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| A-95 |
A
circular from the U.S. Office of Management
and Budget 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. |
| ABATEMENT |
In
State budgeting and accounting, a recovery
of an expenditure. The following items are
considered abatements
- Refund of overpayment of salary
- Refunds from vendors for defective/returned
merchandise, etc.
- Jury duty and witness fees
- Property damage or loss recoveries
|
| ACCESSIBILITY |
The
extent to which facilities are barrier free
and useable by handicapped persons, including
wheelchair users. |
| ACCESIBLE
STATION |
A
public transportation passenger facility
that provides ready access, assessable, and
does not have physical barriers that prohibit
and/or restrict access by individuals with
disabilities. |
| ACCESSIBLE
VEHICLE |
A
public transportation revenue vehicle that
does not restrict access, is usable, and
provides allocated space and/or priority
seating for individuals who use wheelchairs. |
| ACTIVITY
CENTER |
An
area with heavy traffic activity and high
population or commercial building densities
which generate a large number of trips (e.g.,
CBC, shopping centers, industrial parks,
recreational facilities, and colleges). |
| ACTIVITY
CODE |
A
three-digit number used to classify labor
charges in the performance of a specific
function or duty. |
| ADVANCED
DESIGN BUS (ADB) |
The
new model bus, introduced originally in the
mid-1970's incorporating new styling and
design features. |
| ADVISORY
ARBITRATION |
Arbitration
designed to produce non-binding advice or
recommendations. |
| AGENCY
FUND |
A
fund used to account for assets held by a
governmental unit as agency for individuals,
private organizations, and other governmental
units. |
| ALLOCATION |
A
dollar or personnel-year amount distributed
for a specific purpose according to a plan.
Allocation and Allotment are often used interchangeably. |
| AMBULATORY
HANDICAPPED PERSON |
An
individual who is able to move around without
assistance; in the context of transit, usually
refers to people whom, although handicapped,
are able to utilize regular transit services
without assistance or special equipment such
as wheelchair lifts. |
| AMERICAN
PUBLICTRANSIT ASSOCIATION (APTA) |
The
national, nonprofit trade association, representing
the public transit industry. APTA members
include more than 300 public transit systems
carrying more than 95 percent of all transit
riders in the United States. APTA members
also include state and local departments
of transportation and planning agencies,
manufacturers and suppliers of transit equipment,
consultants, contractors and universities. |
| A.M.
PEAK |
The
morning period, about two hours, in which
the greatest movement of passengers occurs,
generally from home to work. |
| AMERICANS
WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) |
The
ADA defines the responsibilities of requirements
for transportation providers to make transportation
accessible to individuals with disabilities.
The U.S. DOT published the Final Rule on
Transportation for Individuals with Disabilities
on September 6, 1991. |
| ANNUAL
ELEMENT |
Those
transportation improvement projects contained
in an area's Transportation Improvement Program
that are proposed for implementation in the
current year. The Annual Element is submitted
to the U.S. Department of Transportation
as part of the required planning process. |
| APPORTIONMENT |
A
statutorily prescribed division or assignment
of funds based upon prescribed formulas in
the law. |
| APPROPRIATION |
A
legislative authorization to make expenditures
or incur liabilities for specific purposes.
The appropriation defines the recipient,
amount, purpose, and the time in which the
expenditures must incur. |
| ARTERIAL
STREET |
A
major thoroughfare, used primarily for through
traffic rather than for access to abutting
land, that is characterized by high vehicular
capacity and continuity of movement. |
| ARTICULATED
MOTORBUS |
An
extra-long (54 to 60 ft.) motor bus with
the rear body section connected to the main
body by a joint mechanism that allows the
vehicle to bend when in operation for sharp
turns and curves and yet have a continuous
interior. |
| 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. |
| 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
PROGRESSION |
A
method by which workers move according to
an agreed-upon schedule from one pay-scale
to another automatically in a specified period
of time. |
| AUTOMATICTRAIN
CONTROL (ATC) |
A
system for automatically controlling train
movement, enforcing train safety, and directing
train operations by computers. |
| AVERAGE
COST PER PASSENGER |
The
average total cost per vehicle-hour divided
by the average number of passenger-trips
made per hour. |
| AVERAGE
PRODUCTIVITY |
The
number of passenger-trips made by a vehicle
within a given period of time. |
| AVERAGE
RIDERSHIP |
The
total number of passenger-trips divided by
the total number of service days. (Usually
determined on an annual basis.) |
A B C D E
F G H I J
K L M N O P Q R S T U V
W X Y Z
| BASE
PERIOD (OFF-PEAK) |
The
period between the morning and evening
peak periods when service is generally
scheduled on a constant interval. |
| BASE
RATE |
The
amount of pay for work performed during
a unit of time and exclusive of overtime,
pay premiums, or incentive earnings. |
| BASIC
FARE |
The
price charged to an adult for regular local
bus service. |
| BOARDING |
Getting
on a transit vehicle. |
| BOND
CERTIFICATION |
The
Budgets Program certifies a project meets
all requirements in order to receive bond
funds. |
| BUDGET |
A
plan of financial operations containing
an estimate of proposed expenditures and
proposed means of financing those expenditures. |
| BUDGET
ACT |
The
annual statute, enacted by the Legislature
and signed by the Governor, which makes
appropriations for the support of California's
government and for other public purposes. |
| BUDGET
YEAR |
The
fiscal year budget requests are submitted.
