Sound Transit has a ton of indirection
Sound Transit buses aren't ran by Sound Transit.
Metro Transit
operates these Sound Transit routes:
Community Transit
operates these Sound Transit routes:
Pierce Transit
operates these Sound Transit routes:
Sound Transit
operates these Sound Transit routes:
Sound Transit's website doesn't use Sound Transit servers. Their website makes CORS calls to 
OneBusAway. Their open data section also points developers to OneBusAway instead of the specific agencies operating the routes, at least as of writing.
I stumbled upon all this while debugging transit ETAs. Let me show you one artifact of my
research, what happens when you list
Metro Transit's official GTFS + GTFS-RT,
OneBusAway's GTFS-RT,
OneBusAway's ETAs, and
Transit's stop ETAs filtered to realtime ETAs for Metro Transit at the stop 15th Ave NE & NE 43rd St all at once.
271 Issaquah Transit Center Bellevue route #100162 trip #581704380
5m ago as of 5m ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8096220
2m ago as of 76s ago • ✅ vehicle 6945 running
49 Downtown Seattle Broadway route #100447 trip #801199940
2m ago as of 70s ago • ✅ vehicle 4318 running
372 UW Bothell/Cascadia College Kenmore route #100214 trip #694306810
87s ago as of 73s ago • ✅ vehicle 6973 running
87s ago as of 73s ago
87s ago as of 73s ago • ✅ vehicle 6973 running
271 Eastgate P&R Bellevue route #100162 trip #664291350
in 25s • ❌ no vehicle
in 10s as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8095788
in 10s as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8095788 on trip 664291350
48 Mount Baker Transit Center Central District route #100228 trip #721359670
in 5m as of 67s ago • ✅ vehicle 8021 running
in 4m as of 66s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8095342
in 4m as of 67s ago
in 4m as of 66s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8095342 on trip 721359670
in 4m as of 67s ago • ✅ vehicle 8021 running
in 3m
372 UW Bothell/Cascadia College Kenmore route #100214 trip #694306900
in 5m • ❌ no vehicle
in 5m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8096216
in 5m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8096216 on trip 694306900
in 3m
44 University Of Washington Medical Center Wallingford route #100224 trip #664048390
in 7m as of 67s ago • ✅ vehicle 4513 running
in 7m as of 67s ago
in 7m as of 67s ago • ✅ vehicle 4513 running
in 5m
70 Downtown Seattle Fairview route #100264 trip #801593900
in 7m • ❌ no vehicle
in 7m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8095526
in 7m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8095526 on trip 801593890
in 5m
542 Redmond route #100511 trip #608344590
in 9m
49 Downtown Seattle Broadway route #100447 trip #801199920
in 12m • ❌ no vehicle
in 12m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8094974
in 12m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8094974 on trip 801199980
in 10m
372 UW Bothell/Cascadia College Kenmore route #100214 trip #694306920
in 13m • ❌ no vehicle
in 13m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8096151
in 13m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8096151 on trip 694306920
in 11m
271 Issaquah Transit Center Bellevue route #100162 trip #581745970
in 14m • ❌ no vehicle
in 14m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8095782
in 14m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8095782 on trip 720966090
in 12m
556 Issaquah route #100451 trip #635882050
in 13m
48 Mount Baker Transit Center Central District route #100228 trip #721359950
in 18m • ❌ no vehicle
in 18m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8095244
in 18m as of 4m ago
in 18m as of 4m ago • ⏰ vehicle 8047 on other trip 759805630
in 18m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8095244 on trip 759805630
in 17m
372 UW Bothell/Cascadia College Kenmore route #100214 trip #694306890
in 21m • ❌ no vehicle
in 21m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8096150
in 21m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8096150 on trip 694306870
in 19m
