Twitter announced it would start charging for access to its API, which many transit and government agencies rely on to provide real-time service updates.
Elon Musk’s plan to start charging users of the Twitter application programming interface (API) could mean the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and other transit agencies will lose the ability to post real-time transit updates on the platform, reports Skylar Woodhouse in Bloomberg CityLab.
“According to reporting by Wired, the lowest-cost access to Twitter’s API system could cost companies and public agencies that use it $42,000 a month, or more than $500,000 a year—” a significant amount for an agency already facing a $600 million deficit that is projected to grow to $3 billion in 2025.
The agency’s Twitter alerts temporarily went dark last weekend, but was later reinstated. “Twitter didn’t offer a time line for when older accounts would lose access, the agency said.” The Bay Area Rapid Transit District also had API access problems during the same time. An article in AMNY notes that other government agencies, such as the National Weather Service, were also affected by this weekend’s incident.
FULL STORY: Elon Musk’s Twitter Payment Plan Puts NYC Subway Alerts at Risk
Is Twitter Still an Effective Planning Tool?
Twitter has been a daily dose of drama and upheaval ever since Elon Musk offered to pay over $40 billion to buy the social media platform. Media outlets and public transit agencies had been abandoning the social media platform—should planners?
The Twitter Spat Heard 'Round the Planning World
It's understandable if you were too busy reveling in the holidays to catch the details of a controversy between Elon Musk and Jarrett Walker. The disagreement took on a life of its own on social media.
Salt Lake City to Get Five New Bus Lines
The service improvements come after a year of strong ridership growth.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.
Test News Post 1
This is a summary
Test News Headline 46
Test for the image on the front page.
Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service