Routes Card SOP 0019

Karen Minnick

Updated November 21, 2025 13:52

Purpose

This procedure provides information for your agency staff to ensure that after importing schedule data into ETMS, each route has been updated on the Routes card to include important values for public visibility purposes and for tracking on time performance, and possible issues, in Operations.

Important - Complete the following process after you import schedule data into ETMS or are adding a new route.

Operational Impact and Metrics

Route color designation is an important visual aid for the public and Operations staff
Headway routes monitoring requires setting up thresholds for Operations alerts
OTP thresholds and Off Route alerts are enabled so Operations is aware of off route issues

Definitions

ITS	Intelligent Transportation Systems
CAD/AVL	Computer-Aided Dispatch and Automatic Vehicle Location
GTFS	General Transit Feed Specifications
myStop®	Online tools used by riders to plan trips in real time
Headway	Repeated inbound/ outbound service patterns with multiple vehicles on route

Frequency

This procedure should be performed:

When deploying new schedules and when adding new routes
- Both types require a major deployment using the import tool

Positions and Responsibilities

Implementation of this procedure is the responsibility of:

Planners & Schedulers
- Whoever manages the digital schedule and related schedule data attributes for the agency

Procedure

This procedure describes the high-level steps involved:

First, create the schedule in your scheduling package
Import the schedule data into ETMS using the Import tool
After a successful import, open the Routes card to set up each routes’ attributes
Open each route individually to add information
Data entries should be made on two tabs on the Routes card:
- Passenger Info - default tab
- Operations Info - secondary tab

Passenger Info Tab

These are required fields:

Text and route trace color are required entries.

Background Color
Text Color
Visible to Public - Slider defaults to ‘Visible’. Only use toggle to hide routes on active schedule but not in service (Special Service)
Mode of Service - Use dropdown menu to add mode, if using commuter bus, bus rapid transit (BRT), etc. and it’s included in your schedule data
Type of Service - Use dropdown menu to add service type, if using contracted service, and it’s included in your schedule data
- To enable data collection for modes and/or service types, a schedule data deployment is required
  - Refer to the Import, Build & Deploy processes for more information

These are optional fields:

Sort Order - Allows you to prioritize routes with high ridership at top of list for online visibility ease
GTFS URL - your myStop applications
Route Abbreviation
GTFS Long Name
GTFS Description

Operation Info Tab

Enter information on the Operations tab for the following.

Early Threshold (minutes) - enter deviation expectation for Operations alerts (0 is standard or 1)

Late Threshold (minutes) - enter deviation expectation for Operations alerts (5 is standard)

Overcapacity Threshold %

External Volume During Quiet Hours %

Ridership Source - Farebox or APCs
- Include Fareset Ids if using fares

Visible to Dispatch - Toggle defaults to ‘Yes’

Monitor for Headway - Used to alert dispatch of bunching/ gapping issues for headway routes

Bunching Threshold % - Used for Headway routes

Gapping Threshold %

Off Route - Toggle button should indicate ‘Yes’
- Distance Threshold (# feet away from trace/ scheduled road that triggers ‘off route’ alert)
Save all updates made. Updates become active after all other schedule data attributes have been managed and saved, based on the deployment date selected

Public Online Tools Tips

Confirm the routes are visually appealing and easy to interpret and use for riders who use your online trip planning tools.

Ask these Questions

Are the routes visually appealing/easy to interpret and use?
- Are the route colors high contrast?
  - Avoid similar colors for trace and text
  - Example: grey trace, white text/light green trace, white text
- Are the routes prioritized as you prefer?
  - Are the routes used the most near the top of the list for easy ridership visibility?
Does the online schedule information match the public schedule you share on your agency website?
- Review and update your publicly visible schedule if conflicts display.

Supporting Documents

Deploying a Schedule: Schedule Data Import Process Article
Route Attributes: Managing Route Attributes Using the Routes Card
Visibility Tips: Marketing Tips for Routes & myStop