development
Transit Network
The complete system of bus, subway, train, ferry, and other public transportation routes in a geographic area that a transit app provides directions for.
A transit network is the interconnected collection of public transportation services operating within a region. It includes every bus line, subway route, commuter rail corridor, light rail segment, and ferry crossing that moves passengers on fixed schedules. For transit app developers, understanding the shape and scope of a network determines what directions your app can reliably provide.
Components of a Transit Network
Each network comprises routes, stops, and schedules. Routes define the paths vehicles follow, stops mark where passengers board and exit, and schedules establish when service runs. Transit agencies publish these components through GTFS (General Transit Feed Specification) feeds. A single metropolitan area may have dozens of agencies contributing to one unified network, each with its own feed and update cycle.
Transit Networks and Apple Maps Integration
When you register your routing app with Apple Maps, the coverage area in your routing app coverage file should match the transit network your app supports. If your app covers the New York City subway but not New Jersey commuter rail, your GeoJSON polygons should reflect that boundary. Overstating coverage leads to failed routing requests and frustrated users, while understating it prevents Apple Maps from surfacing your app for trips it could handle.