| Accessibility |
The extent to which facilities are barrier free and useable by persons with
disabilities, including wheelchair users. |
| Advanced Design Bus |
See "Bus, Advanced Design." |
| Advanced Public Transportation Systems (APTS) |
Intelligent Vehicle Highway Systems (IVHS) technology that is designed to improve
transit services through advanced vehicle operations, communications, customer service and
market development. |
| Aerial Tramway |
An electric system of aerial cables with suspended unpowered passenger vehicles. The
vehicles are propelled by separate cables attached to the vehicle suspension system and
powered by engines or motors at a central location not on board the vehicle. |
| Alternative Fuels |
Low-polluting fuels which are used to propel a vehicle instead of high-sulfur diesel
or gasoline. Examples include methanol, ethanol, propane or compressed
natural gas, liquid natural gas, low-sulfur or "clean" diesel and
electricity. |
| Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) |
A major labor union representing workers in the transit industry; membership is
limited to operators, mechanics and other non-supervisory employees of the transit
industry. |
| American Public Transportation Association (APTA) |
The national, nonprofit trade association representing the public transit industry.
APTA members include more than 400 public transit systems, as well as state and local
departments of transportation and planning agencies, manufacturers and suppliers of
transit equipment, consultants, contractors and universities. |
| Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) |
A civil rights law passed by Congress in 1990 which makes it illegal to discriminate
against people with disabilities in employment, services provided by state and local
governments, public and private transportation, public accommodations and
telecommunications. |
| Annual Element |
Those transportation improvement projects, contained in an area's Transportation
Improvement Program (TIP), that are proposed for implementation in the current year.
The annual element is submitted to the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT)
as part of the required planning process. |
| Apportionment |
A federal budgetary term that refers to a statutorily prescribed division or
assignment of funds. It is based on prescribed formulas in the law and consists of
dividing authorized obligation authority for a specific program among transit systems. |
| Appropriation |
A federal budgetary term that refers to an act of Congress that permits federal
agencies to incur obligations and make payments out of the Treasury for specified
purposes. An appropriation act is the most common means of providing budget authority,
but in some cases the authorization legislation itself provides the budget
authority. |
| Arbitration |
A method of settling disputes where labor and management present their case to an
impartial third party, called an arbitrator, who has the responsibility of deciding the
case. |
| Arterial Street |
A major thoroughfare, used primarily for through traffic rather than for access to
adjacent land, that is characterized by high vehicular capacity and continuity of
movement. |
| Articulated Bus |
See "Bus, Articulated." |
| Authorization |
Basic, substantive legislation which establishes or continues the legal operation of a
federal program or agency, either indefinitely or for a specific period of time, or which
sanctions a particular type of obligation or expenditure within a program. An
authorization may set appropriation limits. See "Intermodal Surface
Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991." |
| Auto Restricted Zone (ARZ) |
An area in which normal automobile traffic is prohibited or limited to certain times,
and vehicular traffic is restricted to public transit, emergency vehicles, taxicabs and,
in some cases, delivery of goods. |
| Automated Guideway |
An electric railway operating without vehicle operators or other crew on board the
vehicle. |
| Automatic Fare Collection System (AFC) |
A system of controls and equipment that automatically admits passengers on insertion
of the correct fare in coins, tokens, tickets or farecards; it may include special
equipment for transporting and counting revenues. |
| Automatic Vehicle Location System (AVLS) |
Technology that tracks the current location of fleet vehicles to assist in
dispatching, maintaining schedules, answering specific customer inquiries, etc. |
| Bargaining Agent |
A labor union designated by an appropriate government agency or recognized by the
employer as the exclusive representative of all employees in the bargaining unit for
purposes of collective bargaining. |
| Base Period |
The period between the morning and evening peak periods when transit service is
generally scheduled on a constant interval. Also known as "off-peak period." |
| Base Fare |
The price charged to one adult for one transit ride; excludes transfer charges, zone
charges, express service charges, peak period surcharges and reduced fares. |
| Binding Arbitration |
Arbitration with a final and binding award, which is often enforceable in the courts. |
