Vehicle Type: Articulated Buses
Repairing all damage to buildings, grounds and equipment resulting from collisions with stationary or moving objects, floods and accidentally ignited fires, etc. Can be found in: F-30
Repairing all damage to revenue vehicles resulting from incidents (e.g., collisions with stationary or moving objects, floods and accidentally ignited fires, etc.). Can be found in: F-30
The time allowed an operator to complete and file the forms necessary to report an accident. Can be found in: F-50
An accounting system consists of the business papers, records, and reports plus the procedures that are used in recording transactions and reporting their effects. An example of an accounting system is the Uniform System of Accounts (USOA). Can be found in: Declarations
A method of financial accounting where revenues are recorded when earned; the revenue does not have to be received in the same reporting period. Similarly, expenditures are recorded as soon as they result in liabilities for benefits received; the payment of the expenditure does not have to be made in the same reporting period. Can be found in: Introduction, F-10, F-20, Declarations, RU Introduction
A natural and unavoidable catastrophe that interrupts the expected course of events, such as earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tornados, other high winds, lightning, snow and ice storms. Can be found in: S&S-40
The vehicles available to operate in revenue service, including:
• Spares
• Vehicles temporarily out of service for routine maintenance and minor repairs.
Can be found in: Internet Reporting, A-30
The vehicles in the year-end fleet that are available to operate in revenue service, including:
• Spares
• Vehicles temporarily out of service for routine maintenance and minor repairs.
Can be found in: A-30
The hours that passenger cars travel while in revenue service (actual passenger car revenue hours) plus deadhead hours. Actual passenger car hours include:
• Layover / recovery time.
But Exclude:
• Hours for charter services
• Operator training, and
• Vehicle maintenance testing.
Can be found in: S-10
The miles that passenger cars travel while in revenue service (actual passenger car revenue miles) plus deadhead miles. Actual passenger car miles exclude:
• Hours for charter services
• Operator training, and
• Vehicle maintenance testing.
Can be found in: S-10
The hours that passenger cars travel while in revenue service. Passenger car revenue hours include:
• Layover / recovery time.
But Exclude:
• Deadhead
• Operator training
• Vehicle maintenance tests, and
• Charter services.
Can be found in: S-10, MR-20
The miles that passenger cars travel while in revenue service. Passenger car revenue miles exclude:
• Deadhead
• Operator training
• Vehicle maintenance tests, and
• Charter services.
Can be found in: S-10, MR-20
Full and part time employees of the transit agency, permanent or temporary, who hold approved and filled positions at the end of the fiscal year. Can be found in: R-10
The total service operated during each time period. Actual service excludes:
• Missed trips, and
• Service interruptions (e.g., strikes, emergency shutdowns).
Actual service is measured by vehicles in service, in miles and hours. Can be found in: S-10
The hours that trains travel while in revenue service (actual train revenue hours) plus deadhead hours. Actual train hours include:
• Layover / recovery time.
But Exclude:
• Hours for charter services
• Operator training, and
• Vehicle maintenance testing.
Can be found in: S-10
The miles that trains travel while in revenue service (actual train revenue miles) plus deadhead miles. Actual train miles exclude:
• Miles for charter services
• Operator training, and
• Vehicle maintenance testing.
Can be found in: S-10
The hours that trains travel while in revenue service. Train revenue hours include:
• Layover / recovery time.
But Exclude:
• Deadhead
• Training operators prior to revenue service
• Vehicle maintenance tests, and
• Charter services.
Can be found in: S-10
The miles that trains travel while in revenue service. Train revenue miles exclude:
• Deadhead
• Training operators prior to revenue service
• Vehicle maintenance tests, and
• Charter services.
Can be found in: S-10
The hours that vehicles travel while in revenue service plus deadhead hours. Actual vehicle hours exclude:
• Hours for charter service
• School bus service
• Operator training, and
• Vehicle maintenance testing.
Can be found in: Internet Reporting, S-10, MR Internet Reporting
The miles that vehicles travel while in revenue service (actual vehicle revenue miles (VRM)) plus deadhead miles. Actual vehicle miles exclude:
• Miles for charter service
• School bus service
• Operator training, and
• Vehicle maintenance testing.
Can be found in: Internet Reporting, S-10, MR Internet Reporting
The hours that vehicles travel while in revenue service. Vehicle revenue hours (VRH) include:
• Layover / recovery time.
But Exclude:
• Deadhead
• Operator training
• Maintenance testing, as well as
• School bus and charter services.
Can be found in: Internet Reporting, S-10, FFA-10, Declarations, MR Internet Reporting, MR-20
The miles that vehicles travel while in revenue service. Vehicle revenue miles (VRM) include:
• Layover / recovery time.
But Exclude:
• Deadhead
• Operator training and maintenance testing, as well as
• School bus and charter services.
