TTC ScheduleWatch: Turning Live GPS Data into Usable Transit Insights

Where along a streetcar route do transit delays actually happen? While the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) publishes official on-time performance metrics for terminal stops, performance along intermediate stops has historically remained unmeasured. To address this gap, University of Waterloo student Neil Simmons and a team of classmates set out to analyze real-time streetcar tracking data. Connected with FCI Mobility Cluster Lead Dr. Jeff Casello through FCI Director Dr. Leia Minaker, Neil gained access to live GPS feeds to build an early tracking model comparing actual streetcar movements against published schedules.

That initial prototype evolved into TTC ScheduleWatch, an interactive transit monitoring tool created for the TransitData Challenge 2026 in Toronto. Analyzing seven weeks of data across more than 100,000 streetcar trips, the tool reconstructs performance stop by stop rather than relying solely on terminal averages. It categorizes delays by time of day and day of the week, while layering in neighbourhood income data to evaluate where schedule adherence drops most significantly. The platform also generates data-backed schedule adjustments designed to improve accuracy for riders and transit mapping applications.

The project earned first place at the TransitData Challenge 2026. At FCI, our goal is to connect emerging student talent with real municipal challenges and the academic expertise needed to tackle them. TTC ScheduleWatch demonstrates how interdisciplinary mentorship turns complex public data into usable, open-access tools for city builders and transit planners.

Explore the interactive tool at TTC ScheduleWatch.