(State's is July-June; Federal is October-September). |
| BUS |
A
rubber-tired motorcoach that is designed
for roadway operation to transport a large
number of persons for public transportation
service. |
| 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
MILE |
One
bus operated one mile. |
| BUS
POOL |
A
group of people who share the use and cost
of bus transportation to and from designated
destinations on a regular basis (e.g.,
daily trips to work). |
| BUS
PRIORITY SYSTEM |
A
system of traffic controls in which buses
are given special treatment over other
forms of transportation. |
| BUS
RAPIDTRANSIT SYSTEM |
A
bus operation that is generally characterized
by operation on an exclusive or reserved
right-of-way that permits high speeds and
may include reverse-lane operations on
freeways. |
| BUS
SHELTER |
A
building or other structure constructed
around 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 get off
the bus, usually identified by a sign. |
| BUSWAY |
Roadway
reserved for buses only. |
A B C D E
F G H I J
K L M N O P Q R S T U V
W X Y Z
CABLE
CAR |
A
vehicle being moved by engine-powered cables
below the street surface, and operating
on fixed rails in mixed street traffic. |
CAPACITY |
The
total number of passengers that can be
carried by a vehicle or a fleet at a given
point in time. |
CAPITAL
COST |
The
cost of vehicles, equipment, and facilities,
exclusive of administrative, operating,
maintenance, and marketing costs. |
CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENTS |
Land,
buildings, equipment, and vehicles. |
CAPITAL
OUTLAY |
The
expenditure of funds to acquire land or
pay for the construction of facilities
such as highways, bridges, buildings, additions
and modifications of portions of such facilities. |
CAPTIVE
RIDERS |
Persons
limited by circumstances to use of one
mode of transportation. Generally, these
people do not own or drive an automobile
and must depend on public or specialized
transit. |
CAR
POOL |
A
group of people who share the cost of regular
automobile transportation to and from a
designated destination. |
CENTRALBUSINESS
DISTRICT (CBD) |
The
downtown retail trade and commercial area
of a city, or an area of very high land
value, traffic flow, and concentration
of retail business offices, theaters, hotels,
and services. |
CHARTER
BUS SERVICE |
Bussing
of 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. |
CIRCULATOR
SERVICE |
Bus
service confined to a specific local, such
as a downtown area or suburban neighborhood
with connections to major traffic corridors. |
COLLECTOR-DISTRIBUTOR
STREET |
A
street that gathers and disperses traffic
between the larger arterial highways and
less traveled streets, that has intersections
at grade, and that provides traffic movement
and access to abutting properties. |
COMMUTER |
A
person who travels regularly between home
and work or school. |
COMMUTER
BUS |
A
bus which takes people from one place to
another on a regular basis, e.g., commuters
traveling to and from work or school. |
COMMUTER
RAIL |
Short-haul
rail passenger service operating in metropolitan
and suburban areas, whether within or across
geographical boundaries of a state, usually
characterized by reduced fare, multiple
ride, and commutation tickets and by morning
and evening peak period operations. The
portion of passenger railroad operations
that carries passengers within urban areas,
or between urban areas and their suburbs,
but differs from rail rapid transit in
that the passenger cars generally are heavier,
the average trip lengths are usually longer,
and the operations are carried out over
tracks that are part of the railroad system
in the area. |
COMMUTER
SERVICE |
Transportation
provided on a regularly scheduled basis,
typically for the purpose of travel to
and from work or school each day. |
CONGESTION
MITIGATION AND AIR QUALITY PROGRAM (CMAQ) |
This
program considers projects or programs
which will contribute to attainment of
National Air Ambient Air Quality Standards
(NAAQS) with a focus on ozone and carbon
monoxide. Only ozone non-attainment areas
receive CMAQ funds. |
CONTRACT
RETENTIONS |
A
percentage of contract progress payment,
based on provisions of the State Contract
Act and the Standard Specifications, which
shall be retained by the State until (1)
final completion and acceptance of the
project by Caltrans, or (2) the deposit
of securities according to the approved
escrow agreement. |
CONTRAFLOW
LANE |
Reserved
lane for buses on which the direction of
bus traffic is opposite to the flow of
traffic on the other lanes. |
COOPERATIVE
AGREEMENT |
An
agreement between the California Department
of Transportation and another party or
governmental entity to perform or to undertake
work on behalf of the Department. |
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
EFFECTIVENESS |
- total cost per vehicle-hour,
- total cost per vehicle-mile,
- total cost per passenger-trip, and
- total cost per passenger-mile.
|
CROSSTOWN |
Non-radial
bus service, which does not enter the Central
Business District. |
CRUSH
LOAD |
The
maximum passenger capacity of a vehicle,
in which there is little or no space between
passengers (i.e., the passengers are toughing
one another) and one more passenger cannot
enter without causing serious discomfort
to the others. |
A B C D E
F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V
W X Y Z
| DEADHEAD |
The
movement of a vehicle without passengers
or cargo, e.g., from the garage to the
beginning of the transportation route. |
| DEDICATED
FUNDING SOURCE |
A
dedicated funding source is one, which
by law, is available for use only to support
a specific purpose, and cannot be diverted
to other uses; e.g., the federal gasoline
tax can only be used for highway investments,
and since 1983, for transit capital projects. |
| DEFICIENCY
AUTHORIZATION |
The
Administration's approval to exceed an
appropriation. Such approval requires the
Governor's written consent for an appropriation
that exceeds $25,000, otherwise the Director
of Finance can approve. |
| DEMAND
DENSITY |
The
number of requests for service per unit
area, typically per zone or square mile. |
| DEMAND
FORECASTING |
A
technique of estimating the number and
travel times of potential users of a system. |
| DEMAND-RESPONSIVE
TRANSPORTATION |
Any
system of transporting individuals, including
the provision of designated public transportation
service by public entities and the provision
of transportation service by private entities,
including but not limited to specified
public transportation service, which is
not a fixed route system. |
| DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION (DOT) |
The
cabinet level Department of the Federal
Government that is responsible for administering
federal transportation programs including
public transportation, highways, railroads,
air transportation, shipping, and the Coast
Guard. Each state also has a department
of transportation. |
| DESIGNATED
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION |
Transportation
service provided by a public entity (other
than public school transportation) by bus,
rail, or other conveyance (other than transportation
by aircraft or intercity or commuter rail
transportation) that provides the general
public with general or special service,
including charter service, on a regular
and continuing basis. |
| DESTINATION
SIGN |
A
sign on a transit vehicle indicating the
route number, direction or destination
of the vehicle. |
| DIAL-A-RIDE |
A
system in which door-to-door transportation
is provided to patrons who request service
by telephone, either on an ad hoc or subscription
basis. |
| DIRECTLY
OPERATED SERVICE |
Transit
Services provided directly by a public
agency, using the agency's employees to
supply the necessary labor. Distinguished
from Purchased Transportation. |
| DISADVANTAGED
BUSINESS ENTERPRISE (DBE) |
A
business owned and controlled by one or
more socially and economically disadvantaged
individuals. A socially and economically
disadvantaged individual includes Black
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
FUNDS |
Any
funds whose distribution is not automatic.
