Prep for a call: printable one-page brief · For your board packet: printable one-pager · Compare with another agency · Watch this feed: get an email before it expires
Feed status · checked 2026-07-09
Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)
Based on the feed this agency publishes
down 0.4 since 2026-07-08
Ahead of 9% of all tracked agencies and 18% of large agencies. Operates in Illinois.
A data-quality and completeness lens to help an agency improve its GTFS feed. Not an official compliance determination from any transit program. New to this? How to read your scorecard. Interactive view of this scorecard. Rubric v1.1, validator 8.0.1.
Checked for changes 15 minutes ago; last changed 17 days ago.
Measured 3 of 4 score categories from the agency's own feed.
How we measured this
Confidence in this measurement: medium.
- Realtime quality was not measured this run. It does not count against the grade.
- The feed was downloaded from the agency's own URL.
Confidence describes how much the pipeline could measure this run, not the feed itself. It never changes the grade.
Top things to fix
Re-export with a validity window that reaches at least 60 days out.Likely your export tool
Service data runs out in 22 day(s). When the calendar runs out, trip planners stop showing this agency. Fixing it now is calmer than after riders notice.
⏱ One export setting.worth about +58 points
Agencies here usually clear this within about 1 week (based on 61 observed fixes).
Review the rule documentation for 'equal_shape_distance_diff_coordinates' at https://gtfs-validator.mobilitydata.org/rules.html and check the flagged rows in your feed.
Equal shape distance diff coordinates (flagged by the MobilityData validator). See the linked rule for what this affects.
⏱ Varies.worth about +24 points
Populate trip_headsign to match what the bus displays.Likely your export tool
94420 of 94420 trips have no headsign. Riders at the stop can't tell which direction a bus is going.
⏱ Usually a bulk edit in your scheduling software.worth about +15 points
Close the loop on each fix. Read the guide, make the change in your tool, and let the next run verify it — the scorecard shows the fix; the agency publishes it.
Re-export with a validity window that reaches at least 60 days out. · Read the fix guide
Make the change. Make this change in whatever tool produces your feed, then re-export.
Prove it cleared. The next scorecard run re-checks this automatically and, once it is gone, mints a dated receipt. Self-check a feed before you publish.
Review the rule documentation for 'equal_shape_distance_diff_coordinates' at https://gtfs-validator.mobilitydata.org/rules.html and check the flagged rows in your feed.
Make the change. Make this change in whatever tool produces your feed, then re-export.
Prove it cleared. The next scorecard run re-checks this automatically and, once it is gone, mints a dated receipt. Self-check a feed before you publish.
Populate trip_headsign to match what the bus displays. · Read the fix guide
Make the change. Make this change in whatever tool produces your feed, then re-export.
Prove it cleared. The next scorecard run re-checks this automatically and, once it is gone, mints a dated receipt. Self-check a feed before you publish.
Send your vendor a fix request
You may not control the GTFS export yourself. Copy this and send it to whoever runs your scheduling software export. It names each fix with the validator notice and a guide link.
Send the agency a note
Supporting this agency? Copy this and email it to them. It names what lapsed, why it matters to riders, and the one setting to change.
Score by category
The MobilityData validator flagged 12 kinds of issue across 161717 instances (102962 error, 1635 warning, 57120 informational).
Service data runs out in 22 day(s). Publish an updated feed soon or riders will lose trip planning.
100% of stops state wheelchair accessibility (99% marked accessible, 1% marked not accessible). This measures what the feed publishes, not whether a stop is physically usable. Fare data is not published.
100% of stops state accessibility (99% marked accessible). Reflects what the feed states, not verified physical usability.
Not scored yet. Nothing here counts against the grade.
Routes and stops
Each route is drawn once, using the longest shape its trips follow; stops are the dots.
Skip to route and stop dataBasemap: OpenFreeMap, © OpenStreetMap contributors. Routes and stops: this agency's GTFS feed.
