Every Stop Counts: Prioritizing Bus Stop Accessibility with GIS
Every Stop Counts: Prioritizing Bus Stop Accessibility with GIS
Abstract
Accessible transit begins long before a passenger boards a bus. The Tri-County Regional Planning Commission, in partnership with Greater Peoria Mass Transit District (CityLink), developed the Bus Stop Accessibility Plan to create a data-driven framework for improving accessibility, safety, and rider experience throughout the Greater Peoria region. The project involved a comprehensive inventory of all 887 unique bus stops within the CityLink fixed-route service area, documenting critical accessibility features and amenities including sidewalks, curb ramps, landing pads, shelters, benches, lighting, and signage. This presentation highlights how General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) files, mobile data collection via Survey123, and spatial analysis with ArcGIS Pro were used to transform a regional bus stop inventory into a prioritization and decision-support tool. Attendees will learn how field-collected data were combined with accessibility criteria, rider needs, and stakeholder input to develop a scoring methodology that ranks bus stops according to improvement needs and investment priorities. The process supports compliance with ADA guidelines while also advancing broader goals related to mobility, transit equity, and quality of life in the Peoria area.