The document discusses problems with conventional transit schedules and how GTFS (General Transit Feed Specification) and tools like WebSchedule can help address these problems. It outlines 4 key points: 1) Conventional schedules are hard to use, 2) GTFS is more than just Google Transit, 3) Online partnerships can leverage Google Transit, 4) WebSchedule is a tool for creating GTFS schedules. The presentation aims to show how agencies can put Google Transit to work for them.

1. Putting Google Transit
to work for your agency
Aaron Antrim, Trillium Solutions
California Public & Community Transportation Conference | 6 Nov 2008

2. PRESENTATION OVERVIEW
1. What’s the problem with conven6onal
schedules?
2. GTFS is more than Google Transit.
3. Online content partnerships to leverage
Google Transit.
4. WebSchedule, a tool for crea6ng GTFS.
Trillium
More riders, fewer hassles

3. PROBLEM: SCHEDULES ARE HARD‐TO‐USE
TRANSIT CENTER
925 E Street
Between 10th & 9th
Transfer to HTA
Bus stops on demand at intersections.
CLOSED ON MAJOR HOLIDAYS:
NEW YEARS DAY • MEMORIAL DAY
MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY • 4TH OF
JULY • LABOR DAY
THANKSGIVING DAY & DAY AFTER
CHRISTMAS DAY & DAY AFTER
Trillium
GENERAL REFERENCE: TRANSPORTATION:
More riders, fewer hassles