- 1 (gray)
- 10 (red)
- 100 (red)
- 103 (gray)
- 106 (gray)
- 108 (gray)
- 11 (gray)
- 111 (gray)
- 111A (gray)
- 112 (gray)
- 115 (gray)
- 119 (gray)
- 12 (green)
- 120 (red)
- 121 (red)
- 124 (gray)
- 125 (red)
- 126 (gray)
- 130 (gray)
- 134 (red)
- 135 (red)
- 136 (red)
- 143 (red)
- 146 (red)
- 147 (red)
- 148 (red)
- 15 (gray)
- 151 (gray)
- 152 (gray)
- 155 (gray)
- 156 (gray)
- 157 (gray)
- 165 (gray)
- 169 (gray)
- 171 (gray)
- 172 (gray)
- 18 (gray)
- 192 (gray)
- 2 (red)
- 20 (green)
- 201 (gray)
- 206 (gray)
- 21 (gray)
- 22 (gray)
- 24 (gray)
- 26 (red)
- 28 (gray)
- 29 (gray)
- 3 (gray)
- 30 (gray)
- 31 (gray)
- 34 (green)
- 35 (gray)
- 36 (gray)
- 37 (gray)
- 39 (gray)
- 4 (green)
- 43 (gray)
- 44 (gray)
- 47 (green)
- 48 (gray)
- 49 (green)
- 49B (gray)
- 50 (gray)
- 51 (gray)
- 52 (gray)
- 52A (gray)
- 53 (green)
- 53A (gray)
- 54 (green)
- 54A (gray)
- 54B (gray)
- 55 (green)
- 55A (gray)
- 55N (gray)
- 56 (gray)
- 57 (gray)
- 59 (gray)
- 6 (red)
- 60 (green)
- 62 (gray)
- 62H (gray)
- 63 (green)
- 63W (gray)
- 65 (gray)
- 66 (green)
- 67 (gray)
- 68 (gray)
- 7 (gray)
- 70 (gray)
- 71 (gray)
- 72 (green)
- 73 (gray)
- 74 (gray)
- 75 (gray)
- 76 (gray)
- 77 (green)
- 78 (gray)
- 79 (green)
- 8 (gray)
- 80 (gray)
- 81 (green)
- 81W (gray)
- 82 (green)
- 84 (gray)
- 85 (gray)
- 85A (gray)
- 86 (gray)
- 87 (gray)
- 88 (gray)
- 8A (gray)
- 9 (green)
- 90 (gray)
- 91 (gray)
- 92 (gray)
- 93 (gray)
- 94 (gray)
- 95 (green)
- 96 (gray)
- 97 (gray)
- Blue Line (teal)
- Brown Line (brown)
- Green Line (green)
- J14 (teal)
- N5 (gray)
- Orange Line (red)
- Purple Line (purple)
- Pink Line (pink)
- Red Line (red)
- X4 (red)
- X49 (red)
- X9 (red)
- Yellow Line (yellow)
| Route | Type | Line color |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Bronzeville/Union Station | Bus | gray |
| 10 Obama Presidential Center/Museum of Science & Industry Express | Bus | red |
| 100 Jeffery Manor Express | Bus | red |
| 103 West 103rd | Bus | gray |
| 106 East 103rd | Bus | gray |
| 108 Halsted/95th | Bus | gray |
| 11 Lincoln | Bus | gray |
| 111 111th/King Drive | Bus | gray |
| 111A Pullman Shuttle | Bus | gray |
| 112 Vincennes/111th | Bus | gray |
| 115 Pullman/115th | Bus | gray |
| 119 Michigan/119th | Bus | gray |
| 12 Roosevelt | Bus | green |
| 120 Ogilvie/Streeterville Express | Bus | red |
| 121 Union/Streeterville Express | Bus | red |
| 124 Navy Pier | Bus | gray |
| 125 Water Tower Express | Bus | red |
| 126 Jackson | Bus | gray |
| 130 Museum Campus | Bus | gray |
| 134 Stockton/LaSalle Express | Bus | red |
| 135 Clarendon/LaSalle Express | Bus | red |
| 136 Sheridan/LaSalle Express | Bus | red |
| 143 Stockton/Michigan Express | Bus | red |
| 146 Inner Lake Shore/Michigan Express | Bus | red |
| 147 Outer DuSable Lake Shore Express | Bus | red |
| 148 Clarendon/Michigan Express | Bus | red |
| 15 Jeffery Local | Bus | gray |
| 151 Sheridan | Bus | gray |
| 152 Addison | Bus | gray |
| 155 Devon | Bus | gray |
| 156 LaSalle | Bus | gray |
| 157 Streeterville/Taylor | Bus | gray |
| 165 West 65th | Bus | gray |
| 169 69th/UPS Express | Bus | gray |
| 171 U. of Chicago/Hyde Park | Bus | gray |
