"},{"ID":317312,"user_firstname":"Elif","user_lastname":"Bulut","nickname":"Elif Bulut","user_nicename":"ebulut","display_name":"Elif Bulut","user_email":"ebulut@esri.com","user_url":"","user_registered":"2022-08-24 18:23:17","user_description":"Elif is a Product Engineer of Social Analysis and Data Science on the ArcGIS Business Analyst team. She holds a PhD in Sociology and applies spatial data science and social research to help users explore demographic trends, community characteristics, and access to resources. She is passionate about turning complex data into clear insights that support real-world decision-making.","user_avatar":"
"}],"short_description":"Learn how you can make the most of Esri's world transit stops and routes layer available in ArcGIS Living Atlas","flexible_content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"Esri\u2019s World Transit layers<\/a> in ArcGIS Living Atlas transform raw GTFS into ready-to-use, freely available feature services for stops and routes, removing the need to download, extract, or preprocess transit data yourself. When paired with demographic, business, and administrative datasets in ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Business Analyst, and ArcGIS Pro, these layers form a powerful foundation for smarter planning, more equitable access, and sustainable development. \u00a0This article reviews ten impactful ways you can put transit data to work.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2951018,"id":2951018,"title":"Esri World Transit Data","filename":"world_transit_viewer_app_06.jpg","filesize":160928,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/world_transit_viewer_app_06.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-living-atlas\/mapping\/10-powerful-things-you-can-do-with-transit-data-in-arcgis\/world_transit_viewer_app_06","alt":"Esri world transit data visualization.","author":"21351","description":"Esri world public transportation data showcasing the global transit stops and routes Esri publishes in ArcGIS Living Atlas.","caption":"Esri world public transportation data showcasing the global transit stops and routes Esri publishes in ArcGIS Living Atlas.","name":"world_transit_viewer_app_06","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2950689,"date":"2025-12-09 14:49:20","modified":"2025-12-09 14:50:40","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1110,"height":944,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/world_transit_viewer_app_06-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/world_transit_viewer_app_06.jpg","medium-width":307,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/world_transit_viewer_app_06.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":653,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/world_transit_viewer_app_06.jpg","large-width":1110,"large-height":944,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/world_transit_viewer_app_06.jpg","1536x1536-width":1110,"1536x1536-height":944,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/world_transit_viewer_app_06.jpg","2048x2048-width":1110,"2048x2048-height":944,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/world_transit_viewer_app_06-547x465.jpg","card_image-width":547,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/world_transit_viewer_app_06.jpg","wide_image-width":1110,"wide_image-height":944}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" <\/p>\n 1. Bring global transit data straight into your maps <\/strong><\/p>\n Start by finding and using the transit layers themselves: World Transit Stops and related layers (including transit routes) in ArcGIS Living Atlas. Esri converts contributed GTFS feeds into hosted feature services<\/a>, so you can just search, add, and go.<\/p>\n What you can do<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2950694,"id":2950694,"title":"Add Living Atlas Data","filename":"add_world_transit_stops_ba_web_app_02.jpg","filesize":61424,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/add_world_transit_stops_ba_web_app_02.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-living-atlas\/mapping\/10-powerful-things-you-can-do-with-transit-data-in-arcgis\/add_world_transit_stops_ba_web_app_02","alt":"Add Living Atlas data","author":"21351","description":"Add transit data from Living Atlas into a Business Analyst Web App project.","caption":"Add transit data from Living Atlas into a Business Analyst Web App project.","name":"add_world_transit_stops_ba_web_app_02","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2950689,"date":"2025-12-04 15:19:56","modified":"2025-12-04 17:19:03","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1065,"height":564,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/add_world_transit_stops_ba_web_app_02-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/add_world_transit_stops_ba_web_app_02.jpg","medium-width":464,"medium-height":246,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/add_world_transit_stops_ba_web_app_02.