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A file is missing a column that GTFS requires.

Apps may reject the whole file, so riders could lose the affected routes or stops.

Fix: Add the required column named in the finding to the flagged file. (Often an export setting; ask your vendor if it recurs.)

Finding code: missing_required_column · Read the fix guide for missing_required_column · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)

Some rows in stop_times.txt leave the timepoint column blank.

That column says whether a time is a real checkpoint or an estimate. Blank leaves apps guessing, and they may show your estimates as promises.

Fix: Set timepoint=1 on stops that are real time checks and 0 on the rest. If every published time is a scheduled one, mark them all 1. (Usually one export setting.)

Finding code: missing_timepoint_value · Read the fix guide for missing_timepoint_value · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)

Some internal IDs use characters outside the basic text set.

These IDs are valid UTF-8 data. This warning is only about support in older apps. It does not mean that names in other languages are wrong.

Fix: Only change the flagged IDs if an app needs basic ASCII values. Update each place that uses the ID. Keep all names and headsigns in their original language. (A planned ID change, not a quick text cleanup.)

Finding code: non_ascii_or_non_printable_char · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)

891 of 891 trips don't say whether the vehicle is wheelchair accessible.

Even with accessible stops, riders need to know the bus itself can take them.

Fix: Set wheelchair_accessible on every trip. If every vehicle is accessible, this may be one default; otherwise use the value for each trip. (A default or per-trip field in your export.)

Finding code: scorecard_wheelchair_accessible_unknown · Read the fix guide for scorecard_wheelchair_accessible_unknown · See GTFS Schedule reference (opens the GTFS Schedule reference on an external site)

307 of 307 stops don't say whether a wheelchair user can board there.

Riders who use wheelchairs can't plan a trip when accessibility is marked 'unknown'; apps show no information at all.

Fix: Set wheelchair_boarding to 1 (accessible) or 2 (not accessible) for every stop. A field survey can start with the busiest stops. (A column in stops.txt; your scheduling software likely has it.)

Finding code: scorecard_wheelchair_boarding_unknown · Read the fix guide for scorecard_wheelchair_boarding_unknown · See GTFS Schedule reference (opens the GTFS Schedule reference on an external site)

68 of 891 trips have no headsign, the text that tells riders where the bus is going. A trip counts when it has trip_headsign or a stop_headsign at every stop.

When a route has multiple directions or patterns, the route name alone may not tell riders which service is coming.

Fix: Add the destination, direction, or 'via' label riders actually see to trip_headsign. Do not copy the route name. If the label changes during the trip, use stop_headsign. (Usually one value per route pattern in your scheduling source.)

Finding code: scorecard_missing_headsigns · Read the fix guide for scorecard_missing_headsigns · See GTFS Best Practices (opens GTFS Best Practices on an external site)

Stop has too many matches for shape (flagged by the MobilityData validator).

See the linked rule for what this affects.

Fix: Review the rule documentation for 'stop_has_too_many_matches_for_shape' at https://gtfs-validator.mobilitydata.org/rules.html and check the flagged rows in your feed. (Varies.)

Finding code: stop_has_too_many_matches_for_shape · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)

The feed contains route shapes no trip uses.

Harmless to riders, but it bloats the feed and suggests stale export data.

Fix: Turn on 'remove unused shapes' (or the like) in your export tool. (One setting.)

Finding code: unused_shape · Read the fix guide for unused_shape · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)

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.)

Finding code: mixed_case_recommended_field · Read the fix guide for mixed_case_recommended_field · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)

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.)

Finding code: stop_too_far_from_shape · Read the fix guide for stop_too_far_from_shape · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)

feed_info.txt lists no contact email and no contact URL.

Without a contact, apps like Google Maps can't reach you when they find a problem in the feed.

Fix: Add feed_contact_email or feed_contact_url to feed_info.txt. (One field, set once in export settings.)

Finding code: missing_feed_contact_email_and_url · Read the fix guide for missing_feed_contact_email_and_url · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)

1 of 1 trips scheduled during the sampling window had no live predictions.

Riders on those trips get schedule times labeled as live. Caltrans asks that every trip you run shows up in TripUpdates.

Fix: Ask your AVL vendor to check that every vehicle assignment reaches TripUpdates. School-day and tripper runs are the ones most often left out. (A vendor data-mapping question.)

Finding code: scorecard_rt_trip_coverage · Read the fix guide for scorecard_rt_trip_coverage · See GTFS-Realtime reference (opens the GTFS-Realtime reference on an external site)

The feed includes a file that is not part of the GTFS spec.

Apps ignore files they don't know, and a stray file can hide a misspelled standard file name.

Fix: Check the flagged file name for a typo of a standard GTFS file. Remove it if it is a vendor extra. (A quick look at the flagged file.)

Finding code: unknown_file · Read the fix guide for unknown_file · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)

Platform without parent station (flagged by the MobilityData validator).

See the linked rule for what this affects.

Fix: Review the rule documentation for 'platform_without_parent_station' at https://gtfs-validator.mobilitydata.org/rules.html and check the flagged rows in your feed. (Varies.)

Finding code: platform_without_parent_station · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)

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.)

Finding code: unknown_column · Read the fix guide for unknown_column · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)

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. Small errors then sit in the feed for months.

Fix: Add feed_contact_email to feed_info.txt. (One field.)

Finding code: scorecard_no_feed_contact · Read the fix guide for scorecard_no_feed_contact · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)