| 172 U. of Chicago/Kenwood | Bus | gray |
| 18 16th/18th | Bus | gray |
| 192 University of Chicago Hospitals Express | Bus | gray |
| 2 Hyde Park Express | Bus | red |
| 20 Madison | Bus | green |
| 201 Central/Ridge | Bus | gray |
| 206 Evanston Circulator | Bus | gray |
| 21 Cermak | Bus | gray |
| 22 Clark | Bus | gray |
| 24 Wentworth | Bus | gray |
| 26 South Shore Express | Bus | red |
| 28 Stony Island | Bus | gray |
| 29 State | Bus | gray |
| 3 King Drive | Bus | gray |
| 30 South Chicago | Bus | gray |
| 31 31st | Bus | gray |
| 34 South Michigan | Bus | green |
| 35 31st/35th | Bus | gray |
| 36 Broadway | Bus | gray |
| 37 Sedgwick | Bus | gray |
| 39 Pershing | Bus | gray |
| 4 Cottage Grove | Bus | green |
| 43 43rd | Bus | gray |
| 44 Wallace/Racine | Bus | gray |
| 47 47th | Bus | green |
| 48 South Damen | Bus | gray |
| 49 Western | Bus | green |
| 49B North Western | Bus | gray |
| 50 Damen | Bus | gray |
| 51 51st | Bus | gray |
| 52 Kedzie | Bus | gray |
| 52A South Kedzie | Bus | gray |
| 53 Pulaski | Bus | green |
| 53A South Pulaski | Bus | gray |
| 54 Cicero | Bus | green |
| 54A North Cicero/Skokie Blvd. | Bus | gray |
| 54B South Cicero | Bus | gray |
| 55 Garfield | Bus | green |
| 55A 55th/Austin | Bus | gray |
| 55N 55th/Narragansett | Bus | gray |
| 56 Milwaukee | Bus | gray |
| 57 Laramie | Bus | gray |
| 59 59th/61st | Bus | gray |
| 6 Jackson Park Express | Bus | red |
| 60 Blue Island/26th | Bus | green |
| 62 Archer | Bus | gray |
| 62H Archer/Harlem | Bus | gray |
| 63 63rd | Bus | green |
| 63W West 63rd | Bus | gray |
| 65 Grand | Bus | gray |
| 66 Chicago | Bus | green |
| 67 67th/69th/71st | Bus | gray |
| 68 Northwest Highway | Bus | gray |
| 7 Harrison | Bus | gray |
| 70 Division | Bus | gray |
| 71 71st/South Shore | Bus | gray |
| 72 North | Bus | green |
| 73 Armitage | Bus | gray |
| 74 Fullerton | Bus | gray |
| 75 74th/75th | Bus | gray |
| 76 Diversey | Bus | gray |
| 77 Belmont | Bus | green |
| 78 Montrose | Bus | gray |
| 79 79th | Bus | green |
| 8 Halsted | Bus | gray |
| 80 Irving Park | Bus | gray |
| 81 Lawrence | Bus | green |
| 81W West Lawrence | Bus | gray |
| 82 Kimball/Homan | Bus | green |
| 84 Peterson | Bus | gray |
| 85 Central | Bus | gray |
| 85A North Central | Bus | gray |
| 86 Narragansett/Ridgeland | Bus | gray |
| 87 87th | Bus | gray |
| 88 Higgins | Bus | gray |
| 8A South Halsted | Bus | gray |
| 9 Ashland | Bus | green |
| 90 Harlem | Bus | gray |
| 91 Austin | Bus | gray |
| 92 Foster | Bus | gray |
| 93 California/Dodge | Bus | gray |
| 94 California | Bus | gray |
| 95 95th | Bus | green |
| 96 Lunt | Bus | gray |
| 97 Skokie | Bus | gray |
| Blue Line | Subway / metro | teal |
| Brown Line | Subway / metro | brown |
| Green Line | Subway / metro | green |
| J14 Jeffery Jump | Bus | teal |
| N5 South Shore Night Bus | Bus | gray |
| Orange Line | Subway / metro | red |
| Purple Line | Subway / metro | purple |
| Pink Line | Subway / metro | pink |
| Red Line | Subway / metro | red |
| X4 Cottage Grove Express | Bus | red |
| X49 Western Express | Bus | red |
| X9 Ashland Express | Bus | red |
| Yellow Line | Subway / metro | yellow |
This feed has 11177 stops.