4. 2 G at 9th :05 VALLEY WEST 2 G at 9th :05
3 G at 10th :06 3 G at 10th :06
PROBLEM: SCHEDULES ARE HARD‐TO‐USE
4 Pythian Castle :07 16 G at 12th :07
5 11th at K :08 36 G at 14th :07
6 11th at Q :09 38 G at 16th :08
7 Greenview Market :10 39 G at 18th :09
8 Zehndner & S :11 Sunset overcrossing --
9 Zehndner at Q :12 37 HSU Plaza Ave. (Library) :10
L.K. Wood Blvd./to Redwood Ave.* :11
ARCATA & MAD RIVER TRANSIT SYSTEM
DOWNTOWN 7 Greenview Market :10 Sunset to Alliance :15
8 Zehndner & S :11 40 Westwood :17
9 Zehndner at Q :12 41 Alliance at Hilfiker :18
10 11th at Q :13 42 Alliance at Spear :19
11 11th at K :14 43 Janes & Edith (eastside) :21
12 H at 11th :15 45 Lazy J. Tr. Ranch :22
13 Plaza :16
E ective July 2003
14 H at 6th :17 DOWNTOWN 46 McDonalds (Valleywest) :24
Red Route Schedule
Destination
GREENVIEW 1A
Bus Stop
Transit Center
Min. past hour
:05
Gold Route Schedule
Destination
HSU - 1A
Bus Stop
Transit Center
Min. past hour
:05
15 Uniontown Square :19 55 Valleywest Blvd. (south corner) :24
Hallen Drive (Valleywest Mobil Est.) :25
2 G at 9th :05 VALLEY WEST 2 G at 9th :05
3
4
5
G at 10th
Pythian Castle
11th at K
:06
:07
:08
3
16
36
G at 10th
G at 12th
G at 14th
:06
:07
:07
1 City Hall :20 47
Valleyeast (Apt. complex) :25
6 11th at Q :09 38 G at 16th :08
7
8
9
Greenview Market
Zehndner & S
Zehndner at Q
:10
:11
:12
39
37
G at 18th
Sunset overcrossing
HSU Plaza Ave. (Library)
:09
--
:10
56
L.K. Wood Blvd./to Redwood Ave.* :11
DOWNTOWN 7
8
9
Greenview Market
Zehndner & S
Zehndner at Q
:10
:11
:12
40
41
Sunset to Alliance
Westwood
Alliance at Hilfiker
:15
:17
:18
SUNNYBRAE 1A Transit Center :20 48 Town & Country Tr. Villa :28
Alliance at Spear :19
Madriver Gardens/Janes Rd. :30
10 11th at Q :13 42
11
12
13
11th at K
H at 11th
Plaza
:14
:15
:16
DOWNTOWN
43
45
Janes & Edith (eastside)
Lazy J. Tr. Ranch
McDonalds (Valleywest)
:21
:22
:24
2 G at 9th :21 49
Janes & Edith/M.R. Hosp. (westside) :32
14 H at 6th :17 46
15
1
Uniontown Square
City Hall
:19
:20
55
47
56
Valleywest Blvd. (south corner)
Hallen Drive (Valleywest Mobil Est.)
Valleyeast (Apt. complex)
Town & Country Tr. Villa
:24
:25
:25
:28
3 G at 10th :21 50
Alliance Corners Spear Ave. :34
SUNNYBRAE 1A Transit Center :20 48
2
3
32
G at 9th
G at 10th
11th at F
B at 11th
:21
:21
:22
:23
49
50
51
Madriver Gardens/Janes Rd.
Janes & Edith/M.R. Hosp. (westside)
Alliance Corners Spear Ave.
Alliance & Hilfiker (Humboldt Plaza)
:30
:32
:34
:35
32 11th at F :22 51
Alliance & Hilfiker (Humboldt Plaza) :35
33 52
29
37
18
14th at B
HSU (Library)
14th at B
14th at Union
:24
:26
:28
:29
40 Westwood Market (Alliance & Stromberg)
Sunset Run (Alliance & Foster Ave.)
LKWood Blvd. to Redwood Ave.*
HSU Plaza Ave. (Library)
:36
:38
:39
:45
33 B at 11th :23 52
Westwood Market (Alliance & Stromberg) :36
20 37
21
21 A
Union at 11th
Community Center
(10:30 to 2:30 or on request)
Colony Inn
:30
:31
:33
53
54
12
H & 18th
H & 16th
H & 14th
H & 11th
:48
:49
:50
:51
29 14th at B :24 40
Sunset Run (Alliance & Foster Ave.) :38
22
23
24
Sunnybrae Prof. Bldg.
Sunnybrae Centre
Sunnybrae Loop
:34
:35
:37
13
14
15
1
H & 9th Plaza
H & 6th
Uniontown Shopping Center
City Hall 7th & F St.
:52
:53
:55
:55
37 HSU (Library) :26
DOWNTOWN
24
25
Sunnybrae Loop
Sunnybrae Centre
Crescent Way
:37
:41
:42
1A Transit Center (off F. between 9th & 10th) :57
18 14th at B :28 LKWood Blvd. to Redwood Ave.* :39
Equinox School :44
HSU Plaza Ave. (Library) :45
26 BUSES SERVING L.K. WOOD BLVD. STOP ONLY
27
28
29
Union at 11th
14th at Union
14th at B
:45
:46
:47
ON EAST SIDE OF STREET.
20 14th at Union :29 37
HSU (Library) :50
HOURS OF OPERATION:
H & 18th :48
37
30
31
12
13
LK Wood at 14th
14th West of G
H at 11th
Plaza
:51
:52
:53
:54
21 Union at 11th :30 53
14
15
1
H at 6th
Uniontown Square
City Hall
:55
:56
:57
21 A Community Center :31 54 H & 16th :49
1A Transit Center :57
SATURDAY:
GOLD ROUTE ON EVEN HOURS (10:30 to 2:30 or on request) H & 14th :50
RED ROUTE ON ODD HOURS
22 Colony Inn :33 12 H & 11th :51
5
The Arcata & Mad River Transit System was initi-
ated by the Arcata City Council to provide an
Fares
Bus driver carries no change
23 Sunnybrae Prof. Bldg. :34 13 H & 9th Plaza :52
6
6
alternative form of transportation within the city
limits for all citizens, with the objectives of
saving energy and serving groups such as senior
citizens and students.
24 Sunnybrae Centre :35 14 H & 6th :53
4
2
5
The cost of the system is o set by fares (25%)
and revenues obtained from a portion of the state
Available on the bus & transit center
Sunnybrae Loop :37 15 Uniontown Shopping Center :55
5 sales tax on gasoline (75%).
1
0
A&MRTS is convenient and comfortable—ser
to within ¼ mile of most city residents . . .
ving
Regular Fare
1 City Hall 7th & F St. :55
Transit Center (off F. between 9th & 10th) :57
6 For information call: Senior Citizen
L
822-3775
Ticket Books -
Ten Tickets for $2.00
65 & Up
DOWNTOWN Sunnybrae Loop :37 1A
Children
Group Rates Available for
Age 3-6
Children. Call (707) 822-3775
24 Sunnybrae Centre :41
HSU Students, Faculty & Sta
with current HSU I.D.
25 Crescent Way :42
cash subsidy to City from
parking nes at HSU.
26 Equinox School :44 BUSES SERVING L.K. WOOD BLVD. STOP ONLY
27 Union at 11th :45
28 14th at Union :46
ON EAST SIDE OF STREET.
29 14th at B :47
37
30
HSU (Library)
LK Wood at 14th
:50
:51 HOURS OF OPERATION:
31 14th West of G :52
12 H at 11th :53
13 Plaza :54
14 H at 6th :55
15 Uniontown Square :56
1 City Hall :57
Trillium
1A Transit Center :57
SATURDAY:
More riders, fewer hassles

5. PROBLEM: SCHEDULES ARE HARD‐TO‐USE
N O R T H B O U N D
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Trillium
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6. PROBLEM: SCHEDULES ARE HARD‐TO‐USE
Study Result:
Almost half of par6cipants were
unable to correctly iden6fy bus
6mes using the tabular schedules.
Design Elements of EffecBve Transit InformaBon Materials,
Na#onal Center for Transit Research at the University of South Florida
(h;p://www.nctr.usf.edu/pdf/527‐12.pdf)
Trillium
More riders, fewer hassles

7. SOLUTION: ONLINE TRAVEL INFO
The third most common internet ac6vity
for Americans is to “search for a map or
driving direcBons,” (87%) behind only
email and using search engines.
Pew Internet & American Life Project,
(h;p://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/PIP_Internet_and_Daily_Life.pdf)
Trillium
More riders, fewer hassles

