README for “Transit Fixed Guideways 1995-2017” dataset. U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Transit Administration (FTA); U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) [distributor] 2025-05-29 ---------------------------------------------------------------- LINKS TO DATASET ---------------------------------------------------------------- A. Dataset archive link: https://doi.org/10.21949/1520808 ---------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY OF DATASET ---------------------------------------------------------------- The Transit Fixed Guideways 1995-2017 dataset is from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)/Bureau of Transportation Statistics’s (BTS's) National Transportation Atlas Database (NTAD). This dataset, also known as GTFS static or static transit to differentiate it from the GTFS real-time extension, defines a common format for public transportation schedules and associated geographic information. GTFS "feeds" let public transit agencies publish their transit data and developers write applications that consume that data in an interoperable way. GTFS Data is stored in the National Transit Map database. GTFS Specification: https://doi.org/10.21949/1520808   ---------------------------------------------------------------- TABLE OF CONTENTS ---------------------------------------------------------------- A. General Information B. Sharing/Access & Policies Information C. Data and Related File Overview D. Methodological Information E. Data-Specific Information for: Transit Fixed Guideways 1995-2017 [datasets] F. Update Log ---------------------------------------------------------------- A. GENERAL INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------------------------- 0. Title of Dataset: Transit Fixed Guideways 1995-2017 [dataset] 1. Description of Dataset: The Transit Fixed Guideways 1995-2017 dataset is from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)/Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ (BTS's) National Transportation Atlas Database (NTAD). This dataset, also known as GTFS static or static transit to differentiate it from the GTFS real-time extension, defines a common format for public transportation schedules and associated geographic information. GTFS "feeds" let public transit agencies publish their transit data and developers write applications that consume that data in an interoperable way. GTFS Data is stored in the National Transit Map database. GTFS Specification: https://doi.org/10.21949/1520808   2. Dataset archive link: https://doi.org/10.21949/1520808 3. Authorship Information: Principal Data Creator or Data Manager Contact Information Institution: U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Address: 1200 New Jersey Ave SE, Washington D.C. 20590 Contact: bts@dot.gov Data Distributor Contact Information Name: National Transportation Atlas Database (NTAD) Institution: U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), Office of Spatial Analysis and Visualization (OSAV) Address: 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, Washington D.C. 20590 Email: ntad@dot.gov 4. Date of data collection and update interval: This dataset is not receiving updates. 5. Geographic location of data collection: United States of America 6. Information about funding sources that supported the collection of the data: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) ---------------------------------------------------------------- B. SHARING/ACCESS & POLICIES INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------------------------- 0. Recommended citation for the data: U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) [distributor]. Transit Fixed Guideways 1995-2017 [datasets]. https://doi.org/10.21949/1520808 1. Licenses/restrictions placed on the data: These data are in the Public Domain. 2. Was data derived from another source?: Yes. The following agencies contributed the data to FTA:King County Department of Transportation, Spokane Transit Authority, Pierce County Transportation Benefit Area Authority, Yakima Transit, Lane Transit District, Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon, Valley Regional Transit, Municipality of Anchorage - Public Transportation Department, RiverCities Transit, Ben Franklin Transit, Intercity Transit, Kitsap Transit, Whatcom, Transportation Authority, City of Pocatello, Clark County Public Transportation Benefit Area Authority, Salem Area Mass Transit District, Pierce County Ferry Operations, Snohomish County Public Transportation Benefit Area Corporation, Rogue Valley Transportation District, Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority, Link Transit, Fairbanks North Star Borough Transit, Lewiston Transit System, Asotin County PTBA, Spokane Tribe of Indians, Coos County Area Transit, Vermont Agency of Transportation, Utah Department of Transportation, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, Lowell Regional Transit Authority, Southeastern Regional Transit Authority, Berkshire Regional Transit Authority, Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority, Connecticut Department of Transportation - CTTRANSIT - Hartford Division, Norwalk Transit District, Montachusett Regional Transit Authority, Greater Attleboro-Taunton Regional Transit Authority, Chittenden County Transportation Authority, Nashua Transit System, Casco Bay Island Transit District, Western Maine Transportation Services, Inc., Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority, South Portland Bus Service, Biddeford-Saco-Old Orchard Beach Transit Committee Shuttle Bus, MetroWest Regional Transit Authority, Jalbert Leasing, Inc., Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, Capital District Transportation Authority, Broome County Department of Public Transportation, Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, MTA New York City Transit, Central New York Regional Transportation Authority, Port Authority Transit Corporation, Metro-North Commuter Railroad Company, dba: MTA Metro-North Railroad, New Jersey Transit Corporation, New York City Department of Transportation, Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corporation, Staten Island Rapid Transit Operating Authority, dba: MTA Staten Island Railway, MTA Long Island Rail Road, RTS - Monroe County, Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit, Rockland Coaches, Inc., Town of Highlands Dial-A-Bus, MTA Bus Company, City of Kingston Citibus, Oswego County, Intercity - Chenango Valley Bus Lines, Oneida County, New York City Economic Development Corporation, Greater Richmond Transit Company, Greater Lynchburg Transit Company, Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority, Altoona Metro Transit, Cambria County Transit Authority, Luzerne County Transportation Authority, Red Rose Transit Authority, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, Port Authority of Allegheny County, Beaver County Transit Authority, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Maryland Transit Administration, Annapolis Department of Transportation, City of Fairfax CUE Bus, Fairfax Connector Bus System, Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission, City of Alexandria, Transit Services of Frederick County, Virginia Railway Express, Harford Transit, Delaware Transit Corporation, Williamsburg Area Transit Authority, Arlington Transit - Arlington County, Prince George's County Transit, Fayette Area Coordinated Transportation, Monongalia County Urban Mass Transit Authority, Blacksburg Transit, City of Harrisonburg Department of Public Transportation, Washington County Transportation Authority, DDOT - Progressive Transportation Services Administration, Monroe County Transportation Authority, Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority, Knoxville Area Transit, Memphis Area Transit Authority, Metropolitan Transit Authority, Capital Area Transit, Fayetteville Area System of Transit, High Point Transit, Lexington Transit Authority, Transit Authority of River City, Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, Augusta Richmond County Transit Department, Manatee County Area Transit, Lee County Transit, Broward County Transit Division, Gainesville Regional Transit System, Miami-Dade Transit, City of Tallahassee, Board of County Commissioners, Palm Beach County, PalmTran, Inc., Jacksonville Transportation Authority, Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority, City of Montgomery-Montgomery Area Transit System, Sarasota County Area Transit, Athens Transit System, Chapel Hill Transit, Greenville Transit Authority, Pee Dee Regional Transportation Authority, Jackson Transit Authority, Hub City Transit, Cobb County Department of Transportation, Durham Area Transit Authority, Spartanburg Transit System, Research Triangle Regional Public Transportation Authority, Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority, City of Ocala, Florida, Georgia Regional Transportation Authority, Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners, Collier Area Transit, Central Midlands Transit, Hernando County Board of County Commissioners, Franklin Transit Authority, City of Jacksonville, Western Piedmont Regional Transit Authority, Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation, Atlanta Regional Commission, The City of Bowling Green/Community Action of Southern Kentucky, Bay County Transportation Planning Organization, City of Clemson/ Clemson Area Transit, Gaston County, Central Florida Commuter Rail, City of Marietta, City of Coral Springs, City of Pompano Beach, City of Appleton - Valley Transit, Green Bay Metro, Metro Transit System, Milwaukee County Transit System, GO Transit, METRO Regional Transit Authority, The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, Central Ohio Transit Authority, Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority, Duluth Transit Authority, Metro Transit, Bay Metropolitan Transit Authority, Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation, Interurban Transit Partnership, City of Jackson Transportation Authority, Kalamazoo Metro Transit System, Capital Area Transportation Authority, Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority, City of Anderson Transportation System, Bloomington-Normal Public Transit System, Indianapolis and Marion County Public Transportation, Greater