what we’ve all gotta be all working in lockstep to achieve,” said Andrew Glass Hastings, executive director, Open Mobility Foundation (OMF), and the former transit and mobility director in Seattle.

The OMF has been a leader in the advancement of concepts like the mobility data specifications (MDS), which sets up a common language around the sharing of mobility data among public-sector transit agencies and transportation departments, and the many digital transportation platforms supporting new forms of mobility like scooters, ride-hailing and even sidewalk delivery bots. These specifications are used by at least 300 cities in 21 countries as an international standard — “a common language” — that cities can use to manage micromobility.