List every stop
- Jackson & Austin Terminal
- Jackson & Leamington
- 1900 W Van Buren
- North Ave & Nordica
- Kedzie & 77th Street
- Kedzie & 72nd Street
- Kedzie & Marquette Rd
- Kedzie & 66th Street
- Kedzie & 65th Street
- Kedzie & 64th Street
- North Ave & Neva
- Kedzie & 64th Street
- Kedzie & 65th Street
- Kedzie & 66th Street
- Kedzie & Marquette Rd
- Kedzie & 71st Street
- Kedzie & 72nd Street
- Kedzie & 73rd Street
- Harlem & North Ave
- Kedzie & 77th Street
- Kedzie & 78th Street
- Kedzie & 79th Street
- Kedzie & 80th Street
- Kedzie & 81st Street
- Kedzie & 82nd Street
- Kedzie & 83rd Street
- Kedzie & 84th Street
- Kedzie & 85th Street
- 8600 S Kedzie
- Kedzie & 87th Street
- Kedzie & 88th Street
- Kedzie & 89th Street
- Kedzie & 90th Street
- Kedzie & 91st Street
- Kedzie & 92nd Street
- Kedzie & 93rd Street
- Kedzie & 94th Street
- Kedzie & 95th Street
- Kedzie & 96th Street
- Harlem & Wabansia
- Kedzie & 97th Street
- Kedzie & 98th Street
- Kedzie & 99th Street
- Kedzie & 100th Street
- Kedzie & 101st Street
- Kedzie & 102nd Street
- Kedzie & 103rd Street
- Kedzie & 104th Street
- Kedzie & 105th Street
- Kedzie & 106th Street
- Wabansia & Neva
- Kedzie & 108th Street
- Kedzie & 109th Street
- Kedzie & 110th Street
- Kedzie & 111th Street
- Kedzie & 112th Street
- Kedzie & 113th Street
- Kedzie & 114th Street
- Kedzie & 115th Street
- 115th Street & Spaulding
- 115th Street & Homan
- 115th Street & St. Louis
- 115th Street & Central Park
- 115th Street & Lawndale
- 115th Street & Hamlin
- 115th Street & Springfield Terminal
- 67th Street & Oglesby Terminal
- 67th Street & Stony Island
- 67th Street & Blackstone
- 67th Street & Dorchester
- 67th Street & Kenwood
- 67th Street & Kimbark
- 67th Street & Woodlawn
- 67th Street & Minerva
- 67th Street & University
- 67th Street & Greenwood
- 67th Street & Ellis
- 67th Street & Ingleside
- 67th Street & Drexel
- 67th Street & Cottage Grove
- 67th Street & Langley
- 67th Street & St. Lawrence
- Rhodes & 67th Street
- Rhodes & 68th Street
- Keefe & South Chicago
- 69th Street & Perry
- 69th Street & Wentworth
- 69th Street & Princeton
- 69th Street & Harvard
- 69th Street & Stewart
- 69th Street & Normal
- 69th Street & Lowe
- 69th Street & Union
- 69th Street & Halsted
- 69th Street & Peoria
- 69th Street & Morgan
- Van Buren & Damen
- 69th Street & Aberdeen
- 69th Street & Racine
- 69th Street & Throop
- 69th Street & Loomis
- 69th Street & Laflin
- 69th Street & Ashland
- 69th Street & Paulina
- Howard & Sheridan
- 69th Street & Wood
- 69th Street & Wolcott
- 69th Street & Damen
- 69th Street & Hoyne
- 69th Street & Bell
- 69th Street & Oakley
- Western & 69th Street
- 71st Street & Campbell
- 71st Street & Rockwell
- Sheridan & Birchwood
- 71st Street & California
- 71st Street & Spaulding
- 71st Street & Homan
- 71st Street & St. Louis
- 71st Street & Central Park
- 71st Street & Lawndale
- 71st Street & Hamlin
- 71st Street & Springfield
- 71st Street & Pulaski
- 71st Street & Springfield
- 71st Street & Hamlin
- 71st Street & Lawndale
- 3600 W 71st Street
- 71st Street & St. Louis
- 71st Street & Homan
- 71st Street & Spaulding
- Sheridan & Jarvis
- 71st Street & Kedzie
- 71st Street & Albany
- 71st Street & Washtenaw
- 71st Street & Rockwell
- 71st Street & Campbell
- Western & 71st Street
- 69th Street & Oakley
- 69th Street & Bell
- Sheridan & Sherwin
- 69th Street & Hoyne
- 69th Street & Damen
- 69th Street & Wolcott