| Budget Authority |
A federal budgetary term that refers to legal authority given by Congress to federal
agencies to make funds available for obligation or expenditure. |
| Budget Resolution |
A federal budgetary term that refers to a concurrent resolution passed by both Houses
of Congress, but not requiring the signature of the President, setting forth the
congressional budget for each of five fiscal years. The budget resolution sets forth
various budget total and functional allocations, and may include reconciliation
instructions to designated House or Senate committees. |
| Bus (Motorbus) |
A rubber-tired, self-propelled, manually-steered vehicle with fuel supply carried on
board the vehicle. Types include advanced design, articulated, charter, circulator,
double deck, express, feeder, intercity, medium-size, new look, sightseeing, small,
standard-size, subscription, suburban, transit and van. |
| Bus, Advanced Design |
A bus introduced in 1977 that incorporates new styling and design features compared to
previous buses. |
| Bus, Articulated |
A bus usually 55 feet or more in length with two connected passenger compartments that
bend at the connecting point when the bus turns a corner. |
| Bus, Charter |
A bus transporting a group of persons who, pursuant to a common purpose, and under a
single contract at a fixed price, have acquired the exclusive use of a bus to travel
together under an itinerary. |
| Bus, Circulator |
A bus serving an area confined to a specific locale, such as a downtown area or
suburban neighborhood with connections to major traffic corridors. |
| Bus, Double Deck |
A bus with two separate passenger compartments, one above the other. |
| Bus, Express |
A bus that operates a portion of the route without stops or with a limited number of
stops. |
| Bus, Feeder |
A bus service that picks up and delivers passengers to a rail rapid transit station or
express bus stop or terminal. |
| Bus, Intercity |
A bus with front doors only, high-backed seats, separate luggage compartments, and
usually with restroom facilities for use in high-speed long-distance service. |
| Bus, Medium-Size |
A bus from 29 to 34 feet in length. |
| Bus, New Look |
A bus with the predominant styling and mechanical equipment common to buses
manufactured between 1959 and 1978. |
| Bus, Sightseeing |
A bus adapted for sightseeing use, usually with expanded window areas. |
| Bus, Small |
A bus 28 feet or less in length. |
| Bus, Standard-Size |
A bus from 35 to 41 feet in length. |
| Bus, Subscription |
A commuter bus express service operated for a guaranteed number of patrons from a
given area on a prepaid, reserved-seat basis. |
| Bus, Suburban |
A bus with front doors only, normally with high-backed seats, and without luggage
compartments or restroom facilities for use in longer-distance service with relatively few
stops. |
| Bus, Transit |
A bus with front and center doors, normally with a rear-mounted engine, low-back
seating, and without luggage compartments or restroom facilities for use in frequent-stop
service. |
| Bus, Trolley |
An electric, rubber-tired transit vehicle, manually steered, propelled by a motor
drawing current through overhead wires from a central power source not on board the
vehicle. Also known as "trolley coach" or "trackless trolley." |
| (Bus), Van |
A 20-foot long or shorter vehicle, usually with an automotive-type engine and limited
seating normally entered directly through side or rear doors rather than from a central
aisle, used for demand response, vanpool, and lightly patronized motorbus service. |
| Bus Discretionary Capital |
Federal funding granted under Section 3 of the Federal Transit Act (formerly known as
the Urban Mass Transportation Act). These discretionary funds are used for
bus-related construction projects or to replace, rehabilitate or purchase buses. |
| Bus Lane |
A street or highway lane intended primarily for buses, either all day or during
specified periods, but sometimes also used by carpools meeting requirements set out in
traffic laws. |
| Bus Shelter |
A building or other structure constructed near a bus stop, to provide seating and
protection from the weather for the convenience of waiting passengers. |
| Bus Stop |
A place where passengers can board or alight from the bus, usually identified by a
sign. |
| Busway |
Exclusive freeway lane for buses and carpools. |
| Cable Car |
An electric railway operating in mixed street traffic with unpowered,
individually-controlled transit vehicles propelled by moving cables located below the
street surface and powered by engines or motors at a central location not on board the
vehicle. |
| Capital Assistance |
Financial assistance for transit capital expenses (not operating costs);
such aid may originate with federal, local or state governments. |
| Capital Costs |
Costs of long-term assets of a public transit system such as property, buildings,
vehicles, etc. |
| Carpool |
An arrangement where two or more people share the use and cost of privately owned
automobiles in traveling to and from pre-arranged destinations together. |
| Catenary |
An overhead contact wire system which supplies power from a central power source to an