Can be found in: Internet Reporting, S-10, FFA-10, Declarations, MR Internet Reporting, MR-20
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
Public transportation passenger facilities, which provide ready access, and do not have physical barriers that prohibit and / or restrict access by individuals with disabilities, including individuals who use wheelchairs. Refer to 49 CFR Part 37, Appendix. Can be found in: A-10
Public transportation revenue vehicles, which do not restrict access, are usable, and provide allocated space and / or priority seating for individuals who use wheelchairs, and which are accessible using lifts. Refer to 49 CFR Part 38. Can be found in: A-30, RU-20
Public transportation revenue vehicles, which do not restrict access, are usable, and provide allocated space and / or priority seating for individuals who use wheelchairs, and which are accessible using ramps. Refer to 49 CFR Part 38. Can be found in: A-30, RU-20
The number of passengers who board public transportation vehicles for complementary paratransit services (demand response (DR)) associated or attributed to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) compliance requirements. The number of Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) unlinked passenger trips (UPT) should be less than or equal to the total number of unlinked passenger trips. These trips are reported only for demand response (DR) mode. ADA-related service reported to NTD should not include any categorical service (i.e. Services that are not available to the general public such as: Medicaid, Meals-On-Wheels, Head Start, sheltered workshops, independent living centers, etc.) Can be found in: S-10
Facilities and offices which house the executive management and supporting activities for overall transit operations such as accounting, finance, engineering, legal, safety, security, customer services, scheduling and planning (see General Administration (160) function). They include separate buildings for customer information or ticket sales, which are owned by the transit agency and which are not part of passenger stations. Can be found in: F-20
The revenue earned from displaying advertising materials on transit agency vehicles and property. The amounts should be net of any fees paid to advertising agencies, which place the advertisement with the transit agency. Can be found in: F-10
A transit mode that is an electric system of aerial cables with suspended powerless 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. Can be found in: B-10, MR-10, S&S Introduction, S&S-10
Vehicle type: Unpowered passenger vehicles suspended from a system of aerial cables and propelled by separate cables attached to the vehicle suspension system. Engines or motors at a central location, not onboard the vehicle, power the cable system. Can be found in: A-30
The distance from terminal to terminal following the path of the tramway towers. Can be found in: A-20
In recognition of the special Federal relationship with the Alaska Railroad (AR), a segment of the passenger service portion of the Alaska Railroad (AR) is considered eligible for certain FTA funding under the Fixed Guideway Modernization program. The service encompasses only those lines operating within the Anchorage, Alaska, urbanized area (UZA) where passenger service is provided and only includes car miles for passenger cars; car miles for freight cars are specifically excluded. Can be found in: B-10, MR-10, S&S Introduction, S&S-10, RU-10
Signed into law by the President on February 17, 2009, the ARRA supports government wide efforts to stimulate the economy by the preservation or creation of jobs and the promotion of an economic recovery, as well as the investment in transportation, environmental protection and other infrastructure providing long-term economic benefits. Can be found in: Introduction, F-10.
The legislation defining the responsibilities of and requirements for transportation providers to make transportation accessible to individuals with disabilities. Can be found in: Introduction, B-10, F-30, F-40, A-10, A-30, S-10, MR Introduction, S&S Introduction, RU-20
The amortization of the intangible costs of the transit agency including organization costs, franchises, patents, goodwill and other intangible assets. Can be found in: F-40
A collision type involving an impact to anywhere on the side of a vehicle with the exception of a sideswipe. Can be found in: S&S-40
The recurring costs of providing public transportation service. They include: all employees’ wages and salaries; fringe benefits; operating supplies such as fuel, and oil; contractors’ charges for services; taxes; repair and maintenance services, parts, and supplies; equipment leases and rentals; marketing; lease or rental costs; and insurance. Operating expenses include administrative expenses. Operating costs exclude fixed costs such as depreciation on plant and equipment, costs of providing transportation services not available to the general public, and interest paid on loans on capital equipment. Can be found in: RU-20
The number of passengers who board operational revenue vehicles. Passengers are counted each time they board vehicles no matter how many vehicles they use to travel from their origin to their destination. Trips should be counted regardless of whether an individual fare is collected for each leg of travel. It includes passenger trips on volunteer vehicles. Can be found in: RU-20
The total amount of time in hours for the reporting period that all vehicles travel from the time they pull out to go into revenue service to the time they pull in from revenue service. This includes the hours of personal vehicles used in service. Can be found in: RU-20
The total number of miles for the reporting period that all vehicles travel from the time they pull out to go into revenue service to the time they pull in from revenue service. This includes the miles of personal vehicles used in service. Can be found in: RU-20
Vehicle Type: Automobiles
Automatic Passenger Counter
Mode: Alaska Railroad
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, 2009
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 appropriated $1.5 billion in discretionary grant funds to be awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation for capital investments in surface transportation infrastructure. Known as the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program, these grants are awarded on a competitive basis to fund up to 100 percent of project costs for transportation investments that have a significant impact on the nation, a metropolitan area or a region. This is a multi-modal program that includes transit capital improvements. Can be found in: F-10.
Signed into law by the President on February 17, 2009, the ARRA supports government wide efforts to stimulate the economy by the preservation or creation of jobs and the promotion of an economic recovery, as well as the investment in transportation, environmental protection and other infrastructure providing long-term economic benefits. Reporting manual reference: Introduction, F-10.
To take a person into custody, by authority of law, for the purpose of charging him / her with a criminal offense. Can be found in: S&S-40, S&S-50
To unlawfully and intentionally damage, or attempt to damage, any real or personal property by fire or incendiary device. Can be found in: S&S-40, S&S-50
Vehicle type: Extra long (54 ft. to 60 ft.) buses (MB) with two connected passenger compartments. The rear body section is connected to the main body by a joint mechanism that allows the vehicles to bend when in operation for sharp turns and curves and yet have a continuous interior. Can be found in: A-30
An unlawful attack by one person upon another. Can be found in: S&S-40, S&S-50
At-grade alignments between an at-grade crossing and an other-than-at-grade crossing with another right-of-way. Can be found in A-20.
Includes alignments where rail vehicles and rubber-tire vehicles travel in the same lanes, and alignments where pedestrians may freely across the tracks at any point. Can be found in: A-20
Closed (i.e., non-mixed) rail alignments between any two contiguous crossing that are at-grade. Can be found in: A-20
A day on which the transit agency either:
• Does not operate its normal, regular schedule, or
• Provides extra service to meet demands for special events such as conventions, parades, or public celebrations, or operates significantly reduced service because of unusually bad weather (e.g., snowstorms, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes) or major public disruptions (e.g., terrorism).
