[GTFS Fares v2] Add rider_categories.txt

[tzujenchanmbd]

The rider_categories.txt file is part of the GTFS-Fares v2 proposal, aimed at modeling rider categories that are eligible for certain fares.

In the August and September meetings, the working group reached the following consensus:

• rider_category_id will be referenced in fare_products.txt
• Not include min_age and max_age fields for now
• Add a field to indicate the default rider category

Changes in this PR

• Add rider_categories.txt file
• Add fare_products.rider_category_id field and update the primary key of fare_products.txt
• Add content to the description of fare_product_id

For previous discussions please see the working group meeting note
Comments and questions welcome!

Side note: Currently the fares working group is primarily discussing fare use cases. However, in the future this file may be used for use cases such as service eligibility.

[tzujenchanmbd]

Quick updates:

• TriMet has published rider category data based on this proposal. http://developer.trimet.org/schedule/gtfs.zip

• As per this Slack thread:

  • Cal-ITP plans to add rider category data in early 2025
  • Transit is working on implementation

[sberkley]

Nice. Sound Transit has a semi-complete production of Fares v2 data that we'll be making fully complete in the next couple months. We can add rider_categories.txt as well since it applies to several of our fare products.

[drewda]

Hi @tzujenchanmbd, the SF Bay Area Regional Feed includes a rider_categories.txt file:

rider_category_id,rider_category_name,min_age,max_age,eligibility_url
adult,Adult (18-65),18,65,
adult-2,Adult,,,
youth,Youth (5-18),5,18,
youth-2,Youth (6-18),6,18,
child,Child (Under 5),0,4,
child-2,Child (Under 6),0,5,
smd,Senior,65,,
smd,Person with disabilities,,,
smd,Medicare recipient,,,
smdy,Senior,65,,
smdy,Person with disabilities,,,
smdy,Medicare recipient,,,
smdy,Youth,5,18,
AM:discount,Capitol Corridor (Disabled),,,https://www.capitolcorridor.org/disabled-passenger-discount/
AM:discount,Capitol Corridor (Senior),62,,https://www.capitolcorridor.org/senior-discounts/
MA:muir-youth,Marin Transit (15 and under),,15,
SR:veteran,Santa Rosa CityBus (U.S. Veteran),,,https://srcity.org/1658/Fares
ST:super-senior,SolTrans (Super Senior),80,,
AF:senior,Angel Island Tiburon Ferry (Senior),65,,
AF:child,Angel Island Tiburon Ferry (Child),6,12,
AF:small-child,Angel Island Tiburon Ferry (Small Child),3,5,
AF:toddler,Angel Island Tiburon Ferry (Toddler),,2,
AF:adult,Angel Island Tiburon Ferry (Adult),13,64,

[tzujenchanmbd]

Thanks @sberkley & @drewda!

@drewda any plan to update the file to include the is_default_fare_category field?

[drewda]

@tzujenchanmbd yes, we can add the is_default_fare_category column when this PR is adopted

Also in case it's useful to others, we maintain a list of the Fares-v2 tables in the SF Bay Area Regional Feed, which we can update as the remaining proposed tables are adopted: https://www.interline.io/blog/mtc-regional-gtfs-feed-fares-updates/#gtfs-fares-v2-base-implementation-and-future-additions-to-the-specification