Decisions on the distribution of discretionary
funds are made by an agency or person based
on that agency's or person's choice or
judgement and in accordance with criteria
set out in laws or regulations. |
| DISPATCH |
The
relaying of information promptly, especially
official business. |
| DISPATCHER |
The
individual who relays information, especially
official business, promptly. |
| DOUBLE
DECKER |
Transit
vehicles having a "second story" of
passenger seating accessible by a stairway. |
| DOWNTIME |
A
period during which a vehicle is inoperative
because of repairs or maintenance. |
| DOWNTOWN
PEOPLE MOVER (DPM) |
An
automated transport system that runs on
a fixed guideway and which usually operates
in the Central Business District. |
| DWELLTIME |
The
scheduled time a vehicle or train is required
to discharge and take on passengers at
a stop, including opening and closing doors. |
| DYNAMIC
ROUTING |
The
process of modifying a vehicle route to
accommodate service requests received after
the vehicle has been dispatched. |
| ELDERLY
AND HANDICAPPED (E&H) |
Refers
to special transportation services for
members of these groups. |
| ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT STATEMENT (EIS) |
A
comprehensive study of likely environmental
impacts resulting from major federally
assisted projects. The statements are required
by the National Environmental Policy Act. |
| EXCLUSIVE
RIGHT-OF-WAY |
A
highway or other facility that can only
be used by buses or other transit vehicles. |
| EXPENDITURE |
Allocates
the cost of goods delivered or services
rendered, whether paid or unpaid. |
| EXPRESS
SERVICE |
Service
that provides higher speeds and fewer stops
than are generally found on other portions
of the system or on the same route in local
services. |
| EXTRA
BOARD |
Operators
who have no assigned run but are used to
cover runs deliberately left open by the
scheduling department (extra runs), or
runs that are open because of the absence
of regularly assigned operators. |
| FARE |
Te
authorized amount charged for transportation. |
| FARE
BOX |
A
device that accepts coins, bills, tickets,
and tokens given by passengers as payment
for rides. |
| FARE
BOX REVENUE |
Includes
cash, tickets, tokens, and pass receipts.
Excludes charter revenue. |
| FARE
COLLECTION SYSTEM |
The
method by which fares are collected and
accounted for in a public transportation
system. |
| 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
the system at any given time. |
| FEDERAL
TRANSIT ACT |
The
act that authorizes the Secretary of Transportation
to provide additional assistance for the
development of comprehensive and coordinated
mass transportation system, both public
and private, in metropolitan and other
urban areas, and for other purposes. |
| FEEDER
SERVICE |
Local
transportation service, which provides
connections with a major transportation
service. |
| FERRYBOAT |
A
vessel for conveying passengers, merchandise,
vehicles, etc., across a body of water
on short routes with frequent service. |
| FISCAL
YEAR |
A
twelve-month period to which the annual
budget applies, and at the end of which
a governmental unit determines its financial
position and the results of its operations. Federal Fiscal
Year (as of 1977) = October 1-September
30; California State Fiscal
Year = July 1-June 30. |
| FIXED
COST |
An
indirect cost that remains relatively constant
regardless of the level of operational
activity. |
| FIXED-ROUTE |
Service
provided on a repetitive, scheduled basis
along a specific route with vehicles stopping
to pick up and discharge passengers at
specific locations. |
| FIXED-GUIDEWAY
SYSTEM |
A
system of vehicles that can operate only
on its own guideway constructed for that
purpose (e.g., rapid rail, and light rail).
Federal usage in funding legislation also
includes exclusive right-of-way bus operations,
trolley coaches, and ferryboats as "fixed-guideway" transit. |
| FORMULA
FUNDS |
Formula
funds are 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 are distributed to each state
based on the state's percentage of national
rural population. |
| FRINGE
AREA |
That
portion of a municipality outside the Central
Business District. |
| FRINGE
PARKING |
An
area for parking usually located outside
the Central Business District and most
often used by suburban residents who work
or shop downtown. |
| FTA
SECTION 5310 FUNDS |
Funds
apportioned to the states by the federal
government through FTA to provide capital
grants for the purpose of assisting private
nonprofit corporations and, under certain
circumstances, public agencies in providing
transportation services to meet the needs
of elderly persons and persons with disabilities. |
| FTA
SECTION 18 FUNDS |
Transit
funds provided by the federal government
through FTA by formula to rural areas.
These funds can be used for either capital
or operating expensed. Capital projects
require a 20% local match. Operating projects
require a 50% local match. Projects that
meet the mandates of the Americans with
Disabilities Act or Federal Clean Air Act
are funded on a 90% federal - 10% local
basis. |
| FTA
SECTION 26 (a)(2) FUNDS |
Funds
provided to Caltrans, Division of Mass
Transportation for the "State Planning
and Research Program" which is a consolidated
program of five (5) grants apportioned
for the purposes of funding:
1) Public and multimodal
transportation planning projects primarily
in non-urbanized areas - 80% Federal
funding; 2) Research, development and
demonstration projects in all phases
of urban mass transportation - 50% Federal
funding; 3) Managerial, technical, and
professional training fellowships in
the public transportation field - 75%
Federal funding; 4) University research
and training projects in urban transportation
problems - 80% Federal funding; 5) Human
resource needs to increase minority and
female employees and business opportunities
in the public transportation field -
80% Federal funding. Funds are allocated
on a discretionary basis.
|
| FTA
SECTION 3 FUNDS |
Funds
obtained through Section 3 of the Federal
Transit Act, as amended. This section enables
the Secretary of Transportation to make
discretionary capital grants to States
and local public entities to finance specific
types of public transportation projects.
