Riders in urban areas often struggle with unreliable transit schedules, unclear wait times, and a lack of real-time updates, leading to missed connections and frustration. The CapMetro app aims to solve these issues by providing a centralized, digital tool for tracking buses in real time and analyzing route performance. By leveraging public data, it empowers users in Austin to make informed travel decisions and improves confidence in the transit system.
CapMetro is a web-based application that visualizes real-time locations of public buses in Austin, TX. It helps users view active routes, compare scheduled vs. actual arrival times, and explore route reliability through performance analytics. Designed with accessibility and responsiveness in mind, the platform provides a clear and timely picture of public transit operations using open government data.
The CapMetro app simplifies how riders track public buses in Austin by offering a live, interactive map view. Users can either view all active buses system-wide or input a specific route number to see real-time bus locations along that line. Each stop displays both scheduled and actual arrival times, with the data refreshing every 15 seconds for up-to-date accuracy. In addition to real-time tracking, the app includes an analytics page where users can explore historical statistics—such as on-time performance patterns across different routes and times of day. By combining live data with meaningful insights, the app helps riders better plan their commutes and assess transit reliability. All information is sourced from the Texas Open Data Portal and integrated through WebSockets for efficient, low-latency updates.
Real-Time Bus Tracking
- View live locations of all CapMetro buses or filter by specific route numbers
- Map refreshes every 15 seconds, providing up-to-date transit data
- Displays scheduled vs. actual arrival times for each stop
Route & Schedule Analytics
- Access a separate analytics page for historical on-time performance
- Analyze reliability trends based on route and time of day
Smart User Experience
- Interactive map interface powered by Google Maps API
- Select and monitor individual or multiple bus lines
- Overview mode for entire CapMetro network visibility
React.js is used for the front end of the CapMetro app, delivering an interactive and intuitive interface with integrated Google Maps API for live bus visualization. This ensures users can seamlessly browse and monitor real-time transit updates.
Python with Flask (or optionally Node.js) powers the backend, supporting API calls, real-time WebSocket communication, and processing transit data reliably. It handles tasks such as route-specific queries, time comparisons, and analytics rendering.
PostgreSQL and Redis are used for storing structured schedule data and managing live location caching respectively, enabling efficient querying and fast real-time updates.
xiThe app integrates with the Texas Open Data Portal API to source real-time CapMetro bus location and schedule data, and uses WebSockets for a smooth 15-second live refresh experience.
Coming soon!