electric vehicle (such as a trolley bus; see "Bus, Trolley"). |
| Central Business District (CBD) |
The downtown retail trade and commercial area of a city or an area of very high land
valuation, traffic flow, and concentration of retail business offices, theaters, hotels
and services. |
| Charter Bus |
See "Bus, Charter." |
| Circulator Bus |
See "Bus, Circulator." |
| Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (CAAA) |
The comprehensive federal legislation which establishes criteria for attaining and
maintaining the federal standards for allowable concentrations and exposure limits for
various air pollutants; the act also provides emission standards for specific vehicles and
fuels. |
| Collective Bargaining |
Negotiations between labor union representatives and employers to reach agreement on a
contract describing such matters as wages, hours and working conditions. |
| Commitment |
See "Obligation." |
| Commuter |
A person who travels regularly between home and work or school. |
| Commuter Rail |
See "Rail, Commuter." |
| Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) |
An alternative fuel; compressed natural gas stored under high pressure. CNG vapor is
lighter than air. |
| Compulsory Arbitration |
Arbitration that is required by law. |
| Conciliation |
See "Mediation." |
| Conformity |
The ongoing process that ensures the planning for highway and transit systems, as a
whole and over the long term, is consistent with the state air quality plans for attaining
and maintaining health-based air quality standards; conformity is determined by metropolitan
planning organizations (MPOs) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S.
DOT), and is based on whether transportation plans and prog rams meet the provisions of a State
Implementation Plan. |
| Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) |
Federal funds available for either transit or highway projects which contribute
significantly to reducing automobile emissions which cause air pollution. |
| Contract Authority |
A federal budgetary term that refers to a form of budget authority permitting obligations
to be incurred in advance of appropriations. Advance obligations, however, have
been limited by the appropriations committees with obligation limitations. |
| Contraflow Lane |
Reserved lane for buses on which the direction of bus traffic is opposite to the flow
of traffic on the other lanes. |
| Corridor |
A broad geographical band that follows a general directional flow connecting major
sources of trips that may contain a number of streets, highways and transit route
alignments. |
| Cost-of-Living Allowance (COLA) |
An increase or decrease in employees' wages or salaries made on the basis of changes
in agreed-upon economic indices, usually the Consumer Price Index. |
| Crosstown |
Non-radial bus or rail service which does not enter the Central Business District
(CBD). |
| Deadhead |
The movement of a transit vehicle without passengers aboard; often to and from a
garage or to and from one route to another. |
| Dedicated Funding Source |
A source of monies which by law is available for use only to support a specific
purpose, and cannot be diverted to other uses. |
| Demand Responsive |
Non-fixed-route service utilizing vans or buses with passengers boarding and
alighting at pre-arranged times at any location within the system's service area. Also
called "Dial-a-Ride." |
| Department of Transportation (DOT) |
The cabinet level Department of the federal government that is responsible for
administration of federal transportation programs including public transportation,
highways, railroads, air transportation, shipping and the Coast Guard. Each state also has
a department of transportation. |
| Dial-a-Ride |
See "Demand Responsive." |
| Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) |
A business owned and operated by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged
individuals. Socially and economically disadvantaged individuals include African
Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Asian Pacific Americans or Asian Indian
Americans and any other minorities or individuals found to be disadvantaged by the Small
Business Administration (SBA) under Section 8 (a) of the Small Business Act. |
| Discretionary Spending |
A federal budgetary terms that refers to any funds whose distribution in not
automatic. Discretionary spending encompasses programs controlled by annual appropriations
bills and is subject to the constraints imposed by the discretionary spending limits set
in the balanced budget law. |
| Double Deck Bus |
See "Bus, Double Deck." |
| Downtime |
A period during which a vehicle is inoperative because of repairs or maintenance. |
| Downtown People Mover (DPM) |
A type of automated guideway transit vehicle operating on a loop or shuttle route
within the Central Business District (CBD) of a city. |
| Dwell Time |
The scheduled time a vehicle or train is allowed to discharge and take on passengers
at a stop, including opening and closing doors. |
| Earmark |
A federal budgetary term that refers to the specific designation by Congress that part
