title: Too many markers: how to render them server-sided as a tile layer?
body: <p>I'm developing a web-app for public transportation info using Google Maps JavaScript API V.3 as front-end. <strong>But due to high number of markers (transit stations) displayed on the maps, the client-side performance is quite poor</strong>, especially map panning (despite markers being dynamically loaded based on map boundary).</p>
  
  <p>For usability design, clustering markers is not an option. So I am considering <strong>rendering these markers as a separate tile layer on server-side</strong>. Then maybe using google maps event onclick and onmousemove on map object to imitate marker interaction. </p>
  
  <p>The question is: <em>what is a good approach to do this?</em> Which service/API/software/server should I look into that can accomplish this with minimal overhead and learning curve? Could you please point me to the starting point?</p>
  
  <p>I have checked out Google's Fusion Table, but it doesn't allowed custom marker image, therefor not an acceptable alternative.</p>
  
  <p>My project environment is: PHP CodeIgniter on Apache server as  back-end, PostgreSQL 9.2 + PostGis 2.0 as database system, all hosted on an Amazon EC2 small instance server.</p>
  
  <p>PS. My website is at <a href="http://www.bussup.com" rel="nofollow">www.bussup.com</a> , in case you're interested (it's yet to be internationalized so sorry for no English support)</p>