Can be found in: S-10
An automated means of counting boarding and alighting passengers (e.g., treadle mats or infrared beams placed by the door) (www.its.dot.gov). Can be found in: Introduction, S-10
Position determination via an automatic technology or combination of technologies, such as Global Positioning System (triangulation of satellite signals), Signposts (beacons at known locations transmit signals picked up by vehicle), Ground-Based Radio (triangulation of radio tower signals), or Dead-Reckoning (vehicle's odometer and compass used to measure new position from previous known position), and typically includes real-time reporting of that location to a dispatcher (www.its.dot.gov).
Vehicle type: Passenger cars, up to and including station wagons in size. Can be found in: A-30, S&S-40
Revenues earned from transporting vehicles in ferryboat transit service. Can be found in: F-10
The funds earned from operations closely associated with transportation operations. Auxiliary transportation funds include:
• Concessions - station and vehicle concessions
• Advertising revenues
• Other - including ID card fees (seniors, persons with disabilities, employees), fare evasion and park-and-ride lot fines, and automotive vehicle ferriage.
Can be found in: F-10
The total miles accumulated on all active vehicles since date of manufacture divided by the number of active vehicles. Can be found in: A-30
The monthly average number of fixed guideway directional route miles (FG DRM) over which service was operated. For each segment, sum the directional route miles (DRM) for each month that the mode was operated during the year and divide by 12 months. Can be found in: Introduction, S-10, S-20
A typical, representative Saturday in the operation of the transit system, weighted to reflect seasonal variations in service. Can be found in: S-10
A typical, representative Sunday in the operation of the transit system, weighted to reflect seasonal variations in service. Can be found in: S-10
The average distance ridden for an unlinked passenger trip (UPT) by time period (weekday, Saturday, Sunday) computed as passenger miles traveled (PMT) divided by unlinked passenger trips (UPT). Can be found in: S-10
A typical, representative weekday in the operation of the transit system, weighted to reflect seasonal variations in service. Can be found in: S-10
The number of passengers who board public transportation vehicles on an average, typical weekday during a month. Can be found in: MR-20
Automatic Vehicle Location
Back to top Credible written or oral (e.g., telephone) communication to a transit agency threatening the use of an explosive or incendiary device for the purpose of disrupting public transit services or to create a public emergency. Can be found in: S&S-40
The unlawful and intentional:
• Delivery
• Placement
• Disharge, or
• Detonation of an explosive, or other lethal device in, into, or against
º A public transport facility,
º A public transportation system (including vehicles), or
º An infrastructure facility.
• With the intent to cause death or serious bodily injury, or
• With the intent to cause extensive damage to, or destruction of such a place, facility or system, where such destruction results in or is likely to result in major economic loss.
Can be found in: S&S40
The fee for service that the transit agency pays an investment-banking firm to handle the bond issue and other related fees that the transit agency may incur related to the bond issue such as accounting, legal, and printing costs. Can be found in: F-10
Financing mechanism used to raise funds. Bonds are secured debt offered through a legal entity (usually a state or local government) that guarantees two rights to the purchaser:
• The right to receive a fixed interest payment (e.g., 10%), often semiannually, on the par value of the bond (e.g., $10,000), and
• The right to be paid the par value of the bond (e.g., $10,000) at a definite future date when the bond matures (e.g., 20 years after issuance).
Can be found in: F10
Vehicle type: Over-the Road Buses
A tax or fee paid for the liberty or privilege of using a bridge, tunnel or highway. Can be found in: F-10, F-30
An association of transportation providers managed by broker or agent who makes transportation arrangements for a specific clientele such as the elderly and persons with disabilities. The transportation providers in a brokerage system are typically social service agencies and taxicab operators. The broker may be the transit agency directly or the transit agency may contract with an individual or firm to operate the brokerage system. Can be found in: B-30
Vehicle type: Buses
The unlawful entry into a building or other structure with the intent to commit a felony or a theft. Can be found in: S&S-50
A transit mode comprised of rubber-tired passenger vehicles operating on fixed routes and schedules over roadways. Vehicles are powered by:
• Diesel
• Gasoline
• Battery, or
• Alternative fuel engines contained within the vehicle.
Can be found in: B-10, MR-10, S&S Introduction, S&S-10, RU-20
Fixed-route bus systems that either (1) operate their routes predominantly on fixed-guideways (other than on highway HOV or shoulder lanes, such as for commuter bus service) or (2) that operate routes of high-frequency service with the following elements: Substantial transit stations, traffic signal priority or pre-emption, low-floor vehicles or level-platform boarding, and separate branding of the service. High-frequency service is defined as 10-minute peak and 15-minute off-peak headways for at least 14 hours of service operations per day. This mode may include portions of service that are fixed-guideway and non-fixed-guideway. Can be found in: B-10, MR-10, S&S Introduction, S&S-10
Pre-defined location for passengers to board and/or alight the transit vehicle, typically on-street, at the curb, or in a median, sometimes with a shelter, sign, or lighting. Can be found in: S&S-40
Vehicle type: Rubber-tired passenger vehicles powered by diesel, gasoline, battery or alternative fuel engines contained within the vehicle. Vehicles in this category do not include articulated, double-decked, or school buses. Can be found in: A-30
The NTD reporter contracting with a seller under a purchased transportation agreement to provide transit services. The contractor may be a public transit agency or a private company. Can be found in: Introduction, B-30, F-10, F-20, F-30, A-10, A-20, Declarations, MR Introduction, S&S Introduction
Back to topA transit mode that is an electric railway with individually controlled transit vehicles attached to a moving cable located below the street surface and powered by engines or motors at a central location, not onboard the vehicle. Can be found in: B-10, MR-10, S&S Introduction, S&S-10, RU-10
Vehicle type: Streetcar type of passenger vehicles operating by means of an attachment to a moving cable located below the street surface and powered by engines or motors at a central location not onboard the vehicles. Can be found in: A-30
Projects related to the purchase of equipment. Equipment means an article of non-expendable tangible personal property having a useful life of more than one year and an acquisition cost which equals the lesser of:
• The capitalization level established by the government unit for financial statement purposes, or $5,000.