of a more general lump-sum appropriation be used for a particular project; the
earmark can be designated as a minimum and/or maximum dollar amount. |
| Elevated (Railway) |
See "Rail, Heavy." |
| Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) |
A comprehensive study of likely environmental impacts resulting from major
federally-assisted projects; statements are required by the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA). |
| Equity, Federal Transit Funding |
A ratio of appropriated dollars between Sections 9 and 18 (formula funds)
to Section 3 (discretionary funds). |
| Ethanol |
An alternative fuel; a liquid alcohol fuel with vapor heavier than air; produced from
agricultural products such as corn, grain and sugar cane. |
| Exclusive Right-of-Way |
A highway or other facility that can only be used by buses or other transit vehicles. |
| Executive Order 12372 |
A presidential directive that furnishes guidance to federal agencies for cooperation
with state and local governments in the evaluation, review and coordination of federal
assistance programs and projects. |
| Express Bus |
See "Bus, Express." |
| Fare Box Recovery Ratio |
Measure of the proportion of operating expenses covered by passenger fares; found by
dividing fare box revenue by total operating expenses for each mode and/or
systemwide. |
| Fare Box Revenue |
Value of cash, tickets, tokens and pass receipts given by passengers as payment for
rides; excludes charter revenue. |
| Fare Elasticity |
The extent to which ridership responds to fare increases or decreases. |
| Fare Structure |
The system set up to determine how much is to be paid by various passengers using a
transit vehicle at any given time. |
| Federal Transit Administration (FTA) |
Formerly known as the Urban Mass Transportation Administration (UMTA); FTA is the
agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation which administers the federal
program of financial assistance to public transit. |
| Feeder Bus |
See "Bus, Feeder." |
| Ferryboat |
A boat providing fixed-route service across a body of water. |
| Fiscal Year (FY) |
The yearly accounting period for the federal government which begins October 1 and
ends on the following September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in
which it ends (e.g., FY 94 is from October 1, 1993 to September 30, 1994). |
| Fixed Cost |
An indirect cost that remains relatively constant, irrespective of the level of
operational activity. |
| Fixed Guideway Modernization |
See "Rail Modernization." |
| Fixed Guideway System |
A system of vehicles that can operate only on its own guideway constructed for that
purpose (e.g., rapid rail, light rail). Federal usage in funding legislation also includes
exclusive right-of-way bus operations, trolley coaches and ferryboats as
"fixed guideway" transit. |
| Fixed Route |
Service provided on a repetitive, fixed-schedule basis along a specific route with
vehicles stopping to pick up and deliver passengers to specific locations; each
fixed-route trip serves the same origins and destinations, unlike demand responsive
and taxicabs. |
| Flexible Funds |
Those federal funds which can be used for highway, transit or other transportation
projects, as decided by regional Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) and
state governments. Examples of such funds are the Surface Transportation Program (STP)
and the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) fund. |
| Formula Funds |
Funds distributed or apportioned to qualifying recipients on the basis of formulas
described in law; e.g., funds in the Section 18 program for Small Urban and Rural
Transit Assistance, which are distributed to each state based on the state's percentage of
national rural population. See also "Section 9." |
| Fringe Parking |
An area for parking usually located outside the Central Business District (CBD)
and most often used by suburban residents who work or shop downtown. |
| Grievance Arbitration |
The process of resolving a labor dispute involving the application or interpretation
of a collective bargaining agreement, by asking an impartial third party to make a
decision after both labor and management have presented their cases. |
| Headway |
Time interval between vehicles moving in the same direction on a particular route. |
| Heavy Rail |
See "Rail, Heavy." |
| High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) |
Vehicles that can carry two or more persons. Examples of high occupancy vehicles are a
bus, vanpool and carpool. These vehicles sometimes have exclusive
traffic lanes called "HOV lanes," "busways,"
"transitways" or "commuter lanes." |
| High Speed Rail |
See "Rail, High Speed." |
| Highway Trust Fund |
The federal trust fund established by the Highway Revenue Act of 1956; this fund has
two accounts -- the Highway Account and the Mass Transit Account. Trust fund
revenues are derived from federal highway-user taxes and fees such as motor fuel taxes;
trust fund uses and expenditures are determined by law. |
| Inclined Plane |
A railway operating over exclusive right-of-way on steep grades with unpowered
vehicles propelled by moving cables attached to the vehicles and powered by engines or
