SC Metro

Developer Resources

What is GTFS?

The General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) is an Open Standard used to distribute relevant information about transit systems to riders. It allows public transit agencies to publish their transit data in a format that can be consumed by a wide variety of software applications, including Google and Apple Maps and the Transit App. Today, the GTFS data format is used by thousands of public transport providers.

GTFS consists of two main parts: GTFS Schedule and GTFS Realtime. GTFS Schedule contains information about routes, schedules, fares, and geographic transit details, and it is presented in simple text files. This straightforward format allows for easy creation and maintenance without relying on complex or proprietary software.

GTFS Realtime contains trip updates, vehicle positions, and service alerts. It is based on Protocol Buffers, which are a language (and platform) neutral mechanism for serializing structured data.

GTFS Feeds

GTFS Schedule (Static) Feed

• GTFS: developer.scmetro.org/gtfs.zip

GTFS Real-Time Feeds

• Trip Updates: rt.scmetro.org/gtfsrt/trips 
• Vehicle Position: rt.scmetro.org/gtfsrt/vehicles 
• Service Alerts: rt.scmetro.org/gtfsrt/alerts

Feed License

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License as well as the SCMTD Developer License Agreement below.

Feed Documentation

• GTFS Schedule: gtfs.org/schedule/reference
• GTFS Realtime: gtfs.org/realtime/reference

BusTime® Developer APIs

• Create an account on our real-time website at rt.scmetro.org.
• After you have a real-time account, register for developer access.
• Reference the BusTime® API Documention* at rt.scmetro.org/api-doc.
• Understand, accept, and adhere to the SCMTD Developer License below.

*Note: you’ll need to replace all instances of “http://[host:port]” with https and our real-time URI: “https://rt.scmetro.org”

Developer License Agreement

The Santa Cruz Metropolotan Transit District (SCMTD) hereby grants you (Licensee) non-exclusive, limited and revocable rights to use, reproduce, and redistribute SCMTD Data (Data) subject to the following Terms:

• SCMTD trademarks and copyrighted materials, including any confusingly similar variants, may not be used in association with Data. Data is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis.
• SCMTD makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied.
• SCMTD disclaims all warranties, express or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
• SCMTD and its employees, officers, directors and agents will not be liable for damages of any kind arising from the use of Data including but not limited to direct, indirect, incidental, punitive and consequential damages.
• SCMTD reserves the right to alter and/or no longer provide Data at any time without prior notice.
• SCMTD maintains title, ownership, rights and interest in and to Data.

By using SCMTD Data, you agree to be bound by all of the Terms and Conditions set forth in this agreement.

Applicable Law: The laws of the State of California shall govern all rights and obligations under this Agreement, without giving effect to any principles of conflicts of laws.

Entire Agreement: This Agreement constitutes the complete and exclusive agreement between SCMTD and Licensee with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior oral or written understandings, communications, or agreements not specifically incorporated herein. BART reserves the right to modify or revoke this agreement at any time.