Valley Metro

Top things to fix

Score by category

Over time

Overall score across the last 21 checks — unchanged since 2026-07-08.

What changed since your last check

• Correctness— no change
• Freshness— no change
• Rider experience— no change

What changed in this feed

Overall grade and score held steady 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.

Everything we checked

• Error21 instances

  Some trips have stop times whose distances along the route go backwards.

  Apps can show buses jumping backwards or mis-order stops.

  Fix: Re-generate shape distances in your export; flag to your vendor if it persists. (Usually an export-tool fix, not hand editing.)

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

• Error7 instances

  Duplicate key (flagged by the MobilityData validator).

  See the linked rule for what this affects.

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

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

• Error5 instances

  Stop time with arrival before previous departure time (flagged by the MobilityData validator).

  See the linked rule for what this affects.

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

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

• Error3 instances

  Block trips with overlapping stop times (flagged by the MobilityData validator).

  See the linked rule for what this affects.

  Fix: Review the rule documentation for 'block_trips_with_overlapping_stop_times' 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 5 observed fixes).

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

• Error1 instance

  Invalid url (flagged by the MobilityData validator).

  See the linked rule for what this affects.

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

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

• Warning811 instances

  811 of 815 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)

• Warning589 instances

  589 of 589 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 (most small-agency fleets are 100% accessible, so this is often a single default). (Often one default setting in your export.)

  Agencies here usually clear this within about 1 week (based on 5 observed fixes).

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

• Warning294 instances

  294 of 589 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)

• Warning259 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)

• Warning120 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)

• Warning30 instances

  Route long name contains short name (flagged by the MobilityData validator).

  See the linked rule for what this affects.

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

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

• Warning19 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)

• Warning6 instances

  Same name and description for route (flagged by the MobilityData validator).

  See the linked rule for what this affects.

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

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

• Warning4 instances

  Some route colors don't contrast with their text color.

  Route badges get hard to read, most of all for riders with low vision.

  Fix: Pick a darker/lighter route_text_color for the flagged routes. (One field per route.)

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

• Warning3 instances

  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.)

  Agencies here usually clear this within about 1 week (based on 11 observed fixes).

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

• Warning1 instance

  feed_info.txt does not state when this feed starts and ends.

  Without stated dates, apps can't warn anyone before your data goes stale; it just disappears one day.

  Fix: Fill in feed_start_date and feed_end_date in feed_info.txt. (Two fields, likely set once in your export settings.)

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

• Warning1 instance

  Some files leave out fields that GTFS asks for but does not require.

  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)

• Warning1 instance

  Route short name too long (flagged by the MobilityData validator).

  See the linked rule for what this affects.

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

  Validator rule: route_short_name_too_long · See MobilityData GTFS Validator rules (opens the validator rules 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

  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)

• Info13 instances

  Service extends far in the future (flagged by the MobilityData validator).

  See the linked rule for what this affects.

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

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

• Info3 instances

  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

  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)

Beyond the grade

Opportunities that do not change your grade today: fare detail, on-demand service, and deeper accessibility data.

• 16 route badge(s) pair a color and text color below the WCAG 4.5:1 contrast bar (SWB, Smart Way Express, 86, 21, 22, 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.

• 100 stop name(s) use abbreviations or symbols a screen reader may mispronounce, with no spoken form set ("Blue Hills Dr At Adcance Auto Parts", "College Ave at 7th St", "Jefferson & Kirk", and more).

  Consider: Add tts_stop_name with the spoken form, e.g. 'Main Street and Second Avenue', for the affected stops.

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 20 changes

  For example: 'stop_name': 'Jefferson & Kirk ' -> 'Jefferson & Kirk'

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