Capital expenses do not include operating expenses (OE) that are eligible to use capital funds. Can be found in: FFA-10
Financial funding to help cover the costs of equipment necessary to support transit services. Equipment is tangible property having a useful life of more than one year, e.g., vehicles, buildings, passenger stations and fixed guideway (FG) facilities. See capital expenses for requirements. Can be found in: FFA-10
The expenses incurred within the year related to the purchase of facilities, vehicles and equipment. Can be found in: RU-20
The expenses related to the purchase of equipment. Equipment means an article of non-expendable tangible personal property having a useful life of more than one year and an acquisition cost which equals the lesser of:
• The capitalization level established by the government unit for financial statement purposes, or $5,000.
Capital expenses do not include operating expenses (OE) that are eligible to use capital funds. Can be found in: Introduction, B-10, F-10, F-20, MR Introduction
The employees engaged in the purchase of equipment. Equipment means an article of non-expendable tangible personal property having a useful life of more than one year and an acquisition cost which equals the lesser of:
• The capitalization level established by the government unit for financial statement purposes, or $5,000.
Can be found in: R-10
Expenses classified as operating expenses under the Uniform System of Accounts (USOA) that are eligible for capital funds under FTA formula programs, e.g., preventive maintenance costs. Can be found in: F-30
The cost elements covering protection of the transit agency from loss through insurance programs, compensation of others for their losses due to acts for which the transit agency is liable, and recognition of the cost of a miscellaneous category of corporate losses. Can be found in: F-30
Mode: Commuter Bus
Coordinated Border Infrastructure Program
Mode: Cable Car
Vehicle type: Cable Cars
Chief Executive Officer
A vehicle hired for exclusive use that does not operate over a regular route, on a regular schedule and is not available to the general public. Can be found in: Introduction, S-10, MR Introduction, S&S Introduction
The total hours operated by revenue vehicles while in charter service. Charter service hours include:
• Hours operated while carrying passengers for hire, plus
• Associated deadhead hours.
Can be found in: S-10
The revenue earned from operating vehicles under charter contracts. Can be found in: F-10
The unlawful and intentional:
• Delivery
• Placement
• Disharge, or
• Detonation of a biological, chemical, or radiological/other lethal device in, into, or against:
º A public transport facility,
º A public transportation system (including vehicles), or
º An infrastructure facility, or conspiracy, instigation or attempts to commit such acts. Chemical, biological, or radiological/other releases:
• Involve solids, liquids, or gases that have chemical properties that produce lethal or serious effects in human beings, or
• Any weapon involving a disease organism, or
• Conspiracy, instigation, or attempt to commit such acts with the intent to cause death or serious bodily injury, or with the intent to cause extensive damage to or destruction of such a place, facility or system where such destruction results in or is likely to result in major economic loss
The principal executive in charge of and responsible for the transit agency. Can be found in: Introduction, Internet Reporting, B-20, S-10, Declarations, MR Introduction, S&S Introduction, S&S-20, RU Introduction, RU-10
Attestation by the chief executive officer (CEO) of a transit agency certifying the accuracy of the data submitted to the NTD. Can be found in: Introduction, Internet Reporting, S-10, Declarations, D-10, MR Introduction, S&S Introduction, S&S-20
A writ or order commanding a person to appear in court as a notice to a person that he or she is charged with a petty offense. Can be found in: S&S-50
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) program whose funds can be flexed to FTA Section 5307 Urbanized Area Formula Program for transit projects. This program is to help improve air quality and to manage traffic congestion. Transferred funds may be used for capital expansion and improvements that increase ridership, travel demand management strategies, shared ride services, and bicycle and pedestrian facilities. Can be found in: F-10, MR Introduction
A vehicle accident in which there is an impact of a transit vehicle with:
• Another transit vehicle
• A non-transit vehicle
• An object
• A person(s) (suicide excluded)
• An animal
• A rail vehicle
• A vessel, or
• A dock
Can be found in: S&S-40
Systems for exchanging information including two-way radio systems for communications between dispatchers and vehicle operators, cab signaling and train control equipment in rail systems, automatic vehicle locator systems, automated dispatching systems, vehicle guidance systems, telephones, facsimile machines and public address systems. Can be found in: F-20
Service operated primarily within the boundaries of a community that is not considered a municipality, county, independent city or parish. Can be found in: RU-20.
Fixed-route bus systems that are primarily connecting outlying areas with a central city through bus service that operates with at least five miles of continuous closed-door service. This service typically operates using motorcoaches (aka over-the-road buses), and usually features peak scheduling, multiple-trip tickets, and multiple stops in outlying areas with limited stops in the central city. Can be found in: B-10, MR-10, S&S Introduction, S&S-10
A transit mode that is an electric or diesel propelled railway for urban passenger train service consisting of local short distance travel operating between a central city and adjacent suburbs. Service must be operated on a regular basis by or under contract with a transit operator for the purpose of transporting passengers within urbanized areas (UZAs), or between urbanized areas and outlying areas.
Such rail service, using either locomotive hauled or self-propelled railroad passenger cars, is generally 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.
