isabella232 / transitjson

A flavor of GeoJSON for transit data.

This is a WIP concept. Please contribute ideas and help it evolve.

TransitJSON

TransitJSON is a flavor of GeoJSON for transit data. It aims to be an abstraction over GTFS, enabling easy visualization and large scale editing of transit networks without worrying about the specifics of individual trips.

The two main simplifications over GTFS:

• Routes shapes and stops are combined into a single GeoJSON MultiLineString, where each stop is the final point in a LineString. Stop names and metadata are dropped.
• Trip times and stop times are generalized to service windows, headways, and speed.

Example

{
  "type": "FeatureCollection",
  "properties": {
    "agency": {
      "id": "SFMTA",
      "key": "san-francisco-municipal-transportation-agency",
      "name": "San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency",
      "url": "http://www.sfmta.com",
      "timezone": "America/Los_Angeles",
      "lang": "en"
    }
  },
  "features": [
    {
      "type": "Feature",
      "properties": {
        "id": "1006",
        "shortName": "6 ",
        "longName": "PARNASSUS",
        "type": "3",
        "serviceWindows": [
          {
            "name": "AM Peak",
            "from": "07:00:00",
            "to": "10:00:00",
            "headway": "12"
          },
          {
            "name": "Midday",
            "from": "10:00:00",
            "to": "16:00:00",
            "headway": "20"
          },
          {
            "name": "PM Peak",
            "from": "16:00:00",
            "to": "20:00:00",
            "headway": "12"
          },
          {
            "name": "Evening",
            "from": "20:00:00",
            "to": "23:00:00",
            "headway": "30"
          }
        ],
        "speed": 12
      },
      "geometry": {
        "type": "GeometryCollection",
        "geometries":[
          { 
            "type": "MultiLineString",
            "coordinates": [[[-122.394149,37.794052],[-122.394756,37.794472],[-122.395628,37.793776],[-122.396305,37.79325],[-122.396511,37.793089],[-122.397394,37.792403],[-122.398266,37.791707],[-122.399149,37.791012],[-122.399482,37.790735],[-122.400067,37.790298]],[[-122.400067,37.790298],[-122.401386,37.789255],[-122.402074,37.788711],[-122.402911,37.788078],[-122.403439,37.787632],[-122.404586,37.786722],[-122.405836,37.785741],[-122.408072,37.783984],[-122.408955,37.783279],[-122.410297,37.782227],[-122.411627,37.781183]],[[-122.411627,37.781183],[-122.411982,37.780898],[-122.412521,37.78047],[-122.414746,37.778713],[-122.415927,37.777785],[-122.416294,37.777491],[-122.417509,37.776536],[-122.41869,37.775582],[-122.419263,37.775145],[-122.420261,37.774351],[-122.420708,37.774003]],[[-122.420708,37.774003],[-122.421017,37.773771],[-122.421293,37.773548],[-122.421946,37.773031],[-122.422118,37.773165],[-122.422232,37.773147],[-122.423871,37.772933],[-122.425522,37.772728],[-122.427161,37.772523],[-122.428811,37.772309],[-122.430439,37.772104]],[[-122.430439,37.772104],[-122.432101,37.77189],[-122.43374,37.771685],[-122.435379,37.771471],[-122.437052,37.771258],[-122.438714,37.771052],[-122.440364,37.770838],[-122.442003,37.770633],[-122.443321,37.770464],[-122.443654,37.770419],[-122.44535,37.770214]],[[-122.44535,37.770214],[-122.445178,37.76934],[-122.445109,37.769286],[-122.444731,37.76743],[-122.445545,37.767323],[-122.44637,37.767225],[-122.447206,37.767118],[-122.44802,37.767011],[-122.447825,37.766074],[-122.447642,37.765146],[-122.448433,37.765039]],[[-122.448433,37.765039],[-122.449762,37.764869],[-122.451206,37.764682],[-122.452558,37.764513],[-122.453509,37.764396],[-122.454208,37.764316],[-122.455458,37.764164],[-122.455778,37.764075],[-122.456661,37.763816],[-122.457818,37.763486],[-122.459789,37.762933]],[[-122.459789,37.762933],[-122.460832,37.762629],[-122.461898,37.76237],[-122.462963,37.762317],[-122.464041,37.762272],[-122.465106,37.762227],[-122.466172,37.762174],[-122.466045,37.760318],[-122.465919,37.758444],[-122.465781,37.756588],[-122.465655,37.754714]],[[-122.465655,37.754714],[-122.465528,37.75285],[-122.466594,37.752805],[-122.466467,37.75094],[-122.466329,37.749075],[-122.467372,37.74903],[-122.468025,37.749004],[-122.468472,37.74895],[-122.468552,37.748941],[-122.469537,37.748905],[-122.470591,37.748869]]]