70 Downtown Seattle Fairview route #100264 trip #801593620
in 22m • ❌ no vehicle
in 22m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8095525
in 22m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8095525 on trip 801593580
in 20m
44 University Of Washington Medical Center Wallingford route #100224 trip #664047440
in 23m as of 68s ago • ✅ vehicle 4559 running
in 23m as of 68s ago
in 23m as of 68s ago • ✅ vehicle 4559 running
in 21m
271 Eastgate P&R Bellevue route #100162 trip #569496330
in 26m • ❌ no vehicle
in 26m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8096225
in 26m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8096225 on trip 720966390
in 24m
44 University Of Washington Medical Center Wallingford route #100224 trip #664047030
in 28m as of 74s ago • ✅ vehicle 4558 running
in 28m as of 74s ago
in 28m as of 74s ago • ✅ vehicle 4558 running
in 26m
372 UW Bothell/Cascadia College Kenmore route #100214 trip #694306450
in 29m as of 68s ago • ✅ vehicle 6999 running
in 29m as of 68s ago
in 29m as of 66s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8096155
in 29m as of 68s ago • ⏰ vehicle 6999 on other trip 694306440
in 29m as of 66s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8096155 on trip 694306440
in 27m
49 Downtown Seattle Broadway route #100447 trip #801199910
in 32m • ❌ no vehicle
in 32m as of 75s ago
in 32m as of 75s ago • ⏰ vehicle 4355 on other trip 801199960
in 30m
542 Redmond route #100511 trip #569571200
in 32m
48 Mount Baker Transit Center Central District route #100228 trip #721361730
in 33m • ❌ no vehicle
in 33m as of 66s ago
in 33m as of 66s ago • ⏰ vehicle 8054 on other trip 759804690
in 32m
271 Eastgate P&R Bellevue route #100162 trip #569496080
in 36m • ❌ no vehicle
in 36m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8095792
in 36m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8095792 on trip 569496080
in 34m
372 UW Bothell/Cascadia College Kenmore route #100214 trip #694306980
in 37m • ❌ no vehicle
in 37m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8096139
in 37m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8096139 on trip 694306980
in 35m
44 University Of Washington Medical Center Wallingford route #100224 trip #664048030
in 37m as of 65s ago • ✅ vehicle 4502 running
in 37m as of 65s ago
in 37m as of 65s ago • ⏰ vehicle 4502 on other trip 664048230
in 36m
70 Downtown Seattle Fairview route #100264 trip #801593480
in 38m • ❌ no vehicle
in 38m as of 75s ago
in 38m as of 75s ago • ⏰ vehicle 8253 on other trip 801593460
in 36m
271 Issaquah Transit Center Bellevue route #100162 trip #587120120
in 46m • ❌ no vehicle
in 46m as of 69s ago
in 46m as of 69s ago • ⏰ vehicle 6994 on other trip 720967880
in 44m
44 University Of Washington Medical Center Wallingford route #100224 trip #664047010
in 47m • ❌ no vehicle
in 47m as of 72s ago
in 47m as of 72s ago • ⏰ vehicle 4539 on other trip 664046970
in 46m
48 Mount Baker Transit Center Central District route #100228 trip #721360280
in 48m • ❌ no vehicle
in 50m as of 2m ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8095355
in 48m as of 76s ago
in 48m as of 76s ago • ⏰ vehicle 6269 on other trip 759805370
in 50m as of 2m ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8095355 on trip 759805370
in 47m
49 Downtown Seattle Broadway route #100447 trip #801199890
in 52m • ❌ no vehicle
in 52m as of 75s ago
in 52m as of 75s ago • ⏰ vehicle 4408 on other trip 798196030
in 50m
70 Downtown Seattle Fairview route #100264 trip #801593010
in 52m • ❌ no vehicle
in 52m as of 63s ago
in 52m as of 63s ago • ⏰ vehicle 8207 on other trip 801593130
in 50m
542 Redmond route #100511 trip #569572690
in 52m
372 UW Bothell/Cascadia College Kenmore route #100214 trip #694306620
in 55m • ❌ no vehicle
in 55m as of 74s ago
in 55m as of 74s ago • ⏰ vehicle 6982 on other trip 694306610
in 53m
44 University Of Washington Medical Center Wallingford route #100224 trip #664047070
in 57m • ❌ no vehicle
in 57m as of 74s ago
in 57m as of 74s ago • ⏰ vehicle 4545 on other trip 664047080
in 56m