Section 3 funds are usually divided among
rail modernization, new rail starts, bus,
planning, and other projects, including
the transportation of elderly and disabled
individuals. |
| FTA
SECTION 8 FUNDS |
Funds
available through ISTEA and provided to
Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs)
for intermodal transportation planning
projects within urbanized areas. Funds
are allocated on a formula basis developed
by Caltrans in cooperation with the MPOs.
Projects are funded 80% Federal - 20% Local
Match. |
| FTA
SECTION 9 FUNDS |
Funds
obtained through Section 9 of the Federal
Transit Act, as amended. This section governs
the distribution of the public transit
capital and operating block grant appropriations
made by Congress each year, among urbanized
areas across the nation. Grants are based
on a congressionally established formula. |
| FUND |
An
independent fiscal and accounting pot of
money. |
| FUND
SOURCE |
Refers
to fund type. Examples are: Transit Capital
Improvement Program funds; Proposition
108 and Proposition 116 funds; State Highway
Account funds, etc. |
| FUND
TRANSFER AGREEMENT |
A
written "pass-through" agreement
between Caltrans and a local agency for
grant funds allocated to capital projects.
It commits the local agency to provide
a specified project, and allows progress
payments to be reimbursed by Caltrans according
to the individual project scope of work
stated in the agreement. |
A B C D E
F G H I J
K L M N O P Q R S T U V
W X Y Z
| GARAGE |
Location
where buses are based and operators report
for work and receive supplies and assignments. |
| GRANT |
A
contribution of funds subject to specific
performance and regulatory provisions. |
| GRID |
A
pattern of two series of parallel routes,
which intersect at right angles. |
| HANDICAPPED
PERSON |
An
individual who has a physical or mental
impairment, which substantially limits
one or more major life activities. |
| HARDWARE,
COMPUTER |
Equipment
and Facilities. See SOFTWARE. |
| HEADSIGN |
Destination
sign located above the windshield of a
bus or rail car. |
| HEADWAY |
Time
required for successive vehicles traveling
at the same speed and direction to pass
the same point. (Used to plan orderly dispatch
of vehicles.) |
| HEAVY
RAIL |
Transit
service using rail cars with motive capability,
driven by electric power usually drawn
from a third rail, configured for passenger
traffic and usually operated on exclusive
rights-of-way. Utilizes generally longer
trains and consists of longer station spacing
than Light Rail. |
| HIGH
OCCUPANCY VEHICLE (HOV) |
Vehicles
that can carry more than two persons. Examples
of high occupancy vehicles are a bus, vanpool,
and a carpool. |
| IN-KIND
INCOME |
The
dollar value assigned to non-cash gifts
and services. |
| INTERCITY
TRANSPORTATION |
Transportation
between cities. |
| INTERMODAL |
Projects
or capital that includes, involve, or affect
more than one mode of transportation. Also
known as Multimodal. |
| INTERMODAL
SURFACE TRANSPORTATION EFFICIENCY ACT OF
1991 (ISTEA) |
This
is a federal law enumerating the policy
of the United States to develop a National
Intermodal Transportation System that is
economically efficient, environmentally
sound, provides the foundation for the
nation to compete in the global economy
and will move people and goods in an energy
efficient manner. The comprehensive coverage
of the ISTEA is reflected in its eight
titles:
Title I - Surface Transportation
(related to highways),Title II - Highway
Safety, Title III - Federal Transit
Act Amendments of 1991,Title IV - Motor
Carrier Act of 1991,Title V - Intermodal
Transportation, Title VI -Research,
Title VII - Air Transportation, and
Title VIII - Extension of Highway-Related
Taxes and Highway Trust Fund.
|
| INTERMODAL
TRANSFER FACILITY |
A
single facility enabling transfers between
modes of transportation. |
A B C D E
F G H I J
K L M N O P Q R S T U V
W X Y Z
| JITNEY
SERVICE |
A
service provided by small vehicles typically
operating over a fixed route on a flexible
schedule, picking up and discharging passengers
upon demand. |
| JOINT
DEVELOPMENT |
Ventures
undertaken by the public and private sectors
for development of land around transit
stations or stops. |
| KISS
AND RIDE |
A
trip where a passenger is driven to a stop
or station and then changes to transit.
See PARK AND RIDE. |
| LATENT
DEMAND |
The
estimated number of trips not made because
service is not accessible or available. |
| LAYOVER-TIME |
Time
built into a schedule between arrivals
and departures, used for the recovery of
delays and preparation for the return trip. |
| LAYOVER-ZONE |
A
designated stopover point for a bus at
or near the end of the line. |
| LEVEL
OF SERVICE (LOS) |
The
convenience, comfort, safety, and utility
of a system, measured differently for individual
systems. |
| LIFE
CYCLE PROCUREMENT |
A
form of competitive procurement where the
contract is awarded based on a consideration
of cost of operation as well as initial
capital cost. |
| LIFT |
A
device, which raises and lowers a platform
to accommodate the entrance and exit of
wheelchair users and others with disabilities. |
| LIGHT
RAIL/LIGHT RAIL RAPIDTRANSIT SYSTEM (LRRT) |
A
fixed-guideway mode of urban transportation
utilizing predominantly reserved but not
necessarily grade-separated rights-of-way.
