Create a New Timed Pattern – Trillium Support

Timed Patterns determine how long it takes to travel a Stop Pattern, including the intervals between each stop.

Create a New Timed Pattern if None Exist

If a Stop Pattern has no Timed Patterns associated with it, the large Add Timed Pattern link is available to the right of the Stop Pattern.

Name your Timed Pattern. You may choose to name it by how long it takes to travel the Stop Pattern (such as "50 mins",) what specific Trip it refers to (such as "6:35am",) or what time of day it operates (such as "AM" or "Peak.")

Create a New Timed Pattern If One Already Exists

If a Stop Pattern already has one or more Timed Patterns associated with it, you can create a new one by clicking to the right of the Timed Patterns Select menu.

Add Timing to a Timed Pattern

Now that a new Timed Pattern had been added, we can now specify arrival times.

Initially, a Timed Pattern displays travel time from the first stop (at 00:00:00, or HH:MM:SS). In the following example, the Afternoon Timed Pattern takes 15 minutes to complete with arrival times set at 2 minutes and 7 minutes respectively (these may be called Timepoints at your agency, but Timepoints in GTFS have a specific meaning. Learn more about Timepoints.)

To view how this Timed Pattern will operate starting at a specific time, use the Show times with offset feature to set a start time (using HH:MM:SS.) In the below example, this Trip would start at 2:00pm (14:00:00.) The arrival times throughout the Timed Pattern now reflect the actual timing of that Trip.

When adding times to your Timed Pattern, only use arrival time unless you wish to show a stop that has a different arrival and departure time. See below for more details.

Note: A new Timed Pattern has been created, but it is not currently scheduled. In order to add this Timed Pattern to your Schedule, you must assign it to a Trip.

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Adding Headsigns

Headsigns can be set at two different places in a Pattern.

One Headsign for a Stop Pattern and all its Timed Patterns

If a Stop Pattern only employs one Headsign for all Trips using that Stop Pattern (including all its Timed Patterns) the Headsign can be set at the top level of the Pattern:

More than One Headsign for a Stop Pattern or Timed Pattern

If a Stop Pattern is a Loop, or the Headsign changes partway through the Stop Pattern, or different Timed Patterns on a Stop Pattern have different Headsigns (such as the last run of the day having a headsign that says "Drop Off Only,") you can define when a Headsign should change in the Timed Pattern.

Enhancing Your Timed Pattern

Timed Patterns also allow you to add additional data to your GTFS, such as separate departure times (to account for dwell times,) pick up and drop off variables, and Timepoints.

Departure Times

Departure times are used only for when a bus dwells at a stop for more than one minute. Including a departure time is optional in GTFS Manager, but may provide a better rider experience if the bus dwells at a bus stop for any significant length of time, such as at transfer points. When included a rider wishing to offboard at a stop will be given a different stop time in an itinerary than a rider wishing to onboard at a stop.

Pickup and Drop off Variables

You can assign certain additional attributes to a stop, even if it doesn't have an arrival time associated with it.

No Pickup/No Drop off Available

If a stop does not allow Pickup or Drop off (such as a last Trip of the day, or a special express service,) you can disallow apps from providing this stop as a possible pickup or drop off stop for Trips using this Timed Pattern.

Communicate with Driver

If a stop is a "flag stop," you can include this data point to indicate that a rider should communicate with the driver in order to get picked up or dropped off. Note that Google Maps does not take this value into account at this time.

Call Ahead for Pickup/Drop off

If a rider should call the agency ahead of pickup or drop off, this stop will include instructions for the rider to call the agency and provide the agency phone number included in your GTFS.

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Flag Stops and On Demand Stops

Timepoints

Timepoints may be what your agency refers to arrival times as. In GTFS, this is a specific value that can be turned on and off in your Timed Pattern.

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