Accident – (1) Any time any part of a vehicle comes in contact with anything other than the tires
touching the pavement. (2) Any time a customer is injured as a direct result of contact with our
service.
Accessibility – The extent to which facilities, including transit vehicles, are free of barriers and can
be used by people who have disabilities, including wheelchair users.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – Passed by Congress in 1990, this Act mandates equal
opportunities for people with disabilities in the areas of employment, transportation,
communications and public accommodations. Under this Act, transportation providers are required
to purchase lift or ramp equipped vehicles for fixed-route services and must ensure system-wide
accessibility of their demand-responsive services to people with disabilities. Public transit
providers must also supplement their fixed-route services with complementary paratransit
services for those people unable to use fixed-route service because of their disability.
ADA Complementary Paratransit Service – The ADA requires public transit agencies that provide
fixed-route service to provide “complementary paratransit” services to people with disabilities
who cannot use the fixed-route bus because of a disability. The ADA regulations specifically
define a population of customers who are entitled to this service as a civil right. The regulations
also define minimum service characteristics that must be met for this service to be
considered equivalent to the fixed-route service it is intended to complement. In general, ADA complementary paratransit service must be provided within 3/4 of a mile of a bus route at the same hours and days,for no more than twice the regular fixed route fare.
Bus Shelter – A structure constructed near a bus stop to provide seating and protection from the
weather for the convenience of waiting passengers.
Buy America – Federal transportation law which requires that all purchases of vehicles,
equipment or any other manufactured item be of U.S.-made and assembled components, unless
the purchase price is less than $150,000 or the U.S. Department of Transportation has given the
purchaser a Buy America waiver.
Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) – The standardized driver’s license required of heavy duty bus
and truck drivers in every state. Covers drivers of any vehicle manufactured to seat 15 or more
passengers (plus driver) or over 13 tons gross vehicle weight. The CDL is mandated by the
Federal government in the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986.
Charter Bus Regulations – FTA develops, issues, and enforces regulations to govern the agency’s
financial assistance programs for public transportation. Transit agencies who receive federal funds
are precluded from providing charter service and competing with private charter operators.
Deadhead Operation – Deadhead is paid time that includes leaving or returning to the garage or
yard facility, changing routes, or when there is no expectation of carrying revenue passengers.
Demand Response Service – A type of transit service where individual passengers can request
transportation from a specific location to another specific location at a certain time. Transit vehicles
providing demand-response service do not follow a fixed route, but travel throughout the
community transporting passengers according to their specific requests. Can also be called “dial-a-ride.”
These services usually, but not always, require advance reservations.
Route Deviation Service – A hybrid of fixed-route and demand-response services. With this type
of service, a bus or van stops at fixed points and keeps to a timetable but can deviate its course
between two stops to go to a specific location for a pre-scheduled request. Deviated fix route
service is often used to provide accessibility to people with disabilities.
Dial-A-Ride Service: Another term for demand-response service (see above) where the rider
telephones (or “dials”) to request service.
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) – A program to remedy past and current discrimination,
to ensure a level playing field, foster equal opportunity in DOT-assisted contracts, improve the
flexibility and efficiency of the DBE Program, and reduce burdens on small businesses.
Dispatcher – Refers to an individual who combines bus operators, run assignments, and buses
that provide transportation service to passengers.
Drug and Alcohol Testing Regulations – The U.S. Department of Transportation implemented the
Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act in December 1992. The Federal Transit
Administration’s drug and alcohol rules address testing of “safety sensitive” employees in its
Section 5307, 5339, and 5311 programs. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration rules
address testing of all other employees required to have a Commercial Driver’s License (see above),
including many employees of Section 5310 assisted transportation operations.
Fares – All income received directly from passengers, either paid in cash or through pre-paid
tickets, passes, etc. It includes donations from those passengers who donate money on the
vehicle.
Federal Transit Administration (FTA) – A component of the U.S. Department of Transportation
that administers federal funding to support a variety of locally planned, constructed, and
operated public transportation systems throughout the U.S., including buses, subways, light
rail, commuter rail, streetcars, monorail, passenger ferry boats, inclined railways, and people
movers. FTA provides financial assistance for capital, operating and planning costs of these
public transportation systems. It also sponsors research, training, technical assistance and
demonstration programs.
Fixed Route Service-Transit services where vehicles run on regular,scheduled routes with fixed stops
and no deviation. Typically, fixed-route service is characterized by printed schedules or
timetables, designated bus stops where passengers board and alight, and the use of larger transit
vehicles.
Four Point Securement System – Refers to an on board securement system for wheelchairs, three wheel
and four-wheel scooters. The system incorporates four seat belt type straps that attach to
the frame of a mobility device as a way to keep it from moving or rolling while on the bus.
Headway – The time interval between vehicles moving in the public programs, or provide payment through some contractual arrangement. Vehicles operated in fare free service are considered in revenue service. Revenue service includes layover/recovery time. Revenue service excludes deadhead, vehicle maintenance testing, school bus service, and charter service.
Incident – An unusual activity such as a passenger fall outside the bus, property damage occurring
within the vehicle, disruptive passengers, any complaints you may receive, etc.
Intelligent Transportation Systems – Refers to a broad range of wireless and wire line
communications-based information and electronic technologies. When integrated into the
transportation system’s infrastructure and into vehicles themselves, these technologies relieve
congestion, improve safety and enhance productivity. ITS is made up of 16 types of technology
based systems, divided into intelligent infrastructure systems and intelligent vehicle systems.
Low Floor Bus- Refers to a bus that does not have steps. Building a bus floor at one level between
the front to rear doors allows passengers to enter and exit more quickly. The addition of steps
usually adds boarding and alighting time, especially for passengers with limited mobility.
National Transit Database (NTD) – The NTD was established by Congress to be the nation’s primary
source for information and statistics on the transit systems of the United States. Recipients or
beneficiaries of grants from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) are required by statute to
submit data to the NTD.
No Show – A passenger scheduled for a demand-response or paratransit trip who does not appear
at the designated pick-up place and time and does not cancel the trip in advance. Passengers who
repeatedly fail to show for scheduled service may have their right to service suspended, subject
to an appeals process.
Pre-Award/Post-Delivery Audit Requirements– Since 1991, FTA has required recipients of Sections
5307, 5339, 5310 and 5311 funds to carry out audits of vehicles and other rolling stock
purchased with FTA money. These audits are to ensure that vehicles are manufactured
according to specification and comply with applicable Buy America and Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards.
Revenue Hours/Service – The time when a vehicle is available to the general public and there is an expectation of carrying passengers. These passengers either directly pay fares, are subsidized by public programs, or provide payment through some contractual arrangement. Vehicles operated in fare free service are considered in revenue service. Revenue service includes layover/recovery time. Revenue service excludes deadhead, vehicle maintenance testing, school bus service, and charter service.
Section 5311 Grant Funding – The formula program that provides capital and operating assistance
grants to public transit systems in rural and small urban areas with populations of less than
50,000. Funding is apportioned by a statutory formula that is based on the latest U.S. Census
figures of areas with a population less than 50,000.
Title VI – A title of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that ensures that no person in the United States
will be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, or national origin.