It uses primarily electrically propelled
rail vehicles, operated singularly or in
trains. |
| LIGHT
RAIL VEHICLE (LRV) |
Modern-day
term for a streetcar type of transit vehicle,
e.g., tram or trolley. |
| LINKED
PASSENGERTRIPS |
A
linked trip is a trip from origin to destination
on the transit system. Even if a passenger
must make several transfers during a journey,
the trip is counted as one linked trip
on the system. |
| LOAD
FACTOR |
The
number of passengers actually carried divided
by the total passenger capacity of a vehicle. |
| LOCAL
SERVICE |
Operation
designed so those vehicles make frequent
stops between relatively short distances
along a route. See EXPRESS SERVICE. |
| LOW
BID PROCUREMENT |
A
form of competitive procurement where the
contract is awarded based on consideration
of lowest initial capital cost. |
A B C D E
F G H I J
K L M N O P Q R S T U V
W X Y Z
| MANAGEMENT
INFORMATION SYSTEM (MIS) |
A
system (manual or computerized) in which
financial and operating data is collected
and analyzed for management's use. |
| MASSTRANSPORTATION |
Transportation
by bus, or rail, or other conveyance, either
publicly or privately owned, which provides
to the public general or special serviced
on a regular and continuing basis. Does
not include school buses, charter, or sightseeing
service). See also "Public Transportation." |
| MASS
TRANSPORTATION AGENCY |
An
agency authorized to transport people by
bus, rail, or other conveyance, either
publicly, or privately owned, and which
provides to the public general or special
service on a regular and continuing scheduled
or unscheduled basis. Transit agencies
are classified according to mode of transit
service operated. A multi-mode transit
agency operates two or more modes, which
are defined in the Federal Transit Administration
Industry Uniform System of Accounts and
Records and Reporting System (USOAR). See
Transit System and Multi-Mode Transit System. |
| MARKET |
A
group of potential or actual users of a
transportation system, e.g., a general
market denotes the entire population; a
specialized market denotes particular groups
such as the elderly, handicapped, students,
etc. |
| MARKETING |
The
efforts made to attract patrons to a service,
promotion. |
| MARKET
RESEARCH |
An
attempt to assess the potential demand
for transportation and the needs, numbers,
and other characteristics of potential
users of a system. |
| METROPOLITAN
PLANNING ORGANIZATION (MPO) |
The
organization designated by local elected
officials as being responsible for carrying
out the urban transportation and other
planning processes. |
| MINIBUS |
A
small bus vehicle, typically capable of
carrying 20 passengers, or less, most often
used for making short trips. Minibuses
are often used for demand-responsive transportation
and buspools. |
| MINORITY
BUSINESS ENTERPRISE (MBE) |
A
business owned and controlled by one or
more individuals who are defined as minorities
under the U.S. Department of Transportation
regulations. See Disadvantaged Business
Enterprise. |
| MODAL
SPLIT |
A
term, which describes how many people,
uses 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, and travel activity. |
| MODE
OFTRANSPORTATION |
A
particular form of travel, i.e., walking,
auto, bus, etc. |
| MONORAIL |
A
transportation system with a vehicle that
runs along a single rail or beam, which
functions as a guideway. |
| MONTHLY
PASS |
A
prepaid farecard or ticket, valid for unlimited
riding within certain designated zones
for a one-month period. |
| MULTI-MODETRANSIT
SYSTEM |
A
system operating more than one mode of
service. |
| MULTIPLE-STOP
DISPATCHING |
Where
the driver is assigned a series of stops,
which must be completed before the next
assignment. |
| NATIONAL
COOPERATIVE TRANSIT RESEARCH PROGRAM (NCTRP) |
This
was established in 1980 along the same
lines as the National Cooperative Highway
Research Program (NCHRP).The American Association
of State Highway and Transportation Officials
created NCHRP in 1962 and it is supported
by the Federal Highway Administration.
The NCTRP is an objective national program
that provides a mechanism by which FTA
principal client groups across the nation
can join cooperatively in an attempt to
solve near-term public transportation problems
through applied research, development,
test, and evaluation. |
| NATIONAL
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT OF 1969 (NEPA) |
A
comprehensive federal law requiring an
analysis of the environmental impacts of
federal actions such as the approval of
grants; also requiring the preparation
of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
for every major federal action significantly
affecting the quality of the human environment. |
| NEEDS
ASSESSMENT |
A
technique of predicting the potential demand
for service. |
| NET
OPERATING DEFICIT |
The
sum of all costs minus farebox revenue
(and other earned revenue, e.g. advertising,
interest, charter, etc.). |
| NETWORK |
The
configuration of transit routes and stops,
which constitute the total system. |
| NEW
LOOK BUSES |
Generally
refers to buses manufactured between 1959
and 1978. Buses, which have much larger
window areas than "old look",
buses. |
| NON-AMBULATORY
HANDICAPPED PERSON |
An
individual who is unable to move around
without assistance. |
| NON-CAPITAL
COSTS |
The
costs of administration, operation, maintenance
and marketing, exclusive of equipment and
facility costs. |
| NON-REVENUE
MILES |
Miles
traveled by a vehicle while not carrying
revenue passengers. |
A B C D E
F G H I J
K L M N O P Q R S T U V
W X Y Z
| OFF-PEAK |
Non-rush
periods of the day when travel activity
