We’re thrilled to share that AB 1599, the California Transit Stop Registry Act, has been signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom! Authored by Assemblymember Patrick Ahrens, this landmark legislation will make it easier for riders across California to find, understand, and use public transit—especially when traveling between different agencies and jurisdictions.

Move LA, AARP, Streets For All , Seamless Bay Area, and the California Transit Association came together to bring this bill to fruition. This is a continuation of our work to improve the rider experience by adding more amenities like bus shelters.This victory reflects the persistence and collaboration of advocates, riders, public agencies, and partners committed to making transit more seamless and accessible statewide.

What AB 1599 Delivers

The new law will require Caltrans to establish a centralized registry with standardized information for transit stops, including:

• A consistent stop name and precise location

• A unique statewide identifier for each transit stop

• Information about amenities at each stop, including seating and shelter

• Greater consistency in the data transit agencies publish for trip-planning apps, agency websites, and public datasets

Transit operators will use the registry’s information and unique stop IDs in the data they share, helping ensure that one physical stop is recognized as the same stop across systems and applications.

Why It Matters for Riders

For transit riders, better stop data means a more reliable and less confusing journey.

Today, a stop served by multiple agencies can appear under different names, locations, or IDs in different apps—even when it is the exact same physical bus stop. AB 1599 will help eliminate that confusion, making it easier for trip-planning tools to direct riders to the right place and support smoother transfers between local, regional, and intercity services.

This statewide standard also creates a stronger foundation for:

• More accurate information in Google Maps, Apple Maps, Transit, and other trip-planning tools

• Easier transfers between transit systems

• Better identification of where stops lack seating, shelter, and other rider amenities

• Smarter service planning, accessibility improvements, and equity analysis

• More coordinated public transit across California’s more than 200 transit agencies

Thank you to Assemblymember Ahrens for his leadership, Governor Newsom for signing this important bill, and every advocate, transit professional, and rider who helped make the case for a better-connected California. 

AB 1599 shows what is possible when we focus on the everyday experience of riders. We look forward to seeing the California Transit Stop Registry make transit easier to navigate, more accessible, and more dependable for communities across the state.