It does not include:
• Heavy rail (HR) rapid transit, or
• Light rail (LR) / streetcar transit service.
Intercity rail service is excluded, except for that portion of such service that is operated by or under contract with a public transit agency for predominantly commuter services. Predominantly commuter service means that for any given trip segment (i.e., distance between any two stations), more than 50 percent of the average daily ridership travels on the train at least three times a week. Only the predominantly commuter service portion of an intercity route is eligible for inclusion when determining commuter rail (CR) route miles. Can be found in: B-10, MR-10, S&S Introduction, S&S-10, S&S-40, RU-10
Vehicle type: Commuter rail (CR) vehicles used to pull or push commuter rail (CR) passenger coaches. Locomotives do not carry passengers themselves. Can be found in: A-30
Vehicle type: Commuter rail (CR) passenger vehicles not independently propelled and requiring one or more locomotives for propulsion. Can be found in: A-30
Vehicle type: Commuter rail (CR) passenger vehicles not requiring a separate locomotive for propulsion. Can be found in: A-30
Transportation service required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for individuals with disabilities who are unable to use fixed route transportation systems. This service must be comparable to the level of service provided to individuals without disabilities who use the fixed route system and meet the requirements specified in Sections 37.123-137.133 of Transportation Services for Individuals with Disabilities (Part 37), Code of Federal Regulations, Title 49, Volume 1. The complementary services must be origin-to-destination service (demand response (DR)) or on-call demand response (DR) service to an accessible fixed route where such service enables the individual to use the fixed route bus (MB) system for his or her trip. Can be found in: B-10, F-30, F-40, S-10, MR Introduction
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) funds transferred from the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) to FTA for transit projects. This program is to help improve air quality and to manage traffic congestion. Transferred funds may be used for capital expansion and improvements that increase ridership, travel demand management strategies, shared ride services, and bicycle and pedestrian facilities. Can be found in: F-10, MR Introduction
Reimbursement by any organization, government, agency, or company, as a result of a formal contractual agreement with the transit service operator, for trips provided to a specific passenger or group of passengers. Can be found in: RU-20
A local police department or sheriff’s department contracted by a transit agency to provide security services. Can be found in: S&S-30
Non-sworn security guards (i.e., not sworn police officers) contracted by a transit agency to provide security. Can be found in: S&S-30
An individual who is compensated by the transit agency for directly operated (DO) services, the labor expense for the individual is reported in object class 501 labor, or for purchased transportation (PT) service, the labor expense for the individual meets the same criteria as object class 501 labor. Can be found in: S&S Introduction, S&S-40
The receipt of services (not cash) from another entity where such services benefit transit operations and the transit agency is under no obligation to pay for the services. Can be found in: F-10
Lanes restricted for at least a portion of the day for use by transit vehicles and other high occupancy vehicles (HOV). Use of controlled access lanes may also be permitted for vehicles preparing to turn. The restriction must be sufficiently enforced so that 95 percent of the vehicles using the lanes during the restricted period are authorized to use them. Can be found in: A-20, S-10, FFA-10
An agreement where one or more public transit agencies or governmental units contribute to, or are assessed for, the value of public transit services provided by another public transit agency. There is usually a written memorandum of understanding or mutual agreement on the calculation and payment for the services. Generally, the service is part of the public transit agency’s directly operated (DO) service. Can be found in: Introduction, B-30, MR Introduction, S&S Introduction
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) program whose funds can be flexed to FTA Section 5307 Urbanized Area Formula Program for transit projects. This program is to improve the safe movement of motor vehicles at or across the land border between the U.S. and Canada and the land border between the U.S. and Mexico. Eligible projects are improvements to existing transportaion and supporting infrastructure that facilitate cross-border vehicle movements (for highway or transit projects). Can be found in: F-10
A small administrative district of a country; esp., the largest local administrative subdivision of most States of the U.S. For Rural NTD reporting, the term county is a county, independent city, parish (Louisiana), borough (Alaska) or US Census area (Alaska). Can be found in: RU-20
Service operated primarily within the boundaries of a single county/independent city or parish. Can be found in: RU-20
Mode: Commuter Rail
Vehicle type: Cutaways
An individual on board a revenue transit vehicle or an intending/deboarded passenger in a transit facility. Excludes operators, transit employees, and contractors. Can be found in: S&S-50
Component activities include:
• Providing supervision and clerical support for public information and customer relations activities
• Selling and arranging for the provision of charter services
• Providing route information in passenger stations and at other points along the transit way
• Providing telephone information service
• Handling customer complaints
• Administering a lost and found operation.
Can be found in: F-30
A vehicle in which a bus body is mounted on the chassis of a van or light-duty truck. The original van or light-duty truck chassis may be reinforced or extended. Cutaways typically seat 15 or more passengers, and typically may accommodate some standing passengers. Can be found in: RU-20, S&S-40
An event that targets transit facilities, personnel, information, or computer or telecommunications systems associated with transit agencies. Events include:
• Denial or disruption of computer or telecommunications services, especially train control systems
• Unauthorized monitoring of computer or telecommunications systems,
• Unauthorized disclosure of proprietary or classified information stored within or communicated through computer or telecommunications systems,
• Unauthorized modification or destruction of computer programming codes, computer network databases, stored information or computer capabilities; or
• Manipulation of computer or telecommunications services resulting from fraud, financial loss, or other criminal violations.
Can be found in: S&S-40
Back to topComponent activities include:
• Providing supervision, training and clerical support for data processing activities
• Entering and verifying input data
• Operating data processing equipment (e.g., computers and more conventional devices)
• Designing data processing application
• Programming and testing data processing applications
• Controlling and distributing output data
• Maintaining data processing equipment.