is generally lower and less transit service
is scheduled. |
| OPERATING
COST |
Recurring
costs in transportation systems that include
wages, salaries, taxed, insurance, and
supplies, but not capital depreciation
or interest payments. |
| OPERATING
EXPENSE |
Monies
paid in salaries and wages, settlements
of claims, maintenance of equipment and
buildings, and rentals of equipment and
facilities. |
| OPERATING
RATIO |
A
measure of transit system expense recovery
obtained by dividing total operating revenues
by total operating expenses. |
| OPERATING
REVENUE |
Income
received from passenger fares or from the
charter or contracting of services. |
| OPERATING
SPEED |
The
average speed at which a vehicle travels
while in service. |
| OPERATOR |
An
employee of a transit system who spends
his/her workday in the operation of a vehicle,
e.g., bus driver, streetcar motorman, trolley
coach operator, cable car gripman, rapid
transit train motorman, conductor, etc. |
| ORIGIN-DESTINATION
(OD) STUDY |
A
study of the origins and destinations of
trips made by vehicles or passengers. |
| OUTBOUNDTRIP |
A
trip beginning in the Central Business
District to an outlying area. |
| OUTLYING
BUSINESS DISTRICT (OBO) |
That
part of a municipality and environs normally
separated from the CBD and Fringe Area,
where the chief land use is commercial. |
| OUT-OF-POCKET
COST |
A
direct cost clearly incurred by, and directly
related to the unit of operation under
study. Excludes costs, which would be incurred
even if the unit under study was not operated. |
| OVER-THE-ROAD
COACH |
A
large bus with luggage space used for transportation
between cities. |
| OWL
RUN |
An
owl run is one, which operates very late
at night or very early in the morning. |
A B C D E
F G H I J
K L M N O P Q R S T U V
W X Y Z
| PADDLE |
A
schedule for each bus showing all trips
in a day, including pull-in and pull-out
times. |
| PARATRANSIT |
Flexible
transportation services, operated publicly
or privately. Typically, small scale operation
using low capacity vehicles, e.g., dial-a-ride,
jitney, mini-bus, subscription service,
van pools, etc. |
| PARK
AND RIDE |
An
intermodal trip where the driver of an
automobile parks and automobile and changes
to the transit mode. See KISS AND RIDE. |
| PARK
AND RIDE LOT |
A
location where passengers drive their cars
designated parking areas and then board
transit vehicles from these locations. |
| PASS |
A
means of transit prepayment, usually a
card that carries some identification,
that is displayed to the driver or conductor
in place of paying a cash fare. |
| PASSENGER-MILE |
The
transportation of one passenger over a
distance of one mile. See COST EFFECTIVENESS. |
| PASSENGER
MILES |
A
measure of service utilization, which represents
the cumulative sum of the distances, ridden
by each passenger. For example, ten passengers
riding in a vehicle for two miles equals
20 passenger miles. |
| PASSENGER-REVENUE |
The
total amount of fares paid by passengers;
sometimes called "farebox" revenue. |
| PASSENGER
TRANSPORT (PT) |
The
weekly newspaper of the transit industry
that is published by the American Public
Transit Association. |
| PASSENGER-TRIP
(or person-trip) |
One
person travelling one way from origin to
destination. |
| PARTICIPATING
AGREEMENT |
An
agreement between the State and others
that govern the sharing of costs for specified
purposes. |
| PATRON |
A
person who intends to use, is using, or
has used the transit system and is on property
affiliated with the transit system. |
| PEAK/BASE
RATIO |
The
number of vehicles operating passenger
service during the peak-hour period divided
by the number operating during the base
period. |
| PEAK
PERIODS |
Specified
time periods during which there is the
maximum volume of traffic and/or number
of passengers. |
| PLANNING
PROCESS |
The
process, required by federal transit and
highway legislation, through which communities
develop proposals for transportation projects
designed to serve the needs of an area. |
| PLATFORM |
That
portion of the station directly adjacent
to the tracks at which trains stop to load
and unload passengers. |
| PLATFORMTIME |
The
time a vehicle is in revenue service. |
| POINT-TO-POINT
DEVIATION |
A
transit routing pattern in which the vehicle
passes through specified points, in accordance
with a prearranged schedule, but is not
given a specific route to follow between
these points, and provides door-to-door
service between those points. |
| PRIORITY
LANE |
A
lane reserved (generally during specified
hours) for high-occupancy vehicles (e.g.,
buses, carpools, or vanpools). |
| PROGRAM |
Composite
of activities that together result in a
specific product or achievement that emphasizes
the satisfaction of a public need. Programs
represent purpose-oriented goals. |
| PROGRESS
PAYMENT |
The
payment (usually monthly) to a contractor
based on the degree of progress or completion
of a project. |
| PROJECT
DESCRIPTION |
Generally
a brief description of a project's title,
location, and overall goal.
Example: Construct a
3.2 mile fully automated transit system
on an exclusive elevated guideway connecting
the Coliseum BART station to Oakland
International Airport. The preferred
alignment follows Hegenberger Road.
The project will comprise a base service
line with two end-stations one at the
Coliseum BART station, and the other
within the new airport terminal.
|
| PROPERTY |
A
public transit agency or a private transit
company with responsibility for bus, trolley,
or rail service. |
| PUBLICTRANSIT
AGENCIES |
A
public entity responsible for administering
and managing transit activities and services.
