What is an STC
Short term change (STC) means temporary change of closed stops or canceled lines in a short period of time such as day, a few days or even a few months.
Common scenarios: bus routes are diverted or canceled due to changes like road closures, constructions etc; stations closed; no service due to strike.
Why do we need it?
Usually changes of canceling stops or lines aren’t updated in the GTFS provided by the agencies.
Meaning, there’s only a service alert that notifies the user about the change.
STCs are our way in Moovit to update these changes in the GTFS data.
If the stop is canceled and there’s an STC, the user won’t get results of the canceled stop in the trip plan suggestions.
When we create STC there are two important details that we need to create STC:
1. Clear start & end date
2. Clear description of the change
There are two types of STCs:
1.Cancel Trips - applies when there’s no service on the entire line or a specific headsign
2. Bypass - applies when line won’t serve some stops of the route"
STC affect and impact
When we create STC and implement the changes in the app, it allows the user to get alternatives to the stops or lines that are canceled.
We have STC we show in the app:
Accurate results, updated GTFS and trips departures.
Written text -how to analyze bypass changes
When creating bypass STC, the stops that are closed aren’t written clearly, and sometimes we need to understand what are the exact stops that are closed before we close them in STC.
Let’s take a look at the following example:
Route 60 is on diversion in both directions until 18:00 on Wednesday 19 July via Stanford Way, Stanford Road and London Road due to gas works. Buses towards Croydon are missing stops from Rosemead Avenue to Goldwell Road. Buses towards Streatham are missing stops from Galpins Road/London Road to Northborough Road.
In this example, we need to close the stops in direction Croydon from a stop called “Rosemead Avenue” until a stop “Goldwell Road”, and in the direction of Streatham from a stop called “Galpins Road/London Road” until a stop called “Northborough Road”.
All the stops from Rosemead Avenue to Goldwell Road are closed, and also all the stops from Galpins Road/London Road to Northborough Road.
Sometimes, we will need to follow an alternative route on the map to understand in which the bus will not stop.
Let’s take a look at this example:
Line 47:
Buses will operate in both directions via 47th, Ashland, 51st, Damen, and 47th.
In this example, we can see that we don’t have the names of the closed stops, and instead there’s a description of the alternative route the line will drive on.
In this case, we will go to Google maps and in the search bar we’ll put the names of the streets in which the line will start its detour. In this example it will be “47th and Ashland”, then we will copy the coordinates we got to the search box and click on enter to see which stops will be closed.
We’ll mark the first stop the line will not stop at, and then we will follow on the map to see which additional stops will be closed too.
Note: The line is on diversion in both directions, meaning we need to click all the stops that will be missed in the original route.
How to add STC in the new editor?
How to create STCs?
In order to create STC, we need to enter the new editor, under the section
"Service Alerts":
https://mooviters.moovit.com/editor/stops
This is the flow:
Click on Service Alerts and then on "Short Term Changes" tab. Click on Add and then fill in the details such as dates, lines and stops that are affected, write a short description and then click on save.
When adding time periods, there are two types of time that can be added.
Types of period times:
There are two types of time periods: single and multiple.
Single -
Use a single date when the change is a one-time event.
For example:
"STATION IMPROVEMENTS
11 PM Fri, Nov 30 to 5 AM Mon, Dec 3 Inwood-bound A trains skip 72, 81, 86, 96, 103, 110, 116 and 135 Sts in Manhattan."
The dates for this alert are from 30.11 at 23:00 until 3.12 at 5:00 and during these days train won't stop at the following stops 72, 81, 86, 96, 103, 110, 116 and 135 Sts in Manhattan.
Here’s how to do it:
After we click on create STC, we click on add, and we'll put the start & end dates for the STC, and hours which will define the start & end time.
Multiple -
Use multiple dates when the change is recurrent such as daily, on weekends only etc.
For example:
Buses are diverted every night (nightly) at the hours 22:00 until 6:00 the day after.
Here's how to do it:
After we click on create STC, we click on add, and we'll put the start & end dates and hours for the STC and then select the days that the changes apply.
We can click on ‘All’ if the change occurs throughout the entire week.
Pay attention:
There's a limit for doing multiple STC. You can do STC for multiple dates for up to one month only.
Adding cancel trips STC:
Cancel trip is used when there’s no service on the entire line/headsign and we need to cancel all the trips for this line/headsign.