motors at a central location not on board the vehicle. |
| Intelligent Vehicle Highway Systems (IVHS) |
Automated systems of highway transportation designed to improve traffic monitoring and
management. IVHS includes: Advanced Public Transportation Systems (APTS), Automatic
Vehicle Location System (AVLS) and "smart vehicles" which assist drivers
with planning, perception, analysis and decision-making. See also "Intelligent
Vehicle Highway Society of Am erica (IVHS America)." |
| Intercity Bus |
See "Bus, Intercity." |
| Interest Arbitration |
The process of arriving at the terms of a new collective bargaining agreement, by
asking an impartial third party to make rulings after both labor and management have
presented their cases. |
| Intermodal |
Those issues or activities which involve or affect more than one mode of
transportation, including transportation connections, choices, cooperation and
coordination of various modes. Also known as "multimodal." |
| Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) |
The 1991 law that reauthorized the federal surface transportation program for six
years. ISTEA heralded a new era in surface transportation because of the emphasis on
"intermodalism," the unprecedented increases in authorized spending for transit,
the ability to use some highway funds for transit (and vice versa) and the increased
reliance on regional planning agencies to weigh transportation options and make decisions
utilizing public participation. |
| Jitney |
Privately-owned, small or medium-sized vehicle usually operated on a fixed route but
not on a fixed schedule. |
| Joint Development |
Ventures undertaken by the public and private sectors for development of land around
transit stations or stops. |
| Kiss and Ride |
A place where commuters are driven and dropped off at a station to board a public
transportation vehicle. |
| Layover Time |
Time built into a schedule between arrival at the end of a route and the departure for
the return trip, used for the recovery of delays and preparation for the return trip. |
| Level Playing Field |
A balanced approach to federal funding proportions for highway projects and transit
projects; may also refer to employee transportation benefits so that the monthly, tax-free
value of a transit pass is equal to that of a parking space; generally, any
situation in which transit and highways receive equal treatment in federal funding and
other federal procedures. |
| Light Rail |
See "Rail, Light." |
| Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) |
An alternative fuel; a natural gas cooled to below its boiling point of -260 degrees
Fahrenheit so that it becomes a liquid; stored in a vacuum bottle-type container at very
low temperatures and under moderate pressure. LNG vapor is lighter than air. |
| Load Factor |
The ratio of passengers actually carried versus the total passenger capacity of a
vehicle. |
| Magnetic Levitation (Mag-Lev) |
A rail transportation system with exclusive right-of-way which is propelled
along a fixed guideway system by the attraction or repulsion of magnets on the
rails and under the rail cars. |
| Managers of Mobility |
Transit systems which expand their role to include services and approaches beyond
traditional public transportation to include ridesharing, high occupancy
vehicle programs, public education on transit's benefits and integration of land use,
air quality and transportation decisions; the phrase was developed as part of the
industry's Transit 2000 policy effort undertaken in the la te 1980s and early
1990s. |
| Mass Transit |
See "Public Transportation." |
| Mass Transit Account |
The federal account, established by the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982,
into which a designated portion of the federal Highway Trust Fund revenue from
motor fuel taxes is placed (1.5 cents in 1994). This account is used for federal mass
transportation assistance. |
| Mass Transportation |
See "Public Transportation." |
| Mean Distance Between Failures (MDBF) |
The average distance in miles that a transit vehicle travels before failure of a vital
component forces removal of that vehicle from service. |
| Mediation |
Efforts by an impartial third party to encourage agreement between a labor union and
management by counseling each side and facilitating negotiations. Also known as
"conciliation." |
| Medium-Size Bus |
See "Bus, Medium-Size." |
| Methanol |
An alternative fuel; a liquid alcohol fuel with vapor heavier than air; primarily
produced from natural gas. |
| Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) |
The organization designated by local elected officials as being responsible for
carrying out the urban transportation and other planning processes for an area. |
| Metropolitan Railway (Metro) |
See "Rail, Heavy." |
| Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) |
A business owned and operated by one or more individuals who are defined as minorities
under U.S. Department of Transportation regulations. See also "disadvantaged
business enterprise." |
| Modal Split |
A term which describes how many people use alternative forms of transportation.