These public entities can directly operate
transit service or contract out for all
or part of the total transit service provided. |
| PUBLICTRANSIT
SYSTEM |
A
system owned, controlled, 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. |
| PUBLICTRANSPORTATION |
Service
that is available to any person upon payment
of the proper fare, and which cannot be
reserved for the private or exclusive use
of one individual or group. ("Public" in
this term refers to the access to, not
the ownership of, the system.) |
| PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (PTMS) |
This
is a systematic process that collects and
analyzes transit facilities, equipment,
and rolling stock information on an ongoing
basis. It provides information for decision-makers
to select cost-effective strategies for
providing and maintaining facilities, equipment,
and rolling stock in a serviceable condition. |
| PULL-INTIME |
The
time at the end of a run that allows the
operator to make the final fare-box reading,
organize his/her belongings, and turn in
transfers and tickets to the dispatcher. |
| PULL-OUTTIME |
The
time at the beginning of a run, which the
operator uses to prepare the vehicle for
service before it leaves the yard or garage. |
| PURCHASED
TRANSPORTATION |
Transportation
service provided to a public agency from
a public or private transportation provider
based on a written contract. It does not
include franchising, licensing operations,
management services, or private conventional
bus service. The provider is obligated
in advance to operate public transportation
service for a public agency for a specific
monetary consideration. |
A B C D E
F G H I J
K L M N O P Q R S T U V
W X Y Z
| RADIAL
NETWORK |
A
transportation pattern in which most routes
converge into and diverge from a central
hub, as do the spokes of a wheel. See GRID. |
| RADIAL
SERVICE |
Local
or express service designed primarily to
connect the Central Business District with
outlying areas. |
| RAPID
RAIL |
A
system which operates high speed, high capacity
passenger trains using exclusive fixed guideways,
grade separated and level station platforms
for boarding passengers. |
| RAPIDTRANSIT |
Transit
service, which is operated completely, separate
from all other modes of transportation. The
term "rail rapid transit" frequently
refers both to operation of light rail transit
vehicles over exclusive right-of-way and
heavy rail transit vehicles; the term "bus
rapid transit" refers to operation of
motor buses over exclusive bus roads or busways. |
REGIONAL
TRANSPORTATION
PLANNING AGENCY (RTPA) |
AB
69 allowed the creation of the RTPAs 69 to
prepare regional transportation plans and
designated by the Bureau of Transportation
and Housing Secretary to receive and allocate
transit funds. RTPAs can be Local Transportation
Commissions, Council of Governments, or Metropolitan
Planning Organizations or statutorily created
agencies. |
| REVENUE |
Receipts
derived from or for the operation of transit
service including farebox revenue, revenue
from other commercial sources, and operating
assistance from governments. Farebox revenue
includes all fares, transfer charges, and
zone charges paid by transit passengers. |
| REVENUE
MILES |
Miles
operated by vehicles available for passenger
service. |
| REVENUE
PASSENGERS |
Passengers
who pay fares for transportation. |
| REVERSE
COMMUTING |
Movement
in a direction opposite to the main flow
of traffic, such as from the central city
to a suburb in the morning rush hour. |
| RIDESHARING |
A
form of transportation, other than public
transit, when more than one person shares
in the use of the vehicle, such as a van
or care, 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. |
| ROAD
CALL |
A
mechanical failure of a bus in revenue service
that necessitates removing the bus from service
until repairs are made. |
| ROLLING
STOCK |
Revenue
vehicles used in providing transit service
for passengers. The term revenue vehicles
includes the body and chassis and all fixtures
and appliances inside or attached to the
body or chassis, except fare collection equipment
and revenue vehicle movement control equipment
(radios). |
| ROUTE |
An
established course of travel within the transportation
network. |
| ROUTE
DEVIATION SERVICE |
In
demand-responsive transportation, a service
pattern that allows a vehicle to depart from
an established route upon request. Public
transportation on a nonexclusive basis, that
operates along a public way, on a fixed route,
from which it may deviate from time to time,
in response to a demand for its service or
to take a passenger to a destination, after
which it returns to its route. |
| ROUTE
MILES |
The
total number of miles included in a fixed
route transit system network. |
| RUNNING
GEAR |
The
wheels, axles, springs, axle boxes, frames,
and other carrying parts of a bus, truck,
rail car, or locomotive. |
| RURAL
AREAS |
As
used in U.S. Census, towns, villages, and
surrounding areas with a population less
than 2,500. Other federal agencies may consider
areas with a population of 50,000 or less
as rural or non-urban, for grant purposes. |
A B C D E
F G H I J
K L M N O P Q R S T U V
W X Y Z
| SCHEDULING |
The
planning of vehicle arrivals and departures
and the operators for these vehicles to
meet consumer demand along specified routes. |
| SCHOOL
BUS SERVICE |
Transportation
for children to and from any regularly
conducted public or private school or school-related
activity. |
| SECTION
3 |
The
section of the Urban Mass Transportation
Act of 1964, as amended, that authorizes
discretionary capital grants for public
transportation projects out of the Mass
Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund.
See FTA Section 3 Funds. |
| SECTION
9 |
The
section of the Urban Mass Transportation
Act of 1964, as amended, that authorizes
grants to public transit systems in urbanized
areas for both capital and operating projects
based on formulas set out in statute. See
FTA Section 9 Funds. |
| SECTION
13C |
A
section of 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 |
A
reporting system used by the Federal Transit
Administration to accumulate public mass
transportation financial and operating
information by uniform categories and a
uniform system of accounts and records. |
| SECTION
18 |
The
Section of the Urban Mass Transportation
Act of 1964, as amended, that authorizes
grants to public transit systems in non-urbanized
areas, based on formulas set out in the
statute. The funds go initially to the
Governor of each state. See FTA Section
18 Funds. |
| SECTION
504 |
The
section of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
that establishes the policy that otherwise
qualified handicapped persons may not be
discriminated against in any federal or
federally-assisted program. |
| SERVICE
AREA |
The
square miles of the transit agency's operational
area. Service area is now defined consistent
with ADA requirements. ADA defines the
service areas that must also be served
by complementary transit. For bus, service
area is defined as corridors with a width
of three-fourths of a mile on either side
of a fixed route. For rail systems, the
service area consists of a circle three-fourths
of a mile around each station, which may
be extended to 1 1/2 miles at end stations
in outlying areas. |
| SHARED-RIDETAXIS |
A
type of demand-responsive service in which
taxis are allowed by the regulatory authorities
to carry at any one time several unrelated
passengers with different origins and destinations. |
| SHOPPERS'
SPECIAL |
A
limited or express transit trip usually
during off-peak hours that is designed
to carry passengers to and from shopping
areas. |
| SHUTTLE |
A
public conveyance that travels back and
forth, over a particular route, especially
a short route or one that connects two
transportation systems or centers. |
| SOFTWARE |
The
set of programs, procedures, and related
documentation associated with the operation
of a system. See HARDWARE. |
| STATUTE |
A
written law often referred to by chapter
number and year enacted by the legislature.