271 Eastgate P&R Bellevue route #100162 trip #569496430
in 58m • ❌ no vehicle
in 58m as of 72s ago
in 58m as of 72s ago • ⏰ vehicle 7248 on other trip 720966560
in 56m
48 Mount Baker Transit Center Central District route #100228 trip #721361700
in 63m • ❌ no vehicle
in 63m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8095306
in 63m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8095306 on trip 759804650
in 62m
44 University Of Washington Medical Center Wallingford route #100224 trip #664048600
in 67m • ❌ no vehicle
in 67m as of 65s ago
in 67m as of 65s ago • ⏰ vehicle 4560 on other trip 664048630
in 66m
372 UW Bothell/Cascadia College Kenmore route #100214 trip #694306010
in 66m as of 66s ago • ⏰ vehicle 6929 on other trip 694305950
70 Downtown Seattle Fairview route #100264 trip #801592950
in 67m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8095522 on trip 801593140
49 Downtown Seattle Broadway route #100447 trip #801199810
in 72m as of 3m ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8094978 on trip 801199970
44 University Of Washington Medical Center Wallingford route #100224 trip #664047920
in 77m • ❌ no vehicle
in 77m as of 64s ago
in 77m as of 64s ago • ⏰ vehicle 4524 on other trip 664047910
in 76m
271 Issaquah Bellevue route #100162 trip #569496280
in 78m as of 75s ago • ⏰ vehicle 7363 on other trip 720967930
48 Mount Baker Transit Center Central District route #100228 trip #721358380
in 78m as of 4m ago • ⏰ vehicle 8062 on other trip 721360070
in 78m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8095241 on trip 759804700
70 Downtown Seattle Fairview route #100264 trip #801593300
in 82m as of 63s ago • ⏰ vehicle 8214 on other trip 801593310
44 University Of Washington Medical Center Wallingford route #100224 trip #664046910
in 87m • ❌ no vehicle
in 87m as of 66s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8094923
in 87m as of 72s ago
in 87m as of 66s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8094923 on trip 664046950
in 87m as of 72s ago • ⏰ vehicle 4531 on other trip 664046950
in 86m
48 Mount Baker Transit Center Central District route #100228 trip #721358480
in 87m as of 67s ago • ⏰ vehicle 8013 on other trip 721360700
271 Eastgate P&R Bellevue route #100162 trip #569497120
in 88m as of 76s ago • ⏰ vehicle 7405 on other trip 721030250
372 UW Bothell/Cascadia College Kenmore route #100214 trip #694306770
in 88m as of 69s ago • ⏰ vehicle 6943 on other trip 694306710
49 Downtown Seattle Broadway route #100447 trip #801199860
in 92m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8094976 on trip 801199880
70 Downtown Seattle Fairview route #100264 trip #801594180
in 92m as of 67s ago • ⏰ vehicle 8245 on other trip 801594260
44 University Of Washington Medical Center Wallingford route #100224 trip #664047240
in 97m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8094896 on trip 664047300
271 Eastgate P&R Bellevue route #100162 trip #569495930
in 98m as of 2m ago • ⏰ vehicle 7384 on other trip 569495940
in 100m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8095787 on trip 569495940
44 University Of Washington Medical Center Wallingford route #100224 trip #664047730
in 107m as of 3m ago • ⏰ vehicle 4546 on other trip 664047670
in 107m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8094894 on trip 664047670
48 Mount Baker Transit Center Central District route #100228 trip #721359460
in 108m as of 72s ago • ⏰ vehicle 8063 on other trip 721359220
271 Issaquah Bellevue route #100162 trip #569497230
in 109m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8096222 on trip 721030290
372 UW Bothell/Cascadia College Kenmore route #100214 trip #694306250
in 110m as of 71s ago • ⏰ vehicle 6957 on other trip 694306200
49 Downtown Seattle Broadway route #100447 trip #801199790
in 112m as of 69s ago • ⏰ vehicle 4358 on other trip 801199990
70 Downtown Seattle Fairview route #100264 trip #816207880
in 112m as of 71s ago • ⏰ vehicle 8235 on other trip 801593190
44 University Of Washington Medical Center Wallingford route #100224 trip #664048410