Can be found in: F-30
A system developed and regulated by Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) which assigns a unique nine-digit numeric identifier to a single business entity. OMB announced in the June 27, 2003 issue of the Federal Register (68 FR 38402) that a DUNS number would be required for all grant applicants for new or renewal awards on or after October 1, 2003. The DUNS number will supplement other identifiers, e.g., EIN. Can be found in: B-10.
Relief from reporting a specific data item. Can be found in: Introduction, Internet Reporting
The number of days that service did not operate due to emergencies, such as:
• Floods
• Snowstorms, or
• Tornades.
A person in authority (usually the mayor, county head or governor) must officially declare an emergency. Can be found in: S-10 <
The number of days that service did not operate due to transit labor strikes. Can be found in: S-10
The number of days that service was actually operated according to the schedule of service. For non-scheduled services such as demand response (DR) and vanpool (VP), days operated refers to the days when service normally was operated. Can be found in: S-10
Vehicle type: Double Decker Buses
The miles and hours that a vehicle travels when out of revenue service. Deadhead includes:
• Leaving or returning to the garage or yard facility
• Changing routes
• When there is no expectation of carrying revenue passengers.
However, deadhead does not include:
• Charter service
• School bus service
• Operator training
• Maintenance training
Can be found in: Internet Reporting, S-10, R-20, MR Internet Reporting, MR-20
Documents stating the validity of the data being reported to the NTD / FTA:
• Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Certification
• Independent Auditor Statement for Financial Data
• Independent Auditor Statement for Federal Funding Allocation Data, and the Safety and Security Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Certification.
Can be found in: Introduction, Internet Reporting, Declarations, S&S Introduction
Vehicles used exclusively for public transit service of a modal classification. Can be found in: RU-20
A municipal police force or sheriff's department (not paid for directly by a transit agency) that has a specific transit unit or department. Can be found in: S&S-30
A (sworn) transit police force. Can be found in: S&S-30
An HOV is considered degraded if vehicles operating on it are failing to maintain a minimum average operating speed 90% of the time over a consecutive 180-day period during morning and/or evening weekday peak hours (minimum average operating speed is defined as 45 mph in a 50-mh zone, or 10 mph below limit when limit is less than 50 mph). A State may make mileage requirements more restrictive than specified in SAFETEA-LU when managing use by low emission and energy-efficient vehicles. Can be found in: S-20, FFA-10, Declarations
A transit mode comprised of passenger cars, vans or small buses operating in response to calls from passengers or their agents to the transit operator, who then dispatches a vehicle to pick up the passengers and transport them to their destinations. A demand response (DR) operation is characterized by the following:
a) The vehicles do not operate over a fixed route or on a fixed schedule except, perhaps, on a temporary basis to satisfy a special need, and
b) Typically, the vehicle may be dispatched to pick up several passengers at different pick-up points before taking them to their respective destinations and may even be interrupted en route to these destinations to pick up other passengers. The following types of operations fall under the above definitions provided they are not on a scheduled fixed route basis:
• Many origins - many destinations
• Many origins - one destination
• One origin - many destinations, and
• One origin - one destination.
Can be found in: B-10, MR-10, S&S Introduction, S&S-10, RU-10
Shared use transit service operating in response to calls from passengers or their agents to the transit operator, who schedules a vehicle to pick up the passengers to transport them to their destinations. Can be found in: RU-20
A special form of the demand response mode operated through taxicab providers. The mode is always purchased transportation type of service. Can be found in:B-10, MR-10, S&S Introduction, S&S-10
The charges that reflect the loss in service value of the transit agency’s assets. Depreciated items have a high initial cost and a useful life of more than one accounting period. In order to account for the reduction in value (usefulness) of this type of asset, a portion of the cost is expensed each year of the asset’s life. Depreciation and amortization include the depreciation of the physical facilities such as:
• Guideways
• Tracks and roadbeds
• Elevated structures
• Passenger stations and parking facilities
• Revenue vehicles
• Operating stations
• Facilities (including buildings, equipment and furnishings) for power generation and distribution
• Revenue vehicle movement control
• Data processing
• Revenue collection and processing
• Other general administration
Can be found in: F-40
A non-collision incident in which one or more wheels of a transit vehicle unintentionally leaves the rails. Can be found in: S&S-40
Transit service that operates along a fixed alignment or path at generally fixed times, but may deviate from the route alignment to collect or drop off passengers who have requested the deviation. Can be found in: RU-20
An object class cost (e.g., labor, services, materials and supplies) that is incurred exclusively for a particular function, mode and type of service (TOS). For example, an operator whose time is spent solely in driving a bus (MB) (vehicle operations - MB/DO) or a mechanic who works only on directly operated (DO) buses (MB) (vehicle maintenance - MB/DO). Can be found in: F-30
The mileage in each direction over which public transportation vehicles travel while in revenue service. Directional route miles (DRM) are:
• A measure of the route path over a facility or roadway, not the service carried on the facility; e.g., number of routes, vehicles, or vehicle revenue miles.
• Computed with regard to direction of service, but without regard to the number of traffic lanes or rail tracks existing in the right-of-way (ROW).
Directional route miles (DRM) do not include staging or storage areas at the beginning or end of a route. Can be found in: A-20, S-10, S-20, FFA-10, Declarations
Any funds where revenues are generated by or donated directly to the transit agency, including:
• Passenger fare revenues
• Advertising revenues
• Donations
• Bond proceeds
• Taxes imposed by the transit agency.