For example:
CIRCLE LINE: Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 October, before 1130 and after 1900 each day, no service on the entire Circle line.
To create STC we need to know:
Data Source
Start and End Date
Agency
Line name or number
Trips to be canceled.
1. Click create STC, and add the relevant dates, choose the line, and then click on apply filters.
2. After clicking on 'apply filters' we'll see the the agency name, the transit type, the line and its headsigns
3. Click on the correct line and apply filters again.
4. All the details are set up, now just need to name the STC in the description for an easier search.
For Example: Line X cancel trips - no service on the entire line.
Before clicking on save, double check that all the details are correct: the dates fit, we marked the right stations & etc.
Then you will get a message 'STC added successfully'.
Adding Bypass STC:
Bypass is used when the line can’t stop at some stops. Meaning the bus or train won't serve some stops in the original route.
From: 08/01/2020 10:58
To: 10/01/2020 23:59
HOOK LANE, DA16: Route 51 is on diversion as the road is closed northbound due to Thames Water utility works. Buses headed northbound towards Woolwich are diverted from Hook Lane via Churchfield Road and Bellegrove Road to line of route. Buses will not serve Bellegrove Road / Churchfield Road bus
To create STC we need to know:
Data Source
Start and End Date
Agency
Line name or number
Stops that will be closed
1. Click create STC, and add the relevant dates, choose the line, and then click on apply filters.
2. After clicking on 'apply filters' we'll see the the agency name, the transit type, the line and its headsigns
3. Click on the correct line and apply filters again.
4. Click on the correct headsign (the direction which stops will be closed), and then you will see the trip details on the map, then select the stops that are closed and click on apply filters.
5. All the details are set up, now just need to name the STC in the description for an easier search.
For Example: Line X bypass - stops X Y Z are closed.
Before clicking on save, double check that all the details are correct: the dates fit, we marked the right stations & etc.
Then you will get a message 'STC added successfully'.
Note: the STCs that you’ll create will not be automatically in the app.
The OM will need to manually validate them by enqueue.
Therefore, you will need to communicate every time you do an STC to your OM for them to validate them
After the OM enqueues the STCs, they will be loaded to the app during the night.
STC limitation and FAQ
STC Limitations:
There are several cases where we can’t create an STC:
1. Content Is Not Relevant - information that isn't regarding route changes such as elevator broke, fare changes, etc.
2. Not Enough Time to Implement - remember, the info you entered will only be in the app after a load, the next day, not immediately.
3.Detour-Add Stops - we don't have this ability to add stops to trips yet
4. Timetable Change - There is a timetable change, a new schedule etc.
5. Service Change - Choose this option when the route has changed, but there are no canceled stops, or when shuttles replace the stations that have been canceled.
6. Delay
7. Pickup/Dropoff Change- Choose this option when a stop is canceled but the new stop or the temporary stop instead is located at a distance of 200 meters maximum.
8. Headsign Change name
9. Agency Updated - the change is already in the app and was updated by the agency.
10. Old Alert - Choose this option when the alert is old
11. No Dates - Choose this option when there is no clear ending date to the STC
Other - All the other scenarios. It’s usually because the alert doesn't have enough info etc.
FAQs and Reminders:
- Do I need to be in the data source I want to create the STC for?
Yes, otherwise you won't be able to create for the right agency, or to find the STC you created. - Can I create an STC without connecting to a Service Alert?
Yes, you need to click on 'short term changes' tab and then 'Add'. In the window you'll be able to create your STC. You'll need to add the dates and time and fill in all the details. - If I made a mistake in the STC, can I edit before it goes live in the app?
You can only edit the dates of your STC as long as it's not active. Meaning, if the STC is already active, nothing can be changed. If it's wrong, ask the OM to cancel the STC for you.
- Can I extend the time period of an STC before it expires?
Yes, you can. You just need to click on 'use as a template' and add the extended dates.
- What do I do if after I clicked on apply filters and the population is red and I can't save the STC?
You should first check the headsigns. If there are more than 1 selected headsigns and multiple lines, the error will occur.
For STCs that are not bypass, you should also check if you include more than one transit type in one STCs. If yes, you should create STC per transit type.
- How long is the maximum time I should do an STC for?
5 months tops from the start to end date.