The Governor signs all statues. |
| STREETCAR |
A
lightweight electrically powered rail car
that is operated singly or in short trains,
on fixed rails, in mixed traffic on city
streets. |
| SUBSCRIPTION
BUS SERVICE |
Service
provided through advance reservations for
regular trips over a specified period of
time. Commuter bus express service operated
for a guaranteed number of patrons from
a given area on a prepaid, reserved-seat
basis. |
| SUBSCRIPTION
VAN SERVICE |
Similar
to the subscription bus service, except
that the van may be privately owned, leased
or provided for by employers. |
| SUBURBAN
COACH |
Bus
with characteristics suitable for both
city street and highway operation. |
| SUBWAY |
An
urban public transportation system that
uses below-ground right-of-way. Also used
to refer to that portion of a transportation
system that is constructed beneath the
ground surface. |
A B C D E
F G H I J
K L M N O P Q R S T U V
W X Y Z
| TOTAL
COSTS |
The
sum of amortized capital costs and non-capital
costs. Usually stated on an annual basis. |
| TRANSFER
CENTER |
A
fixed location where passengers interchange
from one route to another. |
| TRANSFER
PASSENGER |
A
passenger who transfers to one or more
transit lines after paying a fare on an
initial transit line. |
| TRANSIT
DEPENDENT |
Someone
who must use public transportation for
his/her travel. |
| TRANSIT
MALL |
A
type of exclusive right-of-way reserved
for transit vehicles in revenue service
and pedestrian traffic. |
| TRANSIT
MODE |
A
transit system category characterized by
specific right-of-way, technological and
operational features. There are two types
fixed-route and demand responsive. |
| TRANSIT
PROPERTY |
All
facilities that are directly controlled
by a transit agency (agency is responsible
for cleaning and maintaining) or provided
to a transit agency for its use by another
public or private entity (formal or informal
agreement with the owner wherein services
or facilities are provided to benefit the
transit agency).This includes stations,
exclusive rights-of-way, bus stops, and
maintenance facilities. |
| TRANSPORTATION
BROKERAGE |
A
method of matching travelers with a variety
of transportation providers through use
of central dispatching and administrative
facilities. |
| TRANSPORTATION-DEPENDENT |
Refers
to people who have no independent means
of transportation, such as a private automobile. |
| TRANSPORTATION
DEVELOPMENT ACT (TDA) |
This
is the act that specifies how the local
sales tax for transportation purposes is
distributed. It allowed the creation of
the Transportation Planning and Development
Account. |
| TRANSPORTATION
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (TIP) |
A
program of proposed short range projects
to improve local transportation systems
prepared for U.S. DOT as part of a grant
application. |
| TRANSPORTATION
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT (TP&D) |
This
appropriates state planning funds, channels
local transit funds, and is a source for
legislative appropriations to projects
and programs. |
| TRANSPORTATION
PROVIDER |
The
agency, organization, or company that operates,
manages, or is otherwise responsible for
providing transportation services. |
| TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT (TSM) |
The
portion of the transportation improvement
program that outlines non-capital-intensive
steps that will be taken to improve the
transportation system, e.g. improvements
in system and traffic management, such
as bus priority or reserved lane systems
and restrictions on downtown traffic or
parking. |
| TRAVEL
DEMAND |
The
number of trips desired. |
| TRAVELTIME |
The
total amount of time taken to travel from
origin to destination. |
| TRIP |
The
one-way movement of one person between
origin and destination. |
| TROLLEY
COACH |
An
electric, rubber-tired, bus propelled by
a direct-current motor that draws power
through a trolley from overhead electric
wires through a mechanism (trolley pole
or pantograph), designed to allow the bus
to maneuver in mixed traffic, over several
lanes, and pick up passengers at the street
curb. |
A B C D E
F G H I J
K L M N O P Q R S T U V
W X Y Z
| UNDUPLICATED
NUMBER OF PASSENGERS |
Total
number of individual passengers counted
only once. |
| UNLINKED
PASSENGERTRIPS |
The
number of passengers who board public
transportation revenue vehicles. A passenger
is counted each time he/she boards a
vehicle, even though he/she may be on
the same journey from origin to destination. |
| URBAN
MASSTRANSPORTATION ADMINISTRATION (UMTA) |
A
part of the (Federal) Department of Transportation
(DOT) which administers the federal program
of financial assistance to public transit. |
| URBANIZED
AREA (UZA) |
An
area designated by the Bureau of Census
meeting certain criteria of population
size and contiguity with a population
of 50,000 or more. |
| USER
SUBSIDY |
Where
subsidies are made directly to the user
in the form of discounted tickets, vouchers,
monthly passes, etc. |
| VAN |
A
vehicle typically designed to carry 8
to 12 persons. |
| VAN
POOL |
A
group of people who share the cost of
regular transportation by van to and
from a designated destination. |
| VARIABLE
COST |
A
cost that varies in relation to the level
of operational activity. |
| VAULT |
The
part of the farebox that holds the money. |
| VEHICLE-HOUR |
The
operation of one vehicle for one hour.
See COST EFFECTIVENESS. |
| VEHICLE-MILE |
The
operation of one vehicle over the distance
of one mile. See COST EFFECTIVENESS. |
| VEHICLE
MILES TRAVELLED (VMT) |
The
total miles traveled by all vehicles
in the system. |
| VEHICLE
OCCUPANCY |
The
number of passengers aboard a vehicle
at any one time. |
| VOUCHER |
A
written document that evidences a transaction,
and often attests to the expenditure
or receipt of money. |
| WHEELCHAIR
LIFT |
A
device used to raise and lower a platform
in a transit vehicle for accessibility
by handicapped individuals. |
| WOMEN'S
BUSINESS ENTERPRISE (WBE) |
A
business owned and controlled by one
or more women. |
| YARD |
An
area in a system for maintenance, storing,
or holding trains. |
| ZONE
FARES |
A
system of fares where a transit system's
service area is divided into zones within
which specified rates or fares apply. |
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