in 117m as of 67s ago • ⏰ vehicle 4513 on other trip 664048390
372 UW Bothell/Cascadia College Kenmore route #100214 trip #694306410
in 120m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8096148 on trip 694306330
271 Eastgate P&R Bellevue route #100162 trip #569496920
in 122m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8096219 on trip 569496740
70 Downtown Seattle Fairview route #100264 trip #816208630
in 122m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8095526 on trip 801593890
48 Mount Baker Transit Center Central District route #100228 trip #721360490
in 123m as of 66s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8095342 on trip 721359670
in 123m as of 67s ago • ⏰ vehicle 8021 on other trip 721359670
44 University Of Washington Medical Center Wallingford route #100224 trip #664046920
in 127m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8094921 on trip 761112980
372 UW Bothell/Cascadia College Kenmore route #100214 trip #694306040
in 131m as of 66s ago • ⏰ vehicle 6900 on other trip 694306070
49 Downtown Seattle Broadway route #100447 trip #801199870
in 132m as of 70s ago • ⏰ vehicle 4318 on other trip 801199940
271 Eastgate P&R Bellevue route #100162 trip #569496790
in 133m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8096216 on trip 694306900
48 Mount Baker Transit Center Central District route #100228 trip #721360680
in 136m as of 4m ago • ⏰ vehicle 8047 on other trip 759805630
in 138m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8095244 on trip 759805630
44 University Of Washington Medical Center Wallingford route #100224 trip #664047250
in 137m as of 68s ago • ⏰ vehicle 4559 on other trip 664047440
70 Downtown Seattle Fairview route #100264 trip #801593680
in 141m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8095525 on trip 801593580
271 Issaquah Bellevue route #100162 trip #569496940
in 143m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8095788 on trip 664291350
44 University Of Washington Medical Center Wallingford route #100224 trip #664046990
in 147m as of 74s ago • ⏰ vehicle 4558 on other trip 664047030
372 UW Bothell/Cascadia College Kenmore route #100214 trip #694306700
in 150m as of 66s ago • ⏰ vehicle 6853 on other trip 694306640
48 Mount Baker Transit Center Central District route #100228 trip #721360830
in 151m as of 66s ago • ⏰ vehicle 8054 on other trip 759804690
49 Downtown Seattle Broadway route #100447 trip #801199770
in 152m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8094974 on trip 801199980
44 University Of Washington Medical Center Wallingford route #100224 trip #664048170
in 156m as of 65s ago • ⏰ vehicle 4502 on other trip 664048230
70 Downtown Seattle Fairview route #100264 trip #816208150
in 161m as of 75s ago • ⏰ vehicle 8253 on other trip 801593460
44 University Of Washington Medical Center Wallingford route #100224 trip #664046900
in 166m as of 72s ago • ⏰ vehicle 4539 on other trip 664046970
49 Downtown Seattle Broadway route #100447 trip #801199750
in 168m as of 75s ago • ⏰ vehicle 4355 on other trip 801199960
48 Mount Baker Transit Center Central District route #100228 trip #721359810
in 168m as of 76s ago • ⏰ vehicle 6269 on other trip 759805370
in 168m as of 2m ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8095355 on trip 759805370
372 UW Bothell/Cascadia College Kenmore route #100214 trip #694306800
in 170m as of 73s ago • ⏰ vehicle 6973 on other trip 694306810
70 Downtown Seattle Fairview route #100264 trip #801593050
in 171m as of 63s ago • ⏰ vehicle 8207 on other trip 801593130
44 University Of Washington Medical Center Wallingford route #100224 trip #664046810
in 175m as of 74s ago • ⏰ vehicle 4545 on other trip 664047080
372 UW Bothell/Cascadia College Kenmore route #100214 trip #694306000
in 180m as of 66s ago • ⏰ vehicle 6929 on other trip 694305950
48 Mount Baker Transit Center Central District route #100228 trip #721358510
in 183m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8095306 on trip 759804650