          },
          {
            "type": "MultiLineString",
            "coordinates": [[[-122.418541,37.77551],[-122.41869,37.775582],[-122.417509,37.776536],[-122.416294,37.777491],[-122.415927,37.777785],[-122.414746,37.778713],[-122.412521,37.78047],[-122.411982,37.780898],[-122.411627,37.781183],[-122.410297,37.782227]],[[-122.410297,37.782227],[-122.408955,37.783279],[-122.408072,37.783984],[-122.405836,37.785741],[-122.404586,37.786722],[-122.403439,37.787632],[-122.402911,37.788078],[-122.402074,37.788711],[-122.401386,37.789255],[-122.400067,37.790298],[-122.399482,37.790735]],[[-122.399482,37.790735],[-122.399149,37.791012],[-122.398266,37.791707],[-122.397394,37.792403],[-122.396511,37.793089],[-122.396305,37.79325],[-122.395628,37.793776],[-122.39407,37.792535],[-122.393186,37.793222],[-122.394114,37.794043]]]
          },
          {
            "type":"MultiLineString",
            "coordinates": [[[-122.470591,37.748869],[-122.469537,37.748905],[-122.468552,37.748941],[-122.468472,37.74895],[-122.468025,37.749004],[-122.467372,37.74903],[-122.466329,37.749075],[-122.466467,37.75094],[-122.466594,37.752805],[-122.465528,37.75285]],[[-122.465528,37.75285],[-122.465655,37.754714],[-122.465781,37.756588],[-122.465919,37.758444],[-122.466045,37.760318],[-122.466172,37.762174],[-122.465106,37.762227],[-122.464041,37.762272],[-122.462963,37.762317],[-122.461898,37.76237],[-122.460832,37.762629]],[[-122.460832,37.762629],[-122.459789,37.762933],[-122.457818,37.763486],[-122.456661,37.763816],[-122.455778,37.764075],[-122.455458,37.764164],[-122.454208,37.764316],[-122.453509,37.764396],[-122.452558,37.764513],[-122.451206,37.764682],[-122.449762,37.764869]],[[-122.449762,37.764869],[-122.448433,37.765039],[-122.447642,37.765146],[-122.447825,37.766074],[-122.44802,37.767011],[-122.447206,37.767118],[-122.44637,37.767225],[-122.445545,37.767323],[-122.444731,37.76743],[-122.445109,37.769286],[-122.445178,37.76934]],[[-122.445178,37.76934],[-122.44535,37.770214],[-122.443654,37.770419],[-122.443321,37.770464],[-122.442003,37.770633],[-122.440364,37.770838],[-122.438714,37.771052],[-122.437052,37.771258],[-122.435379,37.771471],[-122.43374,37.771685],[-122.432101,37.77189]],[[-122.432101,37.77189],[-122.430439,37.772104],[-122.428811,37.772309],[-122.427161,37.772523],[-122.425522,37.772728],[-122.425614,37.773192],[-122.425705,37.773656],[-122.424066,37.77387],[-122.422416,37.774075],[-122.420765,37.774289],[-122.420261,37.774351]],[[-122.420261,37.774351],[-122.419263,37.775145]]]
          },
          {
            "type":"MultiLineString",
            "coordinates": [[[-122.470591,37.748869],[-122.469537,37.748905],[-122.468552,37.748941],[-122.468472,37.74895],[-122.468025,37.749004],[-122.467372,37.74903],[-122.466329,37.749075],[-122.466467,37.75094],[-122.466594,37.752805],[-122.465528,37.75285]],[[-122.465528,37.75285],[-122.465655,37.754714],[-122.465781,37.756588],[-122.465919,37.758444],[-122.466045,37.760318],[-122.466172,37.762174],[-122.465106,37.762227],[-122.464041,37.762272],[-122.462963,37.762317],[-122.461898,37.76237],[-122.460832,37.762629]],[[-122.460832,37.762629],[-122.459789,37.762933],[-122.457818,37.763486],[-122.456661,37.763816],[-122.455778,37.764075],[-122.455458,37.764164],[-122.454208,37.764316],[-122.453509,37.764396],[-122.452558,37.764513],[-122.451206,37.764682],[-122.449762,37.764869]],[[-122.449762,37.764869],[-122.448433,37.765039],[-122.447642,37.765146],[-122.447825,37.766074],[-122.44802,37.767011],[-122.447206,37.767118],[-122.44637,37.767225],[-122.445545,37.767323],[-122.444731,37.76743],[-122.445109,37.769286],[-122.445178,37.76934]],[[-122.445178,37.76934],[-122.44535,37.770214],[-122.443654,37.770419],[-122.443321,37.770464],[-122.442003,37.770633],[-122.440364,37.770838],[-122.438714,37.771052],[-122.437052,37.771258],[-122.435379,37.771471],[-122.43374,37.771685],[-122.432101,37.77189]],[[-122.432101,37.77189],[-122.