- 69th Street & Wood
- 69th Street & Paulina
- 69th Street & Laflin
- Sheridan & Chase
- 69th Street & Loomis
- 69th Street & Throop
- 69th Street & Racine
- 69th Street & Aberdeen
- 69th Street & Morgan
- 69th Street & Peoria
- 69th Street & Halsted
- 69th Street & Union
- Sheridan & Touhy
- 69th Street & Lowe
- 69th Street & Normal
- 69th Street & Stewart
- 69th Street & Harvard
- 69th Street & Princeton
- 69th Street & Wentworth
- 69th Street & Perry
- 69th Red Line Station
- 69th Street & State
- Sheridan & Estes
- Rhodes & 68th Street
- Rhodes & 67th Street
- 67th Street & St. Lawrence
- 67th Street & Langley
- 67th Street & Cottage Grove
- 67th Street & Drexel
- 67th Street & Ingleside
- 67th Street & Ellis
- 67th Street & Greenwood
- 67th Street & University
- 67th Street & Minerva
- 67th Street & Woodlawn
- 67th Street & Kimbark
- 67th Street & Kenwood
- 67th Street & Dorchester
- 67th Street & Blackstone
- 67th Street & Stony Island
- La Rabida Hospital
- Cicero & Pensacola Terminal
- Sheridan & Lunt
- Cicero & Cullom
- Cicero & Belle Plaine
- Cicero & Irving Park/Milwaukee
- Cicero & Byron
- Cicero & Grace
- Cicero & Waveland
- Cicero & Addison
- Cicero & Cornelia
- Sheridan & Morse
- Cicero & Roscoe
- Cicero & School
- Cicero & George
- Cicero & Diversey
- Cicero & Wrightwood
- Cicero & Dickens
- Cicero & Armitage
- Cicero & Cortland
- Cicero & Grand
- Cicero & Wabansia
- Cicero & North Ave
- Cicero & Le Moyne
- Sheridan & Pratt
- Cicero & Hirsch
- Cicero & Potomac
- Cicero & Thomas
- Cicero & Iowa
- Cicero & Huron
- Cicero & Hubbard
- Cicero & Lake (Green Line)
- Cicero & Adams
- Cicero & Jackson
- Cicero & Van Buren
- Sheridan & North Shore
- Cicero & Congress
- Cicero & Harrison
- Cicero Blue Line Station
- Cicero & Polk
- Cicero & Fifth Avenue
- Cicero & Roosevelt
- Cicero & 13th Street
- Cicero & 14th Street
- Cicero & 15th Street
- Cicero & 18th Street
- Cicero & 21st Place (Pink Line)
- Cicero & Cermak
- Cicero & 24th Place Terminal
- Sheridan & Loyola (Red Line)
- Cicero & Cermak (Pink Line)
- Cicero & 21st Street
- Cicero & 18th Street
- Cicero & 16th Street
- Cicero & 15th Street
- Cicero & 14th Street
- Sheridan & Arthur
- Cicero & 13th Street
- Cicero & Fifth Avenue
- Cicero & Polk
- Cicero & Lexington (Blue Line)
- Cicero & Harrison
- Cicero & Congress Parkway
- Cicero & Van Buren
- Sheridan & Broadway/Devon
- Cicero & Madison
- and 10927 more (see the full list on the map or in the GeoJSON)
Over time
Overall score across the last 20 checks — down 0.4 since 2026-07-08.
Show the numbers
| Check | Score | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-19 | 44.7 | first check |
| 2026-06-20 | 44.2 | down 0.5 |
| 2026-06-21 | 43.8 | down 0.4 |
| 2026-06-22 | 43.4 | down 0.4 |
| 2026-06-23 | 43.0 | down 0.4 |
| 2026-06-24 | 42.6 | down 0.4 |
| 2026-06-25 | 42.2 | down 0.4 |
| 2026-06-26 | 41.7 | down 0.5 |
| 2026-06-27 | 41.3 | down 0.4 |
| 2026-06-28 | 40.9 | down 0.4 |
| 2026-06-29 | 40.5 | down 0.4 |
| 2026-06-30 | 40.1 | down 0.4 |
| 2026-07-01 | 39.7 | down 0.4 |
| 2026-07-02 | 39.2 | down 0.5 |
| 2026-07-04 | 38.4 | down 0.8 |
| 2026-07-05 | 38.0 | down 0.4 |
| 2026-07-06 | 37.6 | down 0.4 |
| 2026-07-07 | 37.2 | down 0.4 |
| 2026-07-08 | 36.7 | down 0.5 |
| 2026-07-09 | 36.3 | down 0.4 |
What changed since your last check
- Correctness no change
- Freshness down 1.6
- Rider experience no change
What changed in this feed
Overall score fell 0.4 points since 2026-07-08.
