HackRU Fall 2024

NJ TRANSIT operates the largest transportation system in the United States by area and third largest by ridership, with 11 commuter rail lines, 3 light rail lines, and 253 bus routes that move over 133,000,000 people per year. NJ TRANSIT operates 1081 rail cars, 71 light rail cars, and 3707 buses, as well as 166 rail stations, 62 light rail stations, 30 bus terminals and 16,000+ bus stops.

Since the invention of the wheel, technology has played a key role in the advancement of transportation. NJ TRANSIT commitment to Innovation is significant, with an Innovation team inside of IT that develops ‘Proof-of-Concept’ projects that help define the future of transportation, assists in improving data operations, and supports the implementation of next-gen technologies throughout the system.

NJ TRANSIT Innovation team is nimble, and capable of engaging throughout the organization to get things done. If you have an idea on how to use technology to improve situational awareness, data operations, transportation outcomes, or anything else, we invite you to contact us during the event, or here.

Prize Winners

Mini Metro Winners

Mentors

Brendan Kaplan

NJ TRANSIT
Deputy Chief Technology Officer
Head of Innovation

Ask me about:

• Problem statement definition
• Transportation practices
• Demoes and pitches
   

Brendan Kaplan is an interdisciplinary leader with backgrounds in technology, psychology, design, operations, government, and transportation. Brendan is currently serving as Deputy CTO - Head of Innovation at NJ TRANSIT, where he uses technology R&D within transportation to create a better built environment for the residents of New Jersey, reduce cost, and obtain new sources of funding for the agency.
Connect on LinkedIn

 

Seif Enan

NJ TRANSIT
Lead Design Engineer
Innovation Operations Manager

Ask me about:

• Hardware & Wiring Design
• Fusion 360 3D Design
• HTML & CSS
• Microsoft Office 

A bilingual full-stack web developer, Seif has a strong passion for front-end development. From a young age, he was fascinated by technology, building his first computer from scrap at 14 and repurposing components to create new objects. Talented in hardware and wiring design and 3D design, Seif is known for his meticulous attention to detail and reliable nature.  
Connect on LinkedIn

 

 

Siddiq Mohammed

NJ TRANSIT
Innovation Project Manager

Ask me about:

• Python
• Web Development - MERN Stack
• Firebase
• Microcontrollers (Arduino, Raspberry Pi, etc.)

Siddiq has multidisciplinary experience across mechanical, electrical, and software programming. Passionate about advancing tech-driven solutions for transportation and enhancing accessibility through innovation, he brings art and technology together to create impactful, user-centered designs.
Connect on LinkedIn

 

 

Sofia Usmani

NJ TRANSIT
Innovation Intern

Ask me about:

• UI/UX Design (Figma, Canva)
• Design Thinking
• Database management: SQL, NoSQL

Sofia Usmani is an honors Computer Science student at NJIT, pursuing a bachelor’s degree with a minor in User Experience Design. With research experience in XR database design and human-centered cybersecurity, she is passionate about creating immersive digital experiences and empowering communities through technology.
Connect on LinkedIn

 

Junyan Dai

Rutgers CAIT
Ph.D. Candidate
Data Analytics Algorithms & IoT System Design and Testing

Ask me about:

• Full Stack Development
• Computer Networking
• AWS 

Junyan Dai is a fourth-year PhD student specializing in Transit Data Analytics and IoT System Design and Testing. His research focuses on developing innovative solutions for improving transportation systems through data-driven insights and IoT technology.
Connect on LinkedIn

 

 

Mulin Wan

Rutgers CAIT
Ph.D. Candidate
Rail Network Modeling & Operational Analysis

Ask me about:

• Python-based Data Analytics
• Signal Filtering and Optimization
• Model Regularization 

Mulin Wan is a first-year PhD student specializing in rail network modeling and operational analysis, with a focus on data gathering and analysis to enhance rail system efficiency.
Connect on LinkedIn

 

 