Frequently used to describe the percentage of people using private automobiles as opposed
to the percentage using public transportation. |
| Model |
An analytical tool (often mathematical) used by transportation planners to assist in
making forecasts of land use, economic activity, travel activity and their effects on the
quality of resources such as land, air and water. |
| Monorail |
An electric railway in which a rail car or train of cars is suspended from or
straddles a guideway formed by a single beam or rail. Most monorails are either heavy
rail or automated guideway systems. |
| National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) |
A comprehensive federal law requiring analysis of the environmental impacts of federal
actions such as the approval of grants; also requiring preparation of an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) for every major federal action significantly affecting the
quality of the human environment. |
| National Highway System (NHS) |
A proposed transportation system consisting of approximately 155,000 miles of highway
in order to provide an interconnected system of principal arterial routes serving major
population centers, major transportation facilities, major travel destinations, interstate
and interregional travel and meeting national defense requirements. The NHS, defined in
the Intermodal Surface Transportation Effic iency Act (ISTEA), is one component of
the National Transportation System (NTS). |
| National Transportation System (NTS) |
An intermodal system consisting of all forms of transportation in a unified,
interconnected manner to reduce energy consumption and air pollution while promoting
economic development and supporting the Nation's preeminent position in international
commerce. The NTS includes the National Highway System (NHS), public
transportation and access to ports and airports. |
| New Look Bus |
See "Bus, New Look." |
| New Start |
Federal funding granted under Section 3(i) of the Federal Transit Act (formerly known
as the Urban Mass Transportation Act). These discretionary funds are made available
for construction of a new fixed guideway system or extension of any existing fixed
guideway system, based on cost-effectiveness, alternatives analysis results and the degree
of local financial commitment. |
| Nonattainment Area |
Any geographic region of the United States that the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) has designated as not attaining the federal air quality standards for one or
more air pollutants, such as ozone and carbon monoxide. |
| Obligation |
A federal budgetary term that refers to a binding agreement that will result in an outlay;
an agreement by the federal government to pay for goods or services immediately or at some
future time when the goods or services are delivered. Also known as a
"commitment." |
| Obligation Limitation |
A federal budgetary term that refers to a limit placed in appropriations bills
on the amount of federal assistance that may be obligated during a specified time period.
It does not affect the scheduled apportionment or allocation of funds; it just
controls the rate at which these funds may be used. |
| Off-Peak Period |
Non-rush periods of the day when travel activity is generally lower and less transit
service is scheduled. Also called "base period." |
| Operating Assistance |
Financial assistance for transit operating expenses (not capital costs);
such aid may originate with federal, local or state governments. |
| Operating Deficit |
The sum of all operating expenses minus operating revenues. |
| Operating Expense |
Monies paid in salaries, wages, materials, supplies and equipment in order to maintain
equipment and buildings, operate vehicles, rent equipment and facilities and settle
claims. |
| Operating Revenue |
Receipts derived from or for the operation of transit service, including fare box
revenue, revenue from advertising, interest and charter bus service and
operating assistance from governments. |
| Outlay |
A federal budgetary term that refers to a payment made to meet an obligation;
the point at which an actual payment of money is made. |
| Paratransit |
Comparable transportation service required by the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA) of 1990 for individuals with disabilities who are unable to use fixed-route
transportation systems. |
| Park and Ride Lot |
Designated parking areas for automobile drivers who then board transit vehicles from
these locations. |
| Particulate Trap |
A filter which removes a portion of the particulates (solids, soot, etc.) from a
vehicle's exhaust stream and generally includes a regenerative unit and associated control
system to burn the collected solids. |
| Passenger Miles |
The total number of miles traveled by passengers on transit vehicles; determined by
multiplying the number of unlinked passenger trips times the average length of their
trips. |
| Passenger Transport (PT) |
The weekly newspaper of the transit industry that is published by the American
Public Transit Association (APTA). |
| Peak Period |
Morning and afternoon time periods when transit riding is heaviest. |
| Peak/Base Ratio |
The number of vehicles operated in passenger service during the peak period
divided by the number operated during the base period. |
| Propane |
An alternative fuel; a liquid petroleum gas (LPG) which is stored under moderate
pressure and with vapor heavier than air; produced as a by-product of natural gas and oil
production. |
| Public Transit System |
An organization that provides transportation services owned, operated, or subsidized
by any municipality, county, regional authority, state, or other governmental agency,
including those operated or managed by a private management firm under contract to the
government agency owner. |
| Public Transportation |
Transportation by bus, rail, or other conveyance, either publicly or privately owned,
which provides to the public general or special service on a regular and continuing basis.