8. GTFS:
MORE THAN GOOGLE TRANSIT

9. GTFS: More than Google Transit
mtsotp.com: Public Transporta6on stop and service finder

10. GTFS: More than Google Transit
transitmaps.org

12. GTFS: More than Google Transit
Sendero GPS

13. TimeTable Publisher
a free, open source app from our friends at TriMet
TimeTable Publisher

14. TimeTable Publisher
creates beau#ful PDF schedules
108-H Line
Weekday Inbound
Space Sciences
Berkeley BART
Lawrence Hall
Lawrence Hall
Hearst Mining
Hearst Mining
UC Botanical
UC Botanical
Recreational
Recreational
Stop ID 2532
Stop ID 2590
Stop ID 2592
Stop ID 2579
Stop ID 2589
Stop ID 2539
Stop ID 2553
Stop ID 2551
Stop ID 2532
Evans Hall:
Evans Hall:
Strawberry
Strawberry
Circle Side
Circle Side
Downtown
of Science
of Science
Avenue @
Lab/MSRI
Shattuck
Station:
Canyon
Canyon
Garden
Garden
Area
Area
7:35 7:40 7:45 7:47 7:49 7:55 7:57 7:59 8:01 8:05
— 8:10 8:15 8:17 8:19 8:25 8:27 8:29 8:31 8:35
— 8:40 8:45 8:47 8:49 8:55 8:57 8:59 9:01 9:05
— 9:10 9:15 9:17 9:19 9:25 9:27 9:29 9:31 9:35
— 9:40 9:45 9:47 9:49 9:55 9:57 9:59 10:01 10:05
— 10:10 10:15 10:17 10:19 10:25 10:27 10:29 10:31 10:35
— 10:40 10:45 10:47 10:49 10:55 10:57 10:59 11:01 11:05
— 11:10 11:15 11:17 11:19 11:25 11:27 11:29 11:31 11:35
— 11:40 11:45 11:47 11:49 11:55 11:57 11:59 12:01 12:05
— 12:10 12:15 12:17 12:19 12:25 12:27 12:29 12:31 12:35
— 12:40 12:45 12:47 12:49 12:55 12:57 12:59 1:01 1:05
— 1:10 1:15 1:17 1:19 1:25 1:27 1:29 1:31 1:35
— 1:40 1:45 1:47 1:49 1:55 1:57 1:59 2:01 2:05
— 2:10 2:15 2:17 2:19 2:25 2:27 2:29 2:31 2:35
— 2:40 2:45 2:47 2:49 2:55 2:57 2:59 3:01 3:05
— 3:10 3:15 3:17 3:19 3:25 3:27 3:29 3:31 3:35
— 3:40 3:45 3:47 3:49 3:55 3:57 3:59 4:01 4:05
— 4:10 4:15 4:17 4:19 4:25 4:27 4:29 4:31 4:35
— 4:40 4:45 4:47 4:49 4:55 4:57 4:59 5:01 5:05
— 5:10 5:15 5:17 5:19 5:25 5:27 5:29 5:31 5:35
— 5:40 5:45 5:47 5:49 5:55 5:57 5:59 6:01 6:05
6:40 6:10 6:15 6:17 6:19 6:25 6:27 6:29 6:31 6:35
6:55 7:00 7:02 7:04 7:06 7:15 7:17 7:19 7:21 7:23

15. TimeTable Publisher
powerful compare tools eliminate hours or even days of #metable proofing
TimeTable publisher takes
what was a mul6‐day
process of proofreading
schedules into a few hour
long process of
automa6cally outpuSng
schedules.
For more, see www.6metablepublisher.org

16. MAKE THE MOST OF GOOGLE TRANSIT
WITH EARNED MEDIA

17. Leveraging Google Transit
Online event calendar integra6on
for more off‐peak riders
North Coast Journal,
Humboldt County California

19. HTA.ORG
HTA.ORG

20. GetSaBsfacBon.com: User‐powered customer service

21. Who should put data on Google Transit?
quot;The most reliable source for data is the one that
is ultimately responsible for the data. For transit
data this source is a transit agency, not a regional
transit authority, not a clearinghouse, not a DOT.
Introducing a third party data provider is not
efficient, cost-effective, or warranted with today's
web technologies and standards. Nor has this
approach historically proven to be effective, as
only the authority over the data has an inherent
vested interest in its accuracy and precision.quot;
Bibiana McHugh,
IT Manager for GIS and Location-Based Systems,
TriMet, Portland

23. Questions?
Trillium
More riders, fewer hassles

24. Who should put data on Google Transit?
quot;We want to provide the most accurate and up to
date information to our customers in a timely
manner without adding overhead to our process.
Making our data readily available on the web is the
easiest, most direct and efficient method.
Introducing a data clearing house as a barrier
between us and our customers just doesn't make
sense. If a clearing house could add value to the
data we make available, it's right there for them to
use.”
Tim McHugh,
Chief Technology Officer,
TriMet, Portland