How Do I Get My Bus Routes on Google Maps?

Q: How do I get my bus routes on Google Maps?

To add your bus routes to Google Maps: 1) Create a GTFS feed with your routes and schedules, 2) Validate it to fix errors, 3) Host the file at a public URL, 4) Submit through Google Transit Partner Dashboard. Review takes 2-4 weeks.

Just create a GTFS feed for your system, validate it, host it online, and then submit the link through the Google Transit Partner Dashboard.

Getting your transit routes on Google Maps is free, but requires creating data in a specific format called GTFS (General Transit Feed Specification). Here's the process:

Step 1: Create Your GTFS Feed

A GTFS feed is a ZIP file containing CSV files that describe your transit system:

• agency.txt – Your company name, website, timezone

• stops.txt – All stop locations with GPS coordinates

• routes.txt – Your route names and numbers

• trips.txt – Each trip a vehicle makes

• stop_times.txt – Arrival times at each stop

• calendar.txt – Which days services operate

You can create these files manually in spreadsheet software, use dedicated GTFS editing tools, or export from scheduling software that supports GTFS.

Before you send anything to Google, you need to check it for errors. Google's team will reject any feed that has validation issues, so catching them early will save you weeks of back-and-forth.

Step 2: Validate Your Feed

Drop your ZIP file into GTFS Guru – it'll show you if you're missing any fields or if your coordinates are slightly off.

Step 3: Host Your Feed (Recommended)

While you can initially upload a ZIP file directly to the Google Transit Partner Dashboard for testing, Google ultimately needs to fetch your data from a stable URL to handle regular updates. You should eventually host your ZIP file on:

• Your website (e.g., yourcompany.com/gtfs/feed.zip)

• Cloud storage (Google Cloud, AWS S3, etc.)

• An open data portal

The URL must be publicly accessible without login.

Step 4: Register and Submit to Google

If you're a new partner, you first need to fill out the Google Transit Partner participation form. For a detailed overview of the process, see the Official Google Transit Onboarding Guide.

Once you're set up, go to the Google Transit Partner Dashboard and sign in with a Google account. If your agency isn't registered yet, create a new profile with your company information.

Add your feed URL (or upload your ZIP). Google will fetch it, run validation, and show you a preview of how your routes will appear. Review the preview carefully – check that stops are in the right places and schedules look correct.

Once you submit, Google's team will take a look. This step usually takes 2-4 weeks. They might reach out with a few questions or ask for small corrections.

Once everything looks good and they hit the "approve" button, your routes will start showing up in Google Maps within a few days.

You must have permission. You need to be the actual transit operator or have their explicit "okay" to publish the data.

Accuracy is everything. Your data needs to match what's happening on the street. If your schedules are outdated, Google will eventually flag or remove the feed.

Keep it fresh. Whenever your schedules change, update your ZIP file. Google will handle the re-fetching automatically.

How Long Does It Take?

• Creating a simple feed: 1–5 days (depending on system size)

• Google review: 2–4 weeks

• Total time to go live: 3–6 weeks typically

Is It Free?

Yes. Google doesn't charge transit agencies to include their data. The only costs are your time to create and maintain the feed.