Sioux Area Metro (SAM)

feed_info.txt says this feed ends on 2024-04-01. Your service calendar runs to 2024-04-03.

The GTFS standard tells apps to trust a feed only up to its end date. So apps may stop showing your service on the earlier date, even though the calendar goes on.

Fix: Correct feed_end_date in feed_info.txt. Set it to 2024-04-03, the last day in your calendar, or to the last day your schedule is reliable. (One field in feed_info.txt, often an export setting.)

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

411 of 411 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)

324 of 324 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)

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 exist in the feed but no trip ever stops at them.

Riders may walk to a stop where no bus is scheduled to arrive.

Fix: Remove retired stops from the export, or add them back to the trips that should serve them. (A review pass in your scheduling software.)

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

16 of 324 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)

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.)

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

This feed's service calendar runs out within the next 7 days.

When the calendar ends, Google Maps and other trip planners drop your agency entirely. Riders see no service at all.

Fix: Export and publish an updated GTFS feed that covers at least the next 30 days of service. (Usually a re-export from your scheduling software.)

Finding code: feed_expiration_date7_days · Read the fix guide for feed_expiration_date7_days · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)

Many of the feed's trips don't run at all in the next 7 days.

It usually means old service periods are still in the export, making the feed bigger and harder to check.

Fix: Trim past service periods the next time you export. (One setting in most export tools.)

Finding code: trip_coverage_not_active_for_next7_days · Read the fix guide for trip_coverage_not_active_for_next7_days · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules on an external site)

This feed offers flexible service that riders book ahead, but it has no booking_rules.txt.

Riders can see the service area but not how or when to book a trip. Without that, they can't use the service.

Fix: Add booking_rules.txt saying how far ahead and how to book (phone, app, or web). (A small file; one rule often covers the whole service.)

Finding code: scorecard_flex_no_booking_rules · Read the fix guide for scorecard_flex_no_booking_rules · See GTFS Schedule reference (opens the GTFS Schedule reference 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)

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)

Some service dates fall outside the date window set in feed_info.txt.

feed_info.txt should span every day your service runs, so apps know when the data applies.

Fix: Widen feed_start_date and feed_end_date to cover all service dates, or fix the dates that fall outside. (Two fields in feed_info.txt, or one export setting.)

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