430439,37.772104],[-122.428811,37.772309],[-122.427161,37.772523],[-122.425522,37.772728],[-122.425614,37.773192],[-122.425705,37.773656],[-122.424066,37.77387],[-122.422416,37.774075],[-122.420765,37.774289],[-122.420261,37.774351]],[[-122.420261,37.774351],[-122.419263,37.775145],[-122.41869,37.775582],[-122.417509,37.776536],[-122.416294,37.777491],[-122.415927,37.777785],[-122.414746,37.778713],[-122.412521,37.78047],[-122.411982,37.780898],[-122.411627,37.781183],[-122.410297,37.782227]],[[-122.410297,37.782227],[-122.408955,37.783279],[-122.408072,37.783984],[-122.405836,37.785741],[-122.404586,37.786722],[-122.403439,37.787632],[-122.402911,37.788078],[-122.402074,37.788711],[-122.401386,37.789255],[-122.400067,37.790298],[-122.399482,37.790735]],[[-122.399482,37.790735],[-122.399149,37.791012],[-122.398266,37.791707],[-122.397394,37.792403],[-122.396511,37.793089],[-122.396305,37.79325],[-122.395628,37.793776],[-122.39407,37.792535],[-122.393186,37.793222],[-122.394114,37.794043]]]},
          {
            "type":"MultiLineString",
            "coordinates": [[[-122.430439,37.772104],[-122.432101,37.77189],[-122.43374,37.771685],[-122.435379,37.771471],[-122.437052,37.771258],[-122.438714,37.771052],[-122.440364,37.770838],[-122.442003,37.770633],[-122.443321,37.770464],[-122.443654,37.770419]],[[-122.443654,37.770419],[-122.44535,37.770214],[-122.445178,37.76934],[-122.445109,37.769286],[-122.444731,37.76743],[-122.445545,37.767323],[-122.44637,37.767225],[-122.447206,37.767118],[-122.44802,37.767011],[-122.447825,37.766074],[-122.447642,37.765146]],[[-122.447642,37.765146],[-122.448433,37.765039],[-122.449762,37.764869],[-122.451206,37.764682],[-122.452558,37.764513],[-122.453509,37.764396],[-122.454208,37.764316],[-122.455458,37.764164],[-122.455778,37.764075],[-122.456661,37.763816],[-122.457818,37.763486]],[[-122.457818,37.763486],[-122.459789,37.762933],[-122.460832,37.762629],[-122.461898,37.76237],[-122.462963,37.762317],[-122.464041,37.762272],[-122.465106,37.762227],[-122.466172,37.762174],[-122.466045,37.760318],[-122.465919,37.758444],[-122.465781,37.756588]],[[-122.465781,37.756588],[-122.465655,37.754714],[-122.465528,37.75285],[-122.466594,37.752805],[-122.466467,37.75094],[-122.466329,37.749075],[-122.467372,37.74903],[-122.468025,37.749004],[-122.468472,37.74895],[-122.468552,37.748941],[-122.469537,37.748905]],[[-122.469537,37.748905],[-122.470591,37.748869]]]},{"type":"MultiLineString","coordinates":[[[-122.394149,37.794052],[-122.394756,37.794472],[-122.395628,37.793776],[-122.396305,37.79325],[-122.396511,37.793089],[-122.397394,37.792403],[-122.398266,37.791707],[-122.399149,37.791012],[-122.399482,37.790735],[-122.400067,37.790298]],[[-122.400067,37.790298],[-122.401386,37.789255],[-122.402074,37.788711],[-122.402911,37.788078],[-122.403439,37.787632],[-122.404586,37.786722],[-122.405836,37.785741],[-122.408072,37.783984],[-122.408955,37.783279],[-122.410297,37.782227],[-122.411627,37.781183]],[[-122.411627,37.781183],[-122.411982,37.780898],[-122.412521,37.78047],[-122.414746,37.778713],[-122.415927,37.777785],[-122.416294,37.777491],[-122.417509,37.776536],[-122.41869,37.775582]]]
          }
        ]
      }
    }
  ]
}

See the example.sfmta.geojson file for a more complete example.

Details

• A TransitJSON file is a GeoJSON file with a top-level FeatureCollection that corresponds to a single Agency. Agency metadata corresponding to GTFS are provided under properties.agency.
• Each route in that agency is a Feature of type GeometryCollection. Route metadata is provided under properties. A route must include serviceWindows and speed properties.
• Every route pattern (shape + stops) is provided as a MultiLineString under that GeometryCollection. Each LineString's last point should correspond to a transit stop. If serviceWindows or speed properties are provided, they will supersede the higher level values.

Todo

• Talk to lots of people with experience, get feedback
• Figure out how calendar data fits into the format
• How do we represent varying speeds?
• Build transformations between TransitJSON and GTFS, and vice versa
• Lots more...