Your Transit Site Loses 40% of Riders Before They Find the Schedule
If you're a transit authority watching ridership slip while your website loads like it's 2012, you're not alone -- and you're fixable.
We build fast, accessible transit websites with real-time data integration, multi-language support, and WCAG AAA compliance. Built for riders, not bureaucracy.
Your rider lands on your homepage at 6:47 AM, searching for the next bus. The arrival board is static. The trip planner links to a third-party tool that's down. They close the tab and open Google Maps. Public transit website development rebuilds that moment -- GTFS-RT feeds power live countdown timers, CMS-managed service alerts target specific routes, and WCAG 2.2 AA compliance ensures screen readers don't hit dead ends. Your agency controls the rider experience instead of outsourcing it to Google. We deliver native trip planners with fare calculations, multilingual content engines that auto-detect language preference, and accessibility statement generators that update with every deploy. Six-week builds. Fixed fees starting at $12K. Your site becomes the source of truth, not the fallback.
What is holding your current website back?
Common gaps we find in nearly every audit.
How We Build This Right
Every safeguard, built in from Day 1.
GTFS & GTFS-RT Integration
Direct ingestion of static and real-time GTFS feeds for live arrival predictions, trip planning, and service alerts. No third-party middleware required.
WCAG 2.2 AA/AAA Compliance
Every component is built and tested against WCAG 2.2 success criteria. We audit with axe-core, screen readers, and manual keyboard navigation testing.
Section 508 & Title VI
Full compliance with Section 508 for federally funded agencies and Title VI language access requirements. Audit documentation included for FTA review.
Interactive Route Maps
Mapbox GL-powered route maps with stop-level detail, vehicle tracking overlays, and high-contrast modes for low-vision users.
CMS-Managed Alerts & Schedules
Non-technical staff can publish service alerts, detour notices, and schedule changes in minutes. No developer needed for day-to-day content updates.
Performance & Uptime Monitoring
Sub-second page loads on 3G connections. Built-in monitoring dashboards track Core Web Vitals and uptime SLAs critical for public-facing infrastructure.
What We Build
Purpose-built features for your industry.
Fails WCAG audits and exposes your agency to ADA complaints that threaten federal funding
Live countdown timers at every stop, pulled from GTFS-RT feeds and displayed with zero latency
Shows no real-time arrivals, so riders bypass your site entirely and trust Google Maps instead
Native trip planner calculates transfers, walking directions, and fares without leaving your domain
Requires developer tickets just to update a route schedule, leaving outdated info live for days
CMS-managed service alerts with route-level targeting, push hooks, and automatic expiration logic
Breaks on mobile devices where 70%+ of your ridership is actively searching for trip data
Full i18n framework supporting 12+ languages with auto-detection and per-page translation control
Offers zero multilingual support despite serving communities that require Title VI compliance
Interactive fare calculator links directly to mobile payment apps by zone, pass type, and rider category
Costs $30K+ annually to maintain a legacy CMS that accumulates security risk without improving
Auto-generated accessibility conformance reports that update with every deployment and pass audits
Built on a Modern, Secure Stack
Our Development Process
From discovery to launch. Quality at every step.
Data & Compliance Audit
Week 1-2We audit your existing GTFS feeds, current site accessibility, and FTA compliance documentation. This shapes the technical spec and surfaces quick wins early.
Information Architecture & Design
Week 3-5Rider journey mapping, stakeholder interviews, and high-fidelity prototypes tested with actual transit users. Every screen reviewed for WCAG conformance.
GTFS Integration & Build
Week 6-10Core platform development covering GTFS/GTFS-RT feed parsing, Mapbox route rendering, CMS configuration, and multilingual content scaffolding.
Accessibility QA & Load Testing
Week 11-12Full WCAG 2.2 audit with assistive technology testing, 508 compliance review, and load testing against peak ridership traffic patterns.
Launch & Staff Training
Week 13Production deployment with CDN edge caching, CMS training for operations staff, and 30 days of post-launch support. Monitoring dashboards go live on day one.
Ready to discuss your your transit site loses 40% of riders before they find the schedule project?
Get a free quoteFrequently Asked Questions
Explore related industries
200+ employee company? Complex multi-tenant, auction, or multi-location requirement? We have a dedicated enterprise capability track.
Get Your Free Transit Site Assessment
We'll review your current site, GTFS feeds, and compliance gaps -- quote delivered within 24 hours.
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Whether it's a migration, a new build, or an SEO challenge — the Social Animal team would love to hear from you.