Same feed file as 2026-07-08; the published zip did not change.
Subscribe to this feed’s changes (Atom) to hear about grade drops in a reader, with no sign-up.
What changed over time
On 2026-06-19 this feed started at grade F. On 2026-07-01 feed entered the expiry window (30 days of service left). As of 2026-07-09 it holds grade F.
A plain-language history of this feed, newest first.
- 2026-07-01 Feed entered the expiry window (30 days of service left).
Everything we checked
- Error102962 instances
Equal shape distance diff coordinates (flagged by the MobilityData validator).
See the linked rule for what this affects.
Fix: Review the rule documentation for 'equal_shape_distance_diff_coordinates' at https://gtfs-validator.mobilitydata.org/rules.html and check the flagged rows in your feed. (Varies.)
Validator rule: equal_shape_distance_diff_coordinates · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)
- Warning94420 instances
94420 of 94420 trips have no headsign.
Riders at the stop can't tell which direction a bus is going.
Fix: Populate trip_headsign to match what the bus displays. (Usually a bulk edit in your scheduling software.)
Validator rule: scorecard_missing_headsigns · Read the fix guide · See GTFS Best Practices (opens GTFS Best Practices on an external site)
- Warning1114 instances
Equal shape distance diff coordinates distance below threshold (flagged by the MobilityData validator).
See the linked rule for what this affects.
Fix: Review the rule documentation for 'equal_shape_distance_diff_coordinates_distance_below_threshold' at https://gtfs-validator.mobilitydata.org/rules.html and check the flagged rows in your feed. (Varies.)
Validator rule: equal_shape_distance_diff_coordinates_distance_below_threshold · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)
- Warning406 instances
Equal shape distance same coordinates (flagged by the MobilityData validator).
See the linked rule for what this affects.
Fix: Review the rule documentation for 'equal_shape_distance_same_coordinates' at https://gtfs-validator.mobilitydata.org/rules.html and check the flagged rows in your feed. (Varies.)
Validator rule: equal_shape_distance_same_coordinates · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)
- Warning42 instances
Some service calendars in the feed have already ended.
Expired calendars are dead weight and can hide real schedule problems from your staff and vendors.
Fix: Remove past service periods the next time you export the feed. (One setting in most export tools.)
Agencies here usually clear this within about 1 week (based on 61 observed fixes).
Validator rule: expired_calendar · Read the fix guide · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)
- Warning36 instances
Some rider-facing names are in ALL CAPS or all lowercase.
ALL-CAPS stop and headsign names are harder to read in apps and are read awkwardly by screen readers.
Fix: Use mixed case for stop names and headsigns (e.g. 'Main St & 2nd Ave', not 'MAIN ST & 2ND AVE'). (Often a bulk fix in your scheduling software.)
Validator rule: mixed_case_recommended_field · Read the fix guide · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)
- Warning24 instances
Stop too far from shape using user distance (flagged by the MobilityData validator).
See the linked rule for what this affects.
Fix: Review the rule documentation for 'stop_too_far_from_shape_using_user_distance' at https://gtfs-validator.mobilitydata.org/rules.html and check the flagged rows in your feed. (Varies.)
Agencies here usually clear this within about 1 week (based on 6 observed fixes).
Validator rule: stop_too_far_from_shape_using_user_distance · Read the fix guide · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)
- Warning9 instances
Some stops sit far from the route line they belong to.
Trip planners may draw the bus route through the wrong streets or point riders to the wrong corner.
Fix: Check the flagged stops' coordinates and the route shape in your scheduling software; re-snap whichever is misplaced. (A few minutes per flagged stop.)
Agencies here usually clear this within about 2 weeks (based on 6 observed fixes).
Validator rule: stop_too_far_from_shape · Read the fix guide · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)
- Warning3 instances
Leading or trailing whitespaces (flagged by the MobilityData validator).
See the linked rule for what this affects.
Fix: Review the rule documentation for 'leading_or_trailing_whitespaces' at https://gtfs-validator.mobilitydata.org/rules.html and check the flagged rows in your feed. (Varies.)