Can be found in: F-10
The tax revenues to transit agencies that are organized as independent political subdivisions with their own taxation authority. Can be found in: F-10
Transportation service provided directly by a transit agency, using their employees to supply the necessary labor to operate the revenue vehicles. This includes instances where an agency’s employees provide purchased transportation (PT) services to the agency through a contractual agreement. Can be found in: Introduction, B-10, F-10, F-20, A-10, R-10, R-20, R-30, FFA-10, Declarations, MR Introduction, MR-10, S&S Introduction, S&S-10, S&S-40, S&S-50, RU-10
A highway divided down the middle by a barrier that separates traffic going in different directions. Can be found in: S&S-40
Directly Operated
Vehicle type: High capacity buses having two levels of seating, one over the other, connected by one or more stairways. Total bus height is usually 13 to 14.5 feet, and typical passenger seating capacity ranges from 40 to 80 people. Can be found in: A-30
Mode: Demand Response
Directional Route Miles
Data Universal Numbering System
Back to topRail transit way above surface level on fill. Transition segments above surface level on fill are included. Can be found in: A-20
Rail transit way above surface level on structures. Transition segments above surface level on structures are included. Can be found in: A-20
A compartment that usually moves up and down vertically to transfer passengers from one level of a station or parking facility to another. Elevators may move horizontally, such as from a station to an adjacent parking garage, but such movement is normally done by non-elevator means such as a pedestrian bridge or a moving sidewalk. Does not include non-passenger elevators used only for freight or by transit staff. Can be found in: A-10
Revenue vehicles placed in an inactive contingency fleet for energy or other local emergencies after the revenue vehicles have reached the end of their normal minimum useful life. The vehicles must be properly stored and maintained, and FTA must approve the Emergency Contingency Plan. Substantial changes to the plan (10% change in fleet) require re-approval by FTA. Can be found in: Introduction, B-10, A-30, S-10, MR Introduction
An individual who is compensated by the transit agency as follows:
• For directly operated (DO) services, the labor expense for the individual is reported in object class (501) labor.
• For purchased transportation (PT) service, the labor expense for the individual meets the same criteria as object class (501) labor.
• Applies to Transit Employees and Contractors.
Can be found in: R-10, S&S Introduction
Employee labor hours, not including fringe benefit hours such as:
• Sick leave
• Holidays, and
• Vacations.
Work hours include:
• Only labor hours for employees of the transit agency
• Both full time and part time
• Permanent and temporary.
Can be found in: R-10
Individuals who are compensated by the transit agency and whose expense is reported in object class 501 labor. Can be found in: F-30, R-10, R-20
A moving stairway that moves up and down at an angle to transfer passengers from one level of a station or parking facility to another. Does not include non-passenger escalators used only for freight or by transit staff. Can be found in: A-10
The number of passengers who board public transportation vehicles. Passengers are counted each time they board vehicles no matter how many vehicles they use to travel from their origin to their destination. Can be found in: MR Internet Reporting, MR-20
Estimated Unlinked Passenger Trips
A condition requiring all passengers/customers and employees to depart a transit vehicle or transit property due to the presence of imminent danger. This condition does not include transfer from one vehicle to another due to the mechanical failure of a vehicle. Can be found in: S&S Introduction, S&S-40 RU-20
Transit right-of-way (ROW) from which all other motor vehicle and pedestrian traffic, mixed and cross, is excluded. Can be found in: S&S-40
Roadway or other right-of-way (ROW) reserved at all times for transit use and / or other high occupancy vehicles (HOV). The restriction must be sufficiently enforced so that 95 percent of vehicles using the right-of-way (ROW) are authorized to use it. Can be found in: A-20, S-10, FFA-10, Declarations
The acquisition of revenue vehicles for expansion of transit service. Can be found in: F-20
Accounts used for reporting adjustments and reclassifications of expenses previously recorded. Can be found in: F-30
Back to topSubmitting a late report, incomplete report or no report. Can be found in: Introduction, MR Introduction, S&S Introduction
Uniform Financial Accounting and Reporting Elements
The unlawful use of transit facilities by riding without paying the applicable fare. Can be found in: S&S-50
Any equipment used in collecting passenger fares including turnstiles, fare boxes (drop), automated fare boxes and related software, money changers and fare dispensing machines (tickets, tokens, passes). Can be found in: F-20
All income received directly from passengers, paid either in cash or through pre-paid tickets, passes, etc. It includes donations from those passengers who donate money on the vehicle. It includes the reduced fares paid by passengers in a user-side subsidy arrangement. Can be found in: RU-20
Financial Accounting Standards Board
A death or suicide confirmed within 30 days of a reported incident. Does not include deaths in or on transit property that are a result of illness or other natural causes. Can be found in: S&S Introduction, S&S-40, RU-20
Mode: Ferryboat
Vehicle type: Ferryboats
Financial assistance from the Federal Transit Administration to assist in paying the capital costs of providing transit service. Can be found in: RU-20
Financial assistance obtained from the Federal government to assist with paying the costs of providing transit services. Can be found in: F-10
Federal Highway Administration (FLHP) program whose funds can be flexed to FTA Section 5307 Urbanized Area Formula Program for transit projects. This program provides funding for a coordinated program of public roads and transit facilities serving Federal and Indian lands. It may be used for transit facilities within, adjacent, or providing access to public lands, national parks, national forests, refuge roads, and Indian reservations. Can be found in: F-10
Financial assistance from the Federal Transit Administration to assist in paying the operating costs of providing transit service. Can be found in: RU-20
A transit mode comprised of vessels carrying passengers and / or vehicles over a body of water that are generally steam or diesel powered. Intercity ferryboat (FB) service is excluded, except for that portion of such service that is operated by or under contract with a public transit agency for predominantly commuter services. Predominantly commuter service means that for any given trip segment (i.e., distance between any two piers), more than 50 percent of the average daily ridership travels on the ferryboat on the same day. Only the predominantly commuter service portion of an intercity route is eligible for inclusion when determining ferryboat (FB) route miles. Can be found in: B-10, MR-10, S&S Introduction, S&S-10, RU-10
Vehicle type: Vessels for carrying passengers and / or vehicles over a body of water. The vessels are generally steam or diesel powered conventional ferry vessels. They may also be hovercraft, hydrofoil and other high-speed vessels. Can be found in: A-30, S&S-40
Federal Fiscal Year End
Fixed Guideway
Fixed Guideway Directional Route Miles
Federal Highway Administration
Component activities include:
• Supervising, training and supporting the finance and accounting activities
• Maintaining general accounting records (general ledger)
• Publishing financial statements
• Processing payrolls and labor cost distribution
• Paying vendors for material and service purchases
• Accounting for investments in fixed assets and receivables
• Preparing and submitting financial reports to public and regulatory agencies
• Investing available cash in short-term securities
• Obtaining funds through debt, equity and subsidy financing transactions
• Billing charter sales
• Budgeting
• Performing internal audit of accounting system performance.