44 University Of Washington Medical Center Wallingford route #100224 trip #664048610
in 186m as of 65s ago • ⏰ vehicle 4560 on other trip 664048630
271 Eastgate P&R Bellevue route #100162 trip #569496350
in 188m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8096225 on trip 720966390
372 UW Bothell/Cascadia College Kenmore route #100214 trip #694306930
in 190m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8096151 on trip 694306920
49 Downtown Seattle Broadway route #100447 trip #801199700
in 191m as of 75s ago • ⏰ vehicle 4408 on other trip 798196030
70 Downtown Seattle Fairview route #100264 trip #816207680
in 191m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8095522 on trip 801593140
44 University Of Washington Medical Center Wallingford route #100224 trip #664047940
in 195m as of 64s ago • ⏰ vehicle 4524 on other trip 664047910
48 Mount Baker Transit Center Central District route #100228 trip #721359730
in 198m as of 4m ago • ⏰ vehicle 8062 on other trip 721360070
in 198m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8095241 on trip 759804700
372 UW Bothell/Cascadia College Kenmore route #100214 trip #694306860
in 200m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8096150 on trip 694306870
70 Downtown Seattle Fairview route #100264 trip #801593340
in 201m as of 63s ago • ⏰ vehicle 8214 on other trip 801593310
271 Eastgate P&R Bellevue route #100162 trip #569496510
in 203m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8095792 on trip 569496080
43 Capitol Hill University Of Washington Medical Center route #100223 trip #800584760
in 203m as of 66s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8094923 on trip 664046950
in 203m as of 72s ago • ⏰ vehicle 4531 on other trip 664046950
48 Mount Baker Transit Center Central District route #100228 trip #721358400
in 207m as of 67s ago • ⏰ vehicle 8013 on other trip 721360700
372 UW Bothell/Cascadia College Kenmore route #100214 trip #694306530
in 210m as of 68s ago • ⏰ vehicle 6999 on other trip 694306440
in 210m as of 66s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8096155 on trip 694306440
49 Downtown Seattle Broadway route #100447 trip #650118640
in 211m as of 3m ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8094978 on trip 801199970
70 Downtown Seattle Fairview route #100264 trip #816208830
in 211m as of 67s ago • ⏰ vehicle 8245 on other trip 801594260
44 University Of Washington Medical Center Wallingford route #100224 trip #664047380
in 214m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8094896 on trip 664047300
271 Issaquah Bellevue route #100162 trip #585519420
in 221m as of 72s ago • ⏰ vehicle 7248 on other trip 720966560
44 University Of Washington Medical Center Wallingford route #100224 trip #664047620
in 222m as of 3m ago • ⏰ vehicle 4546 on other trip 664047670
in 222m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8094894 on trip 664047670
48 Mount Baker Transit Center Central District route #100228 trip #721359510
in 228m as of 72s ago • ⏰ vehicle 8063 on other trip 721359220
49 Downtown Seattle Broadway route #100447 trip #650118650
in 231m as of 47s ago • 👻 ghost vehicle 8094976 on trip 801199880
70 Downtown Seattle Fairview route #100264 trip #816207930
in 231m as of 71s ago • ⏰ vehicle 8235 on other trip 801593190
43 Capitol Hill University Of Washington Medical Center route #100223 trip #800586420
in 231m as of 67s ago • ⏰ vehicle 4513 on other trip 664048390
271 Eastgate P&R Bellevue route #100162 trip #569554050
in 234m as of 69s ago • ⏰ vehicle 6994 on other trip 720967880
372 UW Bothell/Cascadia College Kenmore route #100214 trip #694306550
in 235m as of 74s ago • ⏰ vehicle 6982 on other trip 694306610
It turns out only
7 ETAs are linked to a vehicle, including 5 of the 6
ETAs that are definitely realtime. Then there's 15 ETAs where the vehicle can be inferred, and 15 unlinked to a vehicle (so OBA makes up a 👻 ghost vehicle), where I suspect the ETA isn't actually based on realtime data
and should be tagged as NO_DATA instead. Meanwhile
61 are a figment of OBA JSON's imagination, fixed here.