City Makes Info More Accessible

In an effort to be more open and transparent, the City of Toronto has more information online. Ironically, the news release announcing it is the most confusing thing I've read in awhile. Here are some excerpts:
"The City of Toronto today released nine new datasets and refreshed the existing datasets on toronto.ca/open as part of the OpenTO initiative.

The City launched the Open Data website last year to give the public easier access to City of Toronto data. The data can be downloaded and used freely by the public in various ways, including for research and the development of new applications such as the application created for Doors Open (released May 2010) and another that maps Toronto's licensed child care centres."

What's a dataset? What application created for Doors Open? But the mapping licensed child care centres? That one I get!

Anyway, OpenTO basically gives you access to a whack of information on file with the city. I didn't have the patience to poke through it thoroughly, but there might be some nuggets of gold in there for interested seekers.

Here's more of the "official" scoop:

"The datasets in this latest release include:

- Transportation-related data such as bikeways, road restrictions, location of traffic signals (geographical), traffic signals (tabular), one-way streets and turn restrictions

- 2003 and 2006 past election results

- Utility cut permits

- DineSafe (food premises inspection results)

The refreshed datasets include:

- Municipal address points - Toronto One Address Repository

- Apartment standards

- Business Improvement Areas (BIAs)

- Toronto Centreline

- Licensed child care centres

- Food banks

- Geocoder WSDL web service

- Web map services

- Neighbourhoods

- Parks priority investment neighbourhoods

- Places of worship

- Rent banks

- Bank zones

- Solid waste management districts

- Transit City

- TTC routes and schedules

- City wards

More datasets will become available or refreshed in the future. Each new dataset will be reviewed to ensure that the privacy of the public is protected."

Happy searching!
Vanessa