Can be found in: F-30
Entity responsible for generally accepted accounting principles affecting all types of entities. Can be found in: Introduction
Uncontrolled combustion made evident by flame and / or smoke that requires suppression by equipment or personnel. Can be found in: S&S-40, S&S-50
A public transportation facility using and occupying:
• A separate right-of-way (ROW) or rail for the exclusive use of public transportation and other high occupancy vehicles (HOV), or
• A fixed catenary system useable by other forms of transportation.
Can be found in: Introduction, B-10, F-10, A-20, S-10, S-20, FFA-10, Declarations, MR Introduction, S&S Introduction
The mileage in each direction over which public transportation vehicles travel while in revenue service on fixed guideway (FG). Fixed guideway directional route miles (FG DRM) include directional route miles (DRM) for:
• Rail modes (heavy rail (HR), light rail (LR), commuter rail (CR), inclined plane (IP), cable car (CC) and Monorail/Automated guideway (MG))
• Ferryboats (FB)
• Aerial tramways (TR)
• Bus (MB)
• Trolleybus (TB)
• Other modes on exclusive right-of-way (ROW) and controlled access right-of-way (ROW).
Fixed guideway directional route miles (FG DRM) do not include staging or storage areas at the beginning or end of a route. Can be found in: S-20, FFA-10, Declarations
Transit service using rubber tired passenger vehicles operating on fixed routes and schedules, regardless of whether a passenger actively requests a vehicle. Can be found in: RU-20
Services provided on a repetitive, fixed schedule basis along a specific route with vehicles stopping to pickup and deliver passengers to specific locations; each fixed route trip serves the same origins and destinations, such as rail and bus (MB); unlike demand responsive (DR) and vanpool (VP) services. Can be found in: A-10, A-20, S-10
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) programs that allow the transfer of funds to the FTA Urbanized Area Formula Program (UAF) to be used for transit projects:
• Surface Transportation Program (STP)
• Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ)
• National Highway System (NHS)
Can be found in: F-10
Federal Lands Highway Program
The revenue earned from carrying all types of freight on runs whose primary purpose is passenger operations. Can be found in: F-10
The payments or accruals to others (insurance companies, governments, etc.) on behalf of an employee and payments and accruals direct to an employee arising from something other than a piece of work. These payments are transit agency costs over and above labor costs, but still arising from the employment relationship. Can be found in: F-30
Federal Transit Administration
Financial assistance from Section 5320 of the Federal Transit Act. This is a program to support public transportation projects in parks and public lands. Funds may be used for planning and capital projects in or in the vicinity of any federally owned or managed park, refuge, or recreational area that is open to the general public. Can be found in: F-10, RU-20
Financial assistance from Section 5309 of the Federal Transit Act. This program provides capital assistance for three primary activities:
• New and replacement buses and facilities
• Modernization of existing fixed guideway (FG) systems
• New fixed guideway (FG) systems.
Can be found in: F-10, FFA-10, RU-20
Financial assistance from Section 5308 of the Federal Transit Act. This program supports the use of alternative fuels in air quality maintenance or nonattainment areas for ozone or carbon monoxide, both for urbanized and other than urbanized areas. Funds may be used for the purchase or lease of clean fuel buses, the construction of clean fuel electrical recharging facilities, improvement to existing facilities to accommodate clean fuel buses, and the re-powering and retrofit or rebuild of pre-1993 engines if before a mid-life rebuild. Can be found in: F-10, RU-20
Financial assistance from FTA programs. These funds include:
• FTA Capital Program (Section 5309)
• FTA Urbanized Area Formula Program (Section 5307)
• FTA Clean Fuels Program (Section 5308)
• FTA Metropolitan Planning (Section 5303)
• FTA Special Needs of Elderly Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities Formula Program (Section 5310)
• FTA Other Than Urbanized Area Formula Program (Section 5311)
• FTA Research, Development, Demonstration and Training Projects (Section 5312)
• FTA Job Access and Reverse Commute Formula Program (Section 5316)
• FTA New Freedom Program (Section 5317)
• FTA Transit in the Park (Section 5320)
• Interstate Transfer Program
Can be found in: F-10
New Growing States and High Density States Formula Factors: Section 5340 of the Federal Transit Act that establishes new factors to distribute funds to the urbanized area formula and rural formula programs. One-half of the funds that are made available under the Growing States factors are apportioned by a formula based on state population forecasts for 15 years beyond the most recent census; amounts apportioned for each state are then distributed between urbanized areas and rural areas based