ODOT Invests in GTFS-flex

Oregon Transit Provider,

Over the past decade, ODOT and Oregon transit providers have invested in the creation and maintenance of General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) data. This investment has benefited the traveling public, transit agencies, transit planners, map makers, transportation modelers, software vendors, and ODOT. One shortcoming of GTFS is that is that it only represents fixed route transit service, so its benefits do not extend to the demand response portion of Oregon’s transit network.

GTFS-flex is an extension of GTFS that can be used to describe demand response service. ODOT has decided to begin investing in the creation and maintenance of GTFS-flex data for Oregon. ODOT contractor Trillium will begin reaching out soon to Oregon transit providers on behalf of ODOT. Trillium will first assemble available information about each agency, then schedule an interview with each agency. They will likely seek data on service areas, service hours, service capacity, rider eligibility requirements, and reservation policies. Over the longer term, ODOT hopes to have all of Oregon’s demand response services represented with up-to-date GTFS-flex data. 

The development of GTFS-flex data for Oregon will be a first step toward the development of GTFS-flex-based products and software. Maps depicting demand response services will likely be the first tangible benefit of GTFS-flex data. Over time, GTFS-flex will become the foundation of an improved directory of transit providers, GTFS-flex based reporting and analysis tools, and door-to-door trip planning that includes demand response options.

H.A. (Hal) Gard
Rail and Public Transit Division Administrator