About
The Intercity Bus Atlas (ICBA) is an interactive online tool compiling, visually displaying, and archiving scheduled intercity bus service information. The data incorporated into the ICBA is published compliant to the General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS), the industry standard as the common format for scheduled fixed-route public transportation schedules and associated geographic information. GTFS data includes information about stops, routes, trips, and schedules.
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ (BTS) current bus atlas can be found here.
Purpose
The ICBA serves to help local, state, and federal governments identify gaps in intercity services and potential opportunities for interlining and coordination. It will also expand awareness around the size and the value of the intercity bus industry. Ultimately, the Atlas clarifies how the Intercity Bus industry benefits the nation by connecting and enriching the lives of Americans.
Objective
The objective of this effort is to further the development and implementation of the ICBA as an ongoing, comprehensive, and publicly available inventory of intercity bus services. In pursuit of this objective, The National Academies of Sciences selected a consulting team led by RSG and including IBI Group, Foursquare ITP, Joe Schwieterman, and Brian Antolin for National Highway Cooperative Research Program (NCHRP) Project 08-133.
Get Involved
Bus carriers may opt-in to participate in the ICBA by completing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU serves dual purposes to 1) signify carrier interest in participation and 2) provide participating carriers with details and assurances of how data will be used and protected.
For this project, the consulting team is in place to facilitate carrier participation. The project team will work with carriers to develop and upload GTFS data for the ICBA. For any questions about this project or about potential participation, please contact us at BusAtlas@rsginc.com.