Also known as "mass transportation," "mass transit" and
"transit." |
| Rail, Commuter |
Railroad local and regional passenger train operations between a central city, its
suburbs and/or another central city. It may be either locomotive-hauled or self-propelled,
and is characterized by multi-trip tickets, specific station-to-station fares, railroad
employment practices and usually only one or two stations in the central business
district. Also known as "suburban rail." |
| Rail, Heavy |
An electric railway with the capacity for a "heavy volume" of traffic and
characterized by exclusive rights-of-way, multi-car trains, high speed and rapid
acceleration, sophisticated signaling and high platform loading. Also known as "rapid
rail," "subway," "elevated (railway)" or "metropolitan
railway (metro)." |
| Rail, High Speed |
A rail transportation system with exclusive right-of-way which serves densely
traveled corridors at speeds of 124 miles per hour (200 km/h) and greater. |
| Rail, Light |
An electric railway with a "light volume" traffic capacity compared to heavy
rail. Light rail may use shared or exclusive rights-of-way, high or low
platform loading and multi-car trains or single cars. Also known as "streetcar,"
"trolley car" and "tramway." |
| Rail Modernization |
Federal funding granted under Section 3(h) of the Federal Transit Act (formerly known
as the Urban Mass Transportation Act). These discretionary funds are distributed by
a formula and made available to transit systems for improvements on fixed
guideway systems that have been in service for at least seven years. Also known as
"fixed guideway modernization." |
| Rapid Rail |
See "Rail, Heavy." |
| Rapid Transit |
Rail or motorbus transit service operating completely separate from all modes of
transportation on an exclusive right-of-way. |
| Rescission |
A federal budgetary term that refers to the cancellation, in whole or part, of budget
authority previously granted by Congress. |
| Reverse Commuting |
Movement in a direction opposite the main flow of traffic, such as from the central
city to a suburb during the morning peak period. |
| Ridesharing |
A form of transportation, other than public transit, in which more than one person
shares the use of the vehicle, such as a van or car, to make a trip. Also known as "carpooling"
or "vanpooling." |
| Ridership |
The number of rides taken by people using a public transportation system in a given
time period. |
| Rolling Stock |
The vehicles used in a transit system, including buses and rail cars. |
| Route Miles |
The total number of miles included in a fixed route transit system network. |
| Section 3 |
The section of the Federal Transit Act (formerly known as the Urban Mass
Transportation Act of 1964), as amended, that authorizes discretionary funds for
capital public transportation projects. |
| Section 9 |
The section of the Federal Transit Act (formerly known as the Urban Mass
Transportation Act of 1964), as amended, that authorizes grants to public transportation
systems in urbanized areas (population greater than 50,000) for both capital and
operating programs based on formulas set out in statute. |
| Section 13(c) |
The section of the Federal Transit Act (formerly known as the Urban Mass
Transportation Act of 1964), as amended, related to labor protection that is designed to
protect transit employees against a worsening of their position with respect to their
employment as a result of grant assistance under the Act. |
| Section 15 |
The section of the Federal Transit Act (formerly known as the Urban Mass
Transportation Act of 1964), as amended, that authorizes the U.S. Department of
Transportation to gather statistical information about the financing and operations of
public transportation systems, based upon a uniform system of accounts and records. |
| Section 16 |
The section of the Federal Transit Act (formerly known as the Urban Mass
Transportation Act of 1964), as amended, that declares the national policy to be that
elderly persons and persons with disabilities have the same right as other persons to
utilize mass transportation facilities and services, and that special efforts shall be
made in the planning and design of mass transportation facilities and services so that
effective utilization by elderly persons and persons with disabilities is assured. |
| Section 16(b) |
The subsection of the Federal Transit Act (formerly known as the Urban Mass
Transportation Act of 1964), as amended, that authorizes grants to nonprofit corporations
and associations for the specific purpose of assisting them in providing transportation
services meeting the special needs of elderly persons and persons with disabilities for