Data Sets

Bus Data Sets

Name	Description	Data Set Link	Information / Documentation	Source
Bus Schedule Feed	A Data Feed for NJ TRANSIT Bus for navigation Apps used by over 100K travelers a day. Contains Bus Routes, Bus Schedules, Bus Stop Locations.	🔗	🔗	NJT
Bus Travel Alerts	A Data Feed for NJ TRANSIT Bus Service Alerts. Contains Bus Number, Scheduled Time & Date, Trip Description, Link to Alert.	🔗	🔗	NJT
Bus Routes & Stop IDs	A Data Feed for NJ TRANSIT Bus Routes and Stop IDs. Correlate latitude and longitude from the stops table in the GTFS feed for a wholistic view.	🔗		NJT
Bus On Time Performance	On Time Performance data for NJ TRANSIT buses. Data is in the form of Year, Month, Percentage, Trips, and Lates.	🔗	🔗	NJT
Mean Distance Between Failure	Mean Distance Between Failure is the average distance a vehicle travels before a problem that prevents continued operation before repair.	🔗	🔗	NJT
Bus Fuel Consumption and Travel	This table Includes data for both publicly and privately owned school, transit, and other commercial buses.	🔗		US DOT
Bus Occupant Safety Data	The injury and crash data in this table are from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) General Estimates System (GES).	🔗		US DOT

Rail Data Sets

Name	Description	Data Set Link	Information / Documentation	Source
Rail Schedule Feed	A Data Feed for NJ TRANSIT Rail for navigation Apps used by over 100K travelers a day. Contains Rail Routes, Rail Schedules, Rail Stop Locations.	🔗	🔗	NJT
Rail Travel Alerts	A Data Feed for NJ TRANSIT Rail Service Alerts. Contains Rail Scheduled Time & Date, Trip Description, Link to Alert.	🔗	🔗	NJT
Rail Cancelations	Cancelation data for NJ TRANSIT rail. Data is in the form of Year, Month, Cancel Count and Cancel Percentage.	🔗	🔗	NJT
Rail On Time Performance	On Time Performance data for NJ TRANSIT rail. Data is in the form of Year, Month, Percentage, Trips, and Lates.	🔗	🔗	NJT
Mean Distance Between Failure	Mean Distance Between Failure is the average distance a vehicle travels before a problem that prevents continued operation before repair.	🔗	🔗	NJT
ADA Accessible Rail Transit Stations by Agency	Rail transit data for 2002 and beyond include both directly operated and purchased transportation. Prior to 2002, the data include directly operated service only. Stations for U.S. territories are excluded.	🔗		US DOT
Railroad Passenger Safety Data	Passenger fatalities and Injured persons include passengers on trains only.	🔗		US DOT

Light Rail Data Sets

Name	Description	Data Set Link	Information / Documentation	Source
Light Rail On Time Performance	On Time Performance data for NJ TRANSIT light rail. Data is in the form of Year, Month, Percentage, Trips, and Lates.	🔗	🔗	NJT
Mean Distance Between Failure	Mean Distance Between Failure is the average distance a vehicle travels before a problem that prevents continued operation before repair.	🔗	🔗	NJT

Access Link Data

Name	Description	Data Set Link	Information / Documentation	Source
On Time Performance	On Time Performance data for NJ TRANSIT access link. Data is in the form of Year, Month, Percentage, Trips, and Lates.	🔗	🔗	NJT

Communication Data

Name	Description	Data Set Link	Information / Documentation	Source
FAQ	Frequently asked questions by NJ TRANSIT customers. These questions address items such as schedule information, lost and found items, reduced fares, career opportunities and more.	🔗		NJT