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":407,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/add_world_transit_stops_ba_web_app_02.jpg","large-width":1065,"large-height":564,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/add_world_transit_stops_ba_web_app_02.jpg","1536x1536-width":1065,"1536x1536-height":564,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/add_world_transit_stops_ba_web_app_02.jpg","2048x2048-width":1065,"2048x2048-height":564,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/add_world_transit_stops_ba_web_app_02-826x437.jpg","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":437,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/add_world_transit_stops_ba_web_app_02.jpg","wide_image-width":1065,"wide_image-height":564}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" Why it matters<\/strong> <\/p>\n 2. Tell the story with infographics, dashboards, and stories <\/strong><\/p>\n Turn your analysis into clear communication tools that non-GIS audiences can understand.<\/p>\n What you can do<\/strong><\/p>\n Why it matters<\/strong> Resources<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 3. Build a transit accessibility index <\/strong><\/p>\n Turn raw stops and routes into a simple Transit Accessibility Index that scores how easy it is to reach transit in each neighborhood.<\/p>\n What you can do<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Why it matters<\/strong><\/p>\n A transit accessibility index enables qualitative, comparative assessment. Instead of saying \u201cthere are 12 stops,\u201d you can say \u201cthis neighborhood has excellent transit access while this one is underserved,\u201d which stakeholders can understand. Transit agencies can use this information to plan additional routes, change or extend existing routes, or add new stops. Economic development can promote leasable land\/building space by highlighting ease of access to public transportation.<\/p>\n Resources<\/strong><\/p>\n Software and data requirements<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 4. Use transit data in Business Analyst suitability analysis <\/strong><\/p>\n Treat transit accessibility as a suitability factor when choosing locations for offices, retail, clinics, schools, etc.<\/p>\n What you can do<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2950697,"id":2950697,"title":"Suitability Analysis with Transit Data","filename":"suitability_analysis_ba_web_app_02.jpg","filesize":431532,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/suitability_analysis_ba_web_app_02.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-living-atlas\/mapping\/10-powerful-things-you-can-do-with-transit-data-in-arcgis\/suitability_analysis_ba_web_app_02","alt":"Perform suitability analysis with transit data","author":"21351","description":"Perform a suitability analysis to help with site selection workflows incorporating transit data.","caption":"Perform a suitability analysis to help with site selection workflows incorporating transit data.","name":"suitability_analysis_ba_web_app_02","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2950689,"date":"2025-12-04 15:20:01","modified":"2025-12-04 16:54:41","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1302,"height":1183,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/suitability_analysis_ba_web_app_02-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/suitability_analysis_ba_web_app_02.jpg","medium-width":287,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/suitability_analysis_ba_web_app_02.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":698,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/suitability_analysis_ba_web_app_02.jpg","large-width":1189,"large-height":1080,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/suitability_analysis_ba_web_app_02.jpg","1536x1536-width":1302,"1536x1536-height":1183,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/suitability_analysis_ba_web_app_02.jpg","2048x2048-width":1302,"2048x2048-height":1183,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/suitability_analysis_ba_web_app_02-512x465.jpg","card_image-width":512,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/suitability_analysis_ba_web_app_02-1189x1080.jpg","wide_image-width":1189,"wide_image-height":1080}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" Why it matters<\/strong> Resources<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 5. Map transit coverage and see where service is missing <\/strong><\/p>\n Use stops and routes to create an at-a-glance view of where transit service exists\u2014and where it doesn\u2019t.<\/p>\n What you can do<\/strong><\/p>\n Why it matters<\/strong> <\/p>\n 6. Support at-risk populations <\/strong><\/p>\n Use transit data to ensure that changes to service don\u2019t disproportionately harm low-income or minority communities and that at-risk groups can reach essential services.<\/p>\n What you can do<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2951105,"id":2951105,"title":"At-Risk Population Access to Transit Data","filename":"at_risk_pop_ba_web_app_02.jpg","filesize":100834,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/at_risk_pop_ba_web_app_02.