whom mass transportation services are unavailable, insufficient or inappro priate. |
| Section 18 |
The section of the Federal Transit Act (formerly known as the Urban Mass
Transportation Act of 1964), as amended, that authorizes grants to public transit systems
outside urbanized areas, based on formulas set out in statute; the funds go initially to
the Governor of each state. |
| Sequestration |
A federal budgetary term that refers to the permanent cancellation of budget
authority. |
| Shuttle |
A public or private vehicle that travels back and forth over a particular route,
especially a short route or one that provides connections between transportation systems,
employment centers, etc. |
| Sightseeing Bus |
See "Bus, Sightseeing." |
| Small Bus |
See "Bus, Small." |
| Standard-Size Bus |
See "Bus, Standard-Size." |
| State Implementation Plan (SIP) |
A state plan mandated by the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (CAAA) that
contains procedures to monitor, control, maintain and enforce compliance with national
standards for air quality. |
| Streetcar |
See "Rail, Light." |
| Subscription Bus |
See "Bus, Subscription." |
| Suburban Rail |
See "Rail, Commuter." |
| Subway |
See "Rail, Heavy." |
| Supplemental Appropriation |
An act appropriating funds in addition to those in an annual appropriation act
because the need for funds is too urgent to be postponed until enactment of the next
regular appropriation act. |
| Trackless Trolley |
See "Bus, Trolley." |
| Tramway |
See "Rail, Light." |
| Transfer Center |
A fixed location where passengers interchange from one route or vehicle to another. |
| Transit |
See "Public Transportation." |
| Transit 2000 |
An industry effort undertaken in the late 1980s and early 1990s to develop public
policies allowing transit to achieve its greatest potential for the rest for the 20th
century and beyond; recommendations included turning transit systems into managers of
mobility, broadening transit's definition to include ridesharing and other high
occupancy vehicle programs, enhancing local decision-making aut hority, increasing
federal funding and raising the federal gasoline tax. |
| Transit Bus |
See "Bus, Transit." |
| Transit Pass |
A tax-free employee commute benefit in which an employer subsidizes up to $60 per
month for an employee's transit fares or vanpool charges. This benefit also applies to
military and government employees. |
| Transit System |
An organization (public or private) providing local or regional
multi-occupancy-vehicle passenger service. Organizations that provide service under
contract to another agency are generally not counted as separate systems. |
| Transport Workers Union (TWU) |
One of the major labor unions in the transit industry; membership is limited to
operators, mechanics and other non-supervisory employees of the transit industry. |
| Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) |
A program of intermodal transportation projects, to be implemented over several years,
growing out of the planning process and designed to improve transportation in a community.
This program is required as a condition of a locality receiving federal transit and
highway grants. |
| Trolley Bus |
See "Bus, Trolley." |
| Trolley Car |
See "Rail, Light." |
| Trolley Coach |
See "Bus, Trolley." |
| Trust Funds |
Funds collected and used by the federal government for carrying out specific purposes
and programs according to terms of a trust agreement or statute, such as the Social
Security and highway trust funds. Trust funds are administered by the government in a
fiduciary capacity and are not available for the general purposes of the government. See
"Dedicated Funding Source." |
| United Transportation Union (UTU) |
One of the major labor unions in the transit industry; membership is limited to
operators, mechanics and other non-supervisory employees of the transit industry. |
| Urban Mass Transportation Administration (UMTA) |
See "Federal Transit Administration (FTA)." |
| Urbanized Area (UZA) |
An U.S. Bureau of Census-designated area of 50,000 or more inhabitants consisting of a
central city or two adjacent cities plus surrounding densely settled territory, but
excluding the rural portion of cities. |
| Van |
See "(Bus), Van." |
| Vanpool |
An arrangement in which a group of passengers share the use and cost of a van in
traveling to and from pre-arranged destinations together. |
| Variable Cost |
A cost that varies in relation to the level of operational activity. |
| Women's Business Enterprise (WBE) |
A business owned and operated by one or more women. |
| Zone Fares |
A system of fares where a transit system's service area is divided into zones within
which specified rates or fares apply. |