Statistics and Other Data

Name	Description	Data Set Link	Information / Documentation	Source
Annual Average Daily Traffic by Direction	Traffic counts data for NJ DOT. The data sets includes short term counts (48 hours volumes) and continuous data.	🔗		NJ DOT
Annual Average Daily Traffic by Location and Route	Traffic counts data for NJ DOT. The data sets includes short term counts (48 hours volumes) and continuous data.	🔗		NJ DOT
Total NJ Crash Records by County	Number of crashes that occurred in each of the top 12 counties of New Jersey from 2001 to current. Crashes that occurred on private properties are not included.	🔗		NJ OIT
Average Cost of Owning and Operating an Automobile	In 2004, the American Automobile Association adopted a new method for calculating vehicle operating costs that represent the real-world personal use of a vehicle over a five-year and 75,000-mile ownership period. The total cost of owning and operating an automobile include fuel, Maintenance, Tires, insurance, license, registration and taxes, depreciation, and finance.	🔗		AAA
Average Age of Urban Transit Vehicles	This data is the average age of rail and bus transit vehicle in years.	🔗		US DOT
Average Passenger Fares	Data from the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, National Income and Product Accounts tables.	🔗		US DOT
Average Passenger Revenue per Passenger Mile	The Bureau of Transportation Statistics rebased the consumer price index from 1982-84=100 to 1990=100. Air carrier data source changed for data from 1993 onward. Improved estimates are not comparable to data in versions before 2021.	🔗		US DOT
Walkability Index	This dataset characterizes every Census 2019 block group in the U.S. based on its relative walkability. Walkability depends upon characteristics of the built environment that influence the likelihood of walking being used as a mode of travel.	🔗		USEPA
Vehicle Inspection Facility Locations	List of all vehicle inspection stations located within New Jersey.	🔗		NJ OIT

Point Cloud Station Scan Data

Name	Description	20mB Download	250 mB Download	Information / Documentation	Source
Hoboken Terminal Main Waiting Area	This is a point cloud scan of the Main Waiting Area in Hoboken Terminal.	🔗	🔗	View on Cloud Compare or plas.io	NJT
Hoboken Terminal Platform Concourse	This is a point cloud scan of the Platform Concourse in Hoboken Terminal.	🔗	🔗	View on Cloud Compare or plas.io	NJT
Hoboken Terminal Upper Floor	This is a point cloud scan of the restricted Upper Floor in Hoboken Terminal.	🔗	🔗	View on Cloud Compare or plas.io	NJT

Other Carriers GTFS Data

Name	Description	Data Set Link	Information / Documentation	Source
Academy Bus	Provides commuter bus services along the East Coast, primarily connecting New Jersey with New York City and surrounding areas; GTFS data available in zip format.	🔗	🔗	Academy Bus
Broadway Bus	Operates local bus services in New Jersey, offering convenient transportation within regional routes; GTFS data available in zip format.	🔗	🔗	NJT
Burlington County Community Shuttle	Offers shuttle services within Burlington County, NJ, aimed at improving mobility for local residents; GTFS data available in zip format.	🔗	🔗	Burlington County
Coach USA	A large bus operator providing commuter, intercity, and charter bus services across multiple regions, including New Jersey and New York; GTFS data available in zip format.	🔗	🔗	Coach USA
Lakeland Bus Lines	Offers commuter bus services primarily between Northwestern New Jersey and New York City, with a focus on connecting suburban areas; GTFS data available in zip format.	🔗	🔗	Lakeland Bus
Seastreak Ferries	Operates ferry services between New Jersey, New York City, and New England, providing scenic and efficient water transport; GTFS data available in zip format.	🔗	🔗	Seastreak
Somerset County Transportation	Offers various public transportation options, including buses and shuttles, serving Somerset County, NJ; GTFS data available in zip format.	🔗	🔗	Somerset County
Sussex County Skylands Ride	Provides public bus services in Sussex County, NJ, primarily serving rural and suburban communities; GTFS data available in zip format.	🔗	🔗	Sussex County
Trans-Bridge Lines	Operates commuter and charter bus services between Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York City, focusing on long-distance travel; GTFS data available in zip format.	🔗	🔗	Trans-Bridge Lines
Tuckerton Seaport	Offers local shuttle services for the Tuckerton Seaport area, promoting access to regional attractions and transportation hubs; GTFS data available in zip format.	🔗	🔗	Tuckerton Seaport
Warren County Transportation Shuttles	Provides shuttle services throughout Warren County, NJ, offering transportation for local communities to key destinations; GTFS data available in zip format.	🔗	🔗	Warren County

GTFS-RT Data

Name	Description	Data Set Link	Login Credentials	Source
General Transit Feed Specification	This is a portal for external developers to access real time NJ TRANSIT Bus and Rail data via our API's.	🔗	View access info in #njtransit channel on the HackRU Discord.	NJT