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-living-atlas\/mapping\/10-powerful-things-you-can-do-with-transit-data-in-arcgis\/at_risk_pop_ba_web_app_02","alt":"Visualize at-risk population with transit data.","author":"21351","description":"Visualize high-senior population, households with disabilities, and hospitals along a transit route in the City of Los Angeles. Highlighting access to medical services in an area with at-risk population.","caption":"Visualize high-senior population, households with disabilities, and hospitals along a transit route in the City of Los Angeles. Highlighting access to medical services in an area with at-risk population.","name":"at_risk_pop_ba_web_app_02","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2950689,"date":"2025-12-09 21:40:06","modified":"2025-12-09 21:40:27","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":966,"height":511,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/at_risk_pop_ba_web_app_02-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/at_risk_pop_ba_web_app_02.jpg","medium-width":464,"medium-height":245,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/at_risk_pop_ba_web_app_02.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":406,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/at_risk_pop_ba_web_app_02.jpg","large-width":966,"large-height":511,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/at_risk_pop_ba_web_app_02.jpg","1536x1536-width":966,"1536x1536-height":511,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/at_risk_pop_ba_web_app_02.jpg","2048x2048-width":966,"2048x2048-height":511,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/at_risk_pop_ba_web_app_02-826x437.jpg","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":437,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/12\/at_risk_pop_ba_web_app_02.jpg","wide_image-width":966,"wide_image-height":511}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" Why it matters<\/strong> Resources<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 7. Optimize transit network planning and identify new routes <\/strong><\/p>\n Use transit layers plus demographic data to understand where service is needed, where gaps exist, and where new routes or stops would have the biggest impact.<\/p>\n What you can do<\/strong><\/p>\n Why it matters<\/strong> Software and data requirements<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 8. Analyze walkability and event access <\/strong><\/p>\n Combine transit stops with walk-time analysis to understand how people will actually get to big events or key venues.<\/p>\n What you can do<\/strong><\/p>\n Why it matters<\/strong> Software and data requirements<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 9. <\/strong>Integrate transit into climate and sustainability planning <\/strong><\/p>\n Use transit data to support mode shifts (car \u2192 transit), emissions reduction, and climate adaptation strategies.<\/p>\n What you can do<\/strong><\/p>\n Why it matters<\/strong><\/p>\n Connect transit directly to climate goals: reduced vehicle miles traveled (VMT), cleaner air, and more sustainable urban form.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":" <\/p>\n 10. <\/strong>Strengthen advertising site selection<\/strong><\/p>\n Use Esri\u2019s transit data to target and strengthen advertising site selection.<\/p>\n What you can do<\/strong><\/p>\n Why it matters<\/strong><\/p>\n Transit information can support marketing and advertising agencies to improve the number of individuals experiencing an advertisement and target specific groups using public transportation in target markets.<\/p>\n Data to get started<\/strong><\/p>\n (Optional Bonus) Contribute your own GTFS to Living Atlas<\/strong><\/p>\n If you want one extra \u201cbonus\u201d idea:<\/p>\n Close the loop by contributing your agency\u2019s GTFS data through the Esri Community Maps program<\/a> so it becomes part of the global World Transit layers.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n What you can do<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
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\nThis is the on-ramp: you can start using transit data without downloading GTFS, unzipping files, or running conversion scripts.<\/p>\n\n
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\nDecision-makers, community members, and boards don\u2019t want GTFS tables\u2014they want a clear picture. Infographics and dashboards make transit data actionable and persuasive.<\/p>\n\n
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\nYou can say\u00a0 \u201cemployees and customers can realistically reach this site using public transportation, which is one of the reasons why we selected this location.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
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\nThis is the basic \u201cwhere do we have transit, and who lives there?\u201d view that drives everything from network planning to equity analysis.<\/p>\n\n
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\nThis connects public transportation data directly to questions of fairness, social justice, and access to essential services.<\/p>\n\n
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\nThis type of analysis helps planners answer: \u201cIf we can only improve service in three places, where will it make the biggest difference?\u201d<\/p>\n\n
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\nCities can plan for Olympics, concerts, or game days with data instead of guesswork, and show how transit supports crowd movement.<\/p>\n\n
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