Validator rule: leading_or_trailing_whitespaces · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)
- Warning1 instance
A file GTFS asks for (usually feed_info.txt) is missing.
feed_info.txt tells apps who publishes the feed and when it expires; without it nobody is warned before data goes stale.
Fix: Add feed_info.txt with publisher name, URL, language, and feed_start_date/feed_end_date. (One small file, set once in export settings.)
Agencies here usually clear this within about 1 week (based on 13 observed fixes).
Validator rule: missing_recommended_file · Read the fix guide · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)
- Warning1 instance
Service data runs out in 22 day(s).
When the calendar runs out, trip planners stop showing this agency. Fixing it now is calmer than after riders notice.
Fix: Re-export with a validity window that reaches at least 60 days out. (One export setting.)
Agencies here usually clear this within about 1 week (based on 61 observed fixes).
Validator rule: scorecard_feed_expiring_soon · Read the fix guide · See GTFS Best Practices (opens GTFS Best Practices on an external site)
- Warning1 instance
feed_info.txt is missing its start/end dates (the file itself is absent)
Apps and this scorecard can't warn anyone before the feed goes stale without stated validity dates.
Fix: Add feed_info.txt with feed_start_date and feed_end_date to your export. (Two fields, set once in export settings.)
Agencies here usually clear this within about 1 week (based on 16 observed fixes).
Validator rule: scorecard_missing_feed_info_dates · Read the fix guide · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)
- Warning1 instance
The feed contains no fare information.
Riders see 'fare unknown' in trip planners and can't budget their trip; visitors are most affected.
Fix: Add fare_attributes.txt (or Fares v2 files) with your fare structure. If your service is fare-free, ask to have it marked fare-free instead. (A small file for most flat-fare systems.)
Validator rule: scorecard_no_fare_data · Read the fix guide · See GTFS Best Practices (opens GTFS Best Practices on an external site)
- Warning1 instance
This feed models stations or entrances but has no pathways.txt.
Trip planners can't guide riders through the station, and there is no step-free route information for wheelchair users.
Fix: Add pathways.txt connecting entrances, platforms, and any elevators, with a level for each. (Worth it for multi-level or large stations; flat stops don't need it.)
Validator rule: scorecard_station_no_pathways · Read the fix guide · See GTFS Schedule reference (opens the GTFS Schedule reference on an external site)
- Info57117 instances
Unsorted stop times (flagged by the MobilityData validator).
See the linked rule for what this affects.
Fix: Review the rule documentation for 'unsorted_stop_times' at https://gtfs-validator.mobilitydata.org/rules.html and check the flagged rows in your feed. (Varies.)
Validator rule: unsorted_stop_times · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)
- Info2 instances
Some files contain columns that are not part of the GTFS spec.
Harmless to riders, but apps ignore these columns and they can hide typos in real column names.
Fix: Check the flagged column names for misspellings of standard GTFS fields; remove them if they are vendor extras. (A quick look at the flagged files.)
Validator rule: unknown_column · Read the fix guide · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)
- Info1 instance
Unknown file (flagged by the MobilityData validator).
See the linked rule for what this affects.
Fix: Review the rule documentation for 'unknown_file' at https://gtfs-validator.mobilitydata.org/rules.html and check the flagged rows in your feed. (Varies.)
Agencies here usually clear this within about 1 week (based on 6 observed fixes).
Validator rule: unknown_file · Read the fix guide · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)
- Info1 instance
feed_info.txt has no technical contact (feed_contact_email or feed_contact_url).
App makers and state data programs have nobody to email when they spot a problem with your feed, so problems linger.
Fix: Add feed_contact_email to feed_info.txt. (One field.)
Agencies here usually clear this within about 1 week (based on 10 observed fixes).
Validator rule: scorecard_no_feed_contact · Read the fix guide · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)
Beyond the grade
Opportunities that do not change your grade today: fare detail, on-demand service, and deeper accessibility data.
91 route badge(s) pair a color and text color below the WCAG 4.5:1 contrast bar (1, 3, N5, 7, 8, and more).
Consider: Adjust route_color or route_text_color so each pair clears 4.5:1. Often switching the text between black and white is enough.
10291 stop name(s) use abbreviations or symbols a screen reader may mispronounce, with no spoken form set ("Jackson & Austin Terminal", "Jackson & Lotus", "Jackson & Lockwood", and more).
Consider: Add tts_stop_name with the spoken form, e.g. 'Main Street and Second Avenue', for the affected stops.
This feed models stations or entrances but has no pathways.txt and levels.txt.
Consider: Add pathways.txt connecting entrances, platforms, and elevators, and levels.txt for each floor, so the step-free route is described.
Some fixes we can make for you
These are the safe mechanical fixes, applied to a copy of your feed. They change only what is certain and leave everything else untouched. Review the diff before you publish.
Trimmed surrounding whitespace 4 changes
For example: 'stop_name': 'State & Harrison/Ida B Wells Drive ' -> 'State & Harrison/Ida B Wells Drive'
Run it yourself on your own copy of the feed: scorecard autofix <feed.zip> --out corrected.zip
NTD certification readiness Needs attention
This feed is close to NTD-ready. 1 validator error to resolve. Service data runs out in 22 days; renew before you certify.
- Published Ready
- Published at a public URL.
- Valid Needs attention
- 1 validator error to resolve.
- Current Needs attention
- Service data runs out in 22 days; renew before you certify.
- agency_id matches your NTD ID Not checked yet
- Setting your GTFS agency_id to your five-digit NTD ID is an optional way to line a feed up with its National Transit Database record. FTA links the two on your P-50 form, so it is not a required feed change. We don't have your NTD ID on file, so this is not checked yet.
- shapes.txt covers your trips Ready
- All 94420 trips have a shape in shapes.txt.
In plain words: if you report to the federal transit database, you have to publish a working, up-to-date feed and confirm it once a year. This box is a heads-up on whether yours looks ready; it is not the official sign-off.
A readiness signal mapping this feed to the FTA National Transit Database GTFS requirement (Report Year 2023 onward: a public, valid, current feed, certified annually on the D-10). Aligning agency_id with your NTD ID lets the feed line up with your NTD record; the July 2025 final rule links the two on the P-50 form rather than requiring that feed change, and requires shapes.txt in the published GTFS: Full Reporters from Report Year 2025, and Reduced, Rural, and Tribal Reporters from Report Year 2026. Not an official determination; your certification is the official check.
Conformance mark Not yet
This feed is close to the conformance mark. 1 validator error to resolve. Service data runs out in 22 days; renew to qualify.
- Valid Not yet
- 1 validator error to resolve.
- Current Not yet
- Service data runs out in 22 days; renew to qualify.
- Accessible Met
- States wheelchair access on 100% of stops and 100% of trips.
In plain words: earn this mark when your feed passes validation, has not expired, and says whether nearly every stop and trip is wheelchair accessible.
A pass credential for a feed that is valid, current, and states wheelchair access on nearly every stop and trip. Accessibility here measures what the feed publishes, not whether a stop is physically usable. How the conformance mark works.
At risk for the Google and Apple Maps four-week coverage bar. This feed has 22 days of service left. Maps needs at least four weeks (28 days) of upcoming service, so your agency will fall out of trip planners soon. Re-export with a longer calendar. The feed also carries 102962 validator errors, the other thing Maps checks at onboarding; the findings below name each fix.
How this agency maps to the standards
A data-quality lens, not a compliance determination. Each category shows this feed's score and the standards it relates to: the FTA National Transit Database GTFS requirement, the MobilityData grading scheme, and the Google Transit gate. Read the full standards crosswalk.
- Correctness 26 / 100
- GTFS Schedule best practices, checked by the MobilityData validator. MobilityData grading: stop locations, route names and colors. Google Transit: a feed must pass validation to stay in Maps.
- Freshness 22 / 100
- The FTA National Transit Database expectation of a valid, current feed. Google Transit: an expired calendar drops the agency from Maps.
- Rider experience 62 / 100
- GTFS Best Practices for rider-facing fields. MobilityData grading: stop names and headsigns.
- Realtime quality Not yet published
- GTFS-Realtime best practices: a stable URL, high uptime, and frequent updates.
Cite this record
This page updates on every check. The record below does not: it is the dated file this grade came from, published at https://gtfsscorecard.org/data/artifacts/chicago-transit-authority-cta/2026-07-09.json and never overwritten, pinning the grade, category scores, rubric version, validator version, and the scored feed's sha256 as they stood on 2026-07-09. Use it in a board packet, an NTD narrative, or a research citation instead of linking the live page, whose content will differ on your next visit.
Citing the tool itself rather than one agency's record? Use the repo's CITATION.cff.