Embedded Files
More than just a zip file
More than just a zip file
Your GTFS is more than just a set of text files - it is your transit system's service data, compactly organized for use in hundreds of applications and tools.
Major uses of GTFS include:
Major uses of GTFS include:
Trip planners
Applications such as Google Maps and the Transit App use your GTFS to direct riders to services to get from A to B. Some apps may have the ability to provide trip itineraries with inter-agency transfers or multimodal options like bike/scooter-share.
Generating collateral
GTFS can be used to build ADA-accessible web timetables, maps for printing, or interactive fare calculators. By populating all these materials from GTFS data, you can ensure a single 'source of truth' and reduce errors or duplicative efforts.
CAD/AVL/APC/Scheduling software
GTFS is the gold standard for transit data, and using it as a means of connecting disparate parts of your transit technology - from the vehicle trackers to scrolling headsigns to passenger counting - means less work pushing service changes.
Layering transit data on top of other sources of data
Many tools are built to bring transit information into context, such as the livability of a neighborhood, access to different social resources, or terrain. Help raise the profile of your transit services by making sure it is included!
The National Transit Map is a nationwide catalog of fixed-guideway and fixed-route transit service in America that is gleaned from publically available information.
The Transit App is a multi-modal trip planning tool that combines scheduled service, realtime updates, and connecting services to provide riders access to their nearest transit options.
Google Maps connects transit information to Google's trove of information, such as businesses and traffic conditions, allowing riders to see transit options to millions of destinations.
transit.land is a GTFS aggregator that helps connect your GTFS to developers. The site requires some technical expertise to navigate, but the team at Interline is eager to help get your GTFS up to date.
Image from Remix.com
Software Interoperability
Software Interoperability
GTFS can (and should) be the main means of connecting different software tools to ensure that information like stop locations, service headways, and paths of travel remain constant from tool to tool, and vendor to vendor.
Your GTFS should be an integral part of your Transit Stack, a way of organizing and understanding your transit technology.
Going Further With GTFS
Going Further With GTFS
Spotlight: MetroHero App
Spotlight: MetroHero App
MetroHero is a desktop and mobile app that uses WMATA’s GTFS-static and realtime feeds to allow users of the Washington, DC-area transit system to visualize their commute in multiple ways. Users can view real-time vehicle locations, as well as station-level arrival times, service alerts, and elevator or escalator outages.
Users can also set their own Morning and Evening commutes, for easy access to the information they're most likely to use.
The app also allows for extensive analysis of current and historical agency data, even allowing users to carry out a “Live Performance Audit” of WMATA headway adherence at the stop level.
Spotlight: ODOT's TNExT Software
Spotlight: ODOT's TNExT Software
Oregon Department of Transportation has built software to compare GTFS for every agency in the state with data pulled from the US Census. The program integrates Census data so users can generate reports about agency services and service areas, including the number of routes and stops an agency has, and how many different geographies (e.g. counties, Urban Areas, etc.) an agency serves. It works because of ODOT's decade-long effort to produce accurate and up-to-date GTFS for every transit agency, even small senior center shuttles.
ADA-Accessible Timetables
ADA-Accessible Timetables
GTFS-to-HTML is an open source tool that lets you build HTML (web) timetables using your GTFS. There is a web-based version that works with small GTFS files, but larger GTFS may require someone with experience running software scripts on a computer locally.
Open Data 101
Open Data 101
Open Data is non-proprietary, free, and available to anyone for re-use and redistribution.
GTFS is an open data specification and is collaboratively improved and reviewed by participants globally, drawing expertise from transit agencies, operators, data producers, data consumers (like apps), and governmental entities.
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