North County Transit District (NCTD)

Top things to fix

Score by category

Over time

Overall score across the last 20 checks — down 0.4 since 2026-07-08.

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 2026-06-30 feed entered the expiry window (25 days of service left). On 2026-06-30 it cleared big_gap_in_service. As of 2026-07-09 it holds grade F.

A plain-language history of this feed, newest first.

• 2026-06-30 Feed entered the expiry window (25 days of service left).

Everything we checked

• Error230 instances

  Trip distance exceeds shape distance (flagged by the MobilityData validator).

  See the linked rule for what this affects.

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

  Validator rule: trip_distance_exceeds_shape_distance · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)

• Error99 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)

• Error50 instances

  Foreign key violation (flagged by the MobilityData validator).

  See the linked rule for what this affects.

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

  Validator rule: foreign_key_violation · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)

• Warning3210 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)

• Warning1729 instances

  1729 of 1729 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.)

  Validator rule: scorecard_wheelchair_boarding_unknown · Read the fix guide · See GTFS Schedule reference (opens the GTFS Schedule reference on an external site)

• Warning199 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)

• Warning164 instances

  Trip distance exceeds shape distance below threshold (flagged by the MobilityData validator).

  See the linked rule for what this affects.

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

  Validator rule: trip_distance_exceeds_shape_distance_below_threshold · Read the fix guide · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)

• Warning142 instances

  142 of 5230 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)

• Warning57 instances

  Some files are missing recommended (not required) fields.

  Recommended fields like agency_phone or stop descriptions make the feed more useful to riders and trip planners.

  Fix: Review the flagged fields and fill in the ones your riders would use. (A field at a time; not urgent.)

  Agencies here usually clear this within about 2 weeks (based on 8 observed fixes).

  Validator rule: missing_recommended_field · Read the fix guide · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)

• Warning20 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)

• Warning13 instances

  Some service calendars in the feed have already expired.

  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)

• Warning2 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)

• Warning1 instance

  Missing feed contact email and url (flagged by the MobilityData validator).

  See the linked rule for what this affects.

  Fix: Review the rule documentation for 'missing_feed_contact_email_and_url' 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: missing_feed_contact_email_and_url · Read the fix guide · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)

• Warning1 instance

  Service data runs out in 16 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

  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

  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)

• Info29 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)

• Info4 instances

  Unused station (flagged by the MobilityData validator).

  See the linked rule for what this affects.

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

  Validator rule: unused_station · 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.

• 39 route badge(s) pair a color and text color below the WCAG 4.5:1 contrast bar (101, 302, 303, 304, 305, 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.

• 1613 stop name(s) use abbreviations or symbols a screen reader may mispronounce, with no spoken form set ("Nobel Dr & Lebon Dr", "Gilman Dr & Myers Dr", "Nobel Dr & Regents Rd", 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 1729 changes

  For example: 'stop_lat': ' 32.868293' -> '32.868293'

• Recased shouting stop names 1 change

  For example: WEST RING RD & WEST RING RD -> West Ring Rd & West Ring Rd

• Recased shouting route names 3 changes

  For example: COASTER -> Coaster

Run it yourself on your own copy of the feed: scorecard autofix <feed.zip> --out corrected.zip