MobilityData strengthens Montréal’s sustainable mobility ecosystem

MobilityData, the international organization that supports global mobility with data specifications and tools, announces the creation of its Global Community Engagement Unit in Montréal. The mandate of this team of experts is to strengthen ties with the various global stakeholders to create or enhance the quality of data in public transportation.  

This project is being carried out with the financial support of the Government of Canada, the Government of Québec and the City of Montréal. The funding is administered by Montréal International.  

“When it comes to mobility and sustainable transportation, Greater Montréal stands out on the global scale. It is the ideal place to rally our members and advance sustainable mobility using standardized data,” said Elisabeth Poirier-Defoy, Deputy Executive Director, MobilityData.   

Data to drive sustainable mobility

Established in 2019, MobilityData manages standardized mobility data formats such as General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS). This data is used by transit agencies and trip planning applications to feed their user-dedicated applications with practical information such as schedules, routes, fare, etc. GTFS was initially developed in 2005 by TriMet, the Portland, Oregon transportation agency, in collaboration with Google. 

MobilityData was later created to enable this data to be shared beyond Google applications and maintain community engagement in its development. The Société de transport de Montréal, the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain and EXO are among the organization’s 125+ members and partners around the world. The organization is headquartered in Montréal with 25 employees. 

The new Global Community Engagement Unit will draw on the knowledge of experts in mobility and open data to deepen understanding of the issues affecting different markets around the world. The team will also seek to develop communications channels and events to enhance international cooperation and accelerate the adoption of GTFS and other important standards, an indispensable asset to increase mass transit adoption.  

This expansion project was announced during the 2nd edition of the International Mobility Data Summit, where some 150 mobility experts from over 80 organizations across North America, South America, Europe and Asia gathered for two days to explore the transformative role of data in the future of mobility.

Quotes

“MobilityData is a perfect example of a group that is shaping the economy of tomorrow and maintaining Canada’s profile on the global scene. That is why CED is supporting the opening of the new Global Community Engagement Unit, which will improve public transportation here and around the world. This project strengthens our position as a leader in sustainable mobility and in the fight against climate change.”

• The Honourable Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Member of Parliament for Hochelaga, Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for CED

“We are pleased to support the creation of the International Community Engagement Unit by MobilityData. The expansion of this organization in Montréal confirms Québec expertise and strategies in areas of interest, including innovation and sustainable mobility. Furthermore, it demonstrates that Québec is firmly committed to the ecosystem of international organizations on its territory.”

• Martine Biron, ministre des Relations internationales et de la Francophonie et ministre responsable de la Condition féminine

“I’m very proud of MobilityData’s growth in Montréal, which is another demonstration of the metropolis’ dynamism and attractiveness. By supporting MobilityData, the City of Montréal confirms its place among the leaders in sustainable mobility innovation, and contributes to the evolution of key international standards and the continuous improvement of mobility practices for a greener, fairer society.”

• Valérie Plante, Mayor of Montréal and President of the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal

“Montréal is a hub for international organizations. That’s even more true when it comes to sustainable development. We’re delighted to see that the MobilityData team feels the same way by using our city as a springboard to strengthen its impact around the world. Congratulations to Elisabeth and the entire team, it’s a pleasure to support you in this project, which will have a positive impact on our entire ecosystem.”

• Stéphane Paquet, President and CEO, Montréal International

“The Société de transport de Montréal has been a proud member of MobilityData since its very beginning in Montréal. Their role in defining standards enabling mobility players to present their data in a universal format has had a concrete impact on the quality of travel information offered to our customers, and on its availability from a wider variety of tools. Congratulations on becoming an international organization, which will help spread the word about Montréal’s leadership among industry specialists.” 

• Nathalie Clément, Executive Director – Planning, Service Delivery and Customer Experience and committee coordinator, Société de transport de Montréal

About MobilityData

MobilityData is the global non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of open transportation data standards. With over 120 members, MobilityData bring together and supports transport operators, software vendors, app developers, and government agencies to standardize and expand open data formats, such as the General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) for public transport and the General Bikeshare Feed Specification (GBFS) for shared mobility. Learn more about our commitment to better transportation through data at mobilitydata.org.