Lafayette Public Transportation Corporation, South Bend Public Transportation Corporation, Greater Peoria Mass Transit District, Rock Island County Metropolitan Mass Transit District, Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District, Chicago Transit Authority, Shoreline Metro, Eau Claire Transit, City of Beloit Transit System, Pace - Suburban Bus Division, Laketran, Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation dba: Metra Rail, City of Detroit Department of Transportation, Detroit Transportation Corporation, Michiana Area Council of Governments, Metropolitan Council, University of Michigan Parking and Transportation Services, River Valley Metro Mass Transit District, Fond du Lac Area Transit, City of Danville/Danville Mass Transit, ColumBUS Transit, City of Valparaiso, Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, Delaware County Transit Board, Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority, Rides Mass Transit District, Athens Transit, Woodford County, Tazewell County, Chillicothe Transit System, University of Minnesota Transit, Minnesota Valley Transit Authority, Bois Forte Reservation Tribal Council, Mass Transit Department - City of El Paso, Fort Worth Transportation Authority, Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas, City Transit Management Company, Inc., City of Brownsville - Brownsville Metro, Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority, Metropolitan Tulsa Transit Authority, City of Albuquerque Transit Department, City of Alexandria, Central Arkansas Transit Authority, Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Dallas Area Rapid Transit, Brazos Transit District, Cleveland Area Rapid Transit, Denton County Transportation Authority, Jonesboro Economical Transportation System, Rio Metro Regional Transit District, Tesuque Pueblo, Pueblo of San Ildefonso, Pueblo of Santa Clara, StarTran, Kansas City Area Transportation Authority, Bi-State Development Agency of the Missouri-Illinois Metropolitan District, d.b.a.(St. Louis) Metro, Bettendorf Transit System, Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority, Topeka Metropolitan Transit Authority, Butler County Department on Aging, Loop Trolley Transportation Development District, Utah Transit Authority, Su Tran LLC dba: Sioux Area Metro, Denver Regional Transportation District, Missoula Urban Transportation District, Mesa County, City of St. George, Cache Valley Transit District, Spirit Lake Tribe, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, City and County of Honolulu Department of Transportation Services, San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District, Golden Empire Transit District, Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District, Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus, Torrance Transit System, Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, San Joaquin Regional Transit District, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District, San Francisco Municipal Railway, City of Santa Rosa, Sacramento Regional Transit District, Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District, Long Beach Transit, San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, Riverside Transit Agency, City of Phoenix Public Transit Department dba Valley Metro, City of Tuscon, Gold Coast Transit, Orange County Transportation Authority, Culver City Municipal Bus Lines, Montebello Bus Lines, City of Commerce Municipal Buslines, Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, City of Corona, Yuba-Sutter Transit Authority, Monterey-Salinas Transit, Central Contra Costa Transit Authority, SunLine Transit Agency, Santa Maria Area Transit, Sonoma County Transit, City of Fairfield - Fairfield and Suisun Transit, Regional Public Transportation Authority, dba: Valley Metro, Unitrans - City of Davis/ASUCD, Livermore / Amador Valley Transit Authority, Foothill Transit, Victor Valley Transit Authority, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority dba: Metro, City of San Luis Obispo, Western Contra Costa Transit Authority, The Eastern Contra Costa Transit Authority, Thousand Oaks Transit, Santa Clarita Transit, Transit Joint Powers Authority for Merced County, City of Porterville, San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority, Valley Metro Rail, Inc., Anaheim Transportation Network, City of Redondo Beach - Beach Cities Transit, Carson Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, City of Manteca, Northern Arizona Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority, Solano County Transit, Marin County Transit District, Stanislaus County Public Works – Transit, City of Glendora, City of Lawndale, City of Monterey Park, Lake Erie Transportation Commission 3.This document was created to meet the requirements enumerated in the U.S. Department of Transportation's 'Plan to Increase Public Access to the Results of Federally-Funded Scientific Research' Version 1.1 << https://doi.org/10.21949/1520559 >> and guidelines suggested by the DOT Public Access website << https://doi.org/10.21949/1503647 >>, in effect and current as of December 03, 2020. ---------------------------------------------------------------- C. DATA & RELATED FILE OVERVIEW ---------------------------------------------------------------- 1. File List for the Transit Fixed Guideways 1995-2017 dataset A. Filename: Transit_Fixed_Guideways_NTAD1995_NTAD2017.zip Short description: Compressed file folders containing the geospatial data for Transit Fixed Guideways 1995-2017 dataset. File folders are classified by NTAD publication year and data vintage year or date respectively. B. Filename: bts_NTAD_Transit_Fixed_Guideways_DMP_20250529.pdf Short description: A PDF file containing the Data Management Plan that was created for current and future management of the data and associated files. C. Filename: bts_NTAD_Transit_Fixed_Guideways_README_20250529.txt Short description: The README.txt file that includes human-readable information about the data, variable definitions, contact information, and other contextual information. The file you are reading now. 2. File List for the Transit_Fixed_Guideways_NTAD1995_NTAD2017.zip collection. A. Filename: NTADXXXX_SHP_Final_Transit_Fixed_Guideways.zip Short description: Compressed file folders containing the geospatial data for Transit Fixed Guideways 1995-2017 dataset. File folders are classified by NTAD publication year and data vintage year respectively. 3. File List for the NTADXXXX_SHP_Final_Transit_Fixed_Guideways.zip collection. A. Filename: transit*.shp, or transit_link.shp and transit_sta.shp Short description: A shapefile containing the geospatial data for Transit Fixed Guideways 1995-2017 dataset. This includes associated files with extensions .prj, .dbf, .sbn, .sbx, .shx. B. Filename: TRANSIT.TXT, or TRANSIT.MET, or transit.txt, transit.htm, and transit.shp.xml, or transit_link.htm, transit_link.shp.xml, transit_link.txt, transit_sta.htm, and transit_sta.shp.xml, and transit_sta.txt Short description: Text files containing key metadata and documentation information such as methodology, procedures, data dictionary, etc. 4. File List for the NTAD1995_SHP_Final_Transit_Fixed_Guideways.zip collection. A. Filename: XXX_XXX Short description: Folders containing the geospatial data for Transit Fixed Guideways 1995-2017 dataset. Folders are classified first by a three letter code associated with a city (e.g. ATL is Atlanta) and a second two or three letter code associated with a type of transit system present in the city, which are described in the dataset metadata. 4. File List for the NTAD1995_SHP_Final_Transit_Fixed_Guideways.zip collection. A. Filename: XXX_XXX_LINK.shp and XXX_XXX_NODE.shp Short description: Shapefiles containing the geospatial data for Transit Fixed Guideways 1995-2017 dataset. This includes associated files with extensions .prj, .dbf, .sbn, .sbx, .shx. Datasets are are classified first by a three letter code associated with a city (e.g. ATL is Atlanta) and a second two or three letter code associated with a type of transit system present in the city, which are described in the dataset metadata. ---------------------------------------------------------------- D. METHODOLOGICAL INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Description of methods used for collection/generation of data: Right-of-ways for fixed guideways were developed from GIS data provided by FTA, OST-R/BTS and local transit agencies. In most cases, the source data are very accurate and complete. In rare cases where the lines were digitized, DOQQ's for the local area were used as a reference for heads-up digitizing. Station locations were verified using street maps, local DOQQ's and USGS DOQ's which were available via the internet from a variety of publically available data clearinghouses. Data include a SOURCE field that identifies the original source of the data. Attribute information was obtained from individual transit agencies through telephone conversations, GIS data, transit agency websites, transit agency maps and schedules, and other traveler information systems. Data include a SOURCE field that identifies the original source of the data. 2. Instrument- or software-specific information needed to interpret the data: The data and documentation files can be opened with Esri ArcMap and any GIS software package. ---------------------------------------------------------------- E. DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Transit Fixed Guideways data table This dataset is not receiving updates. A. Number of variables (columns): The data dictionary found in (PDF documentation) provides definitions for the variables B. Data Dictionary/Variable List: Because of the large number of variables, please refer to the Data Dictionary found within the file Transit_Fixed_Guideways.txt for names, definitions, and formats of variables. C. Missing data codes: None ---------------------------------------------------------------- F. UPDATE LOG ---------------------------------------------------------------- This bts_Transit_Fixed_Guideways_20250529_README.txt file was originally created on 2021-03-29 by Dominic Menegus, Geographer, dominic.menegus@dot.gov [Note changes or update to the readme.txt file, e.g.:] 2021-03-29: Original file created 2025-05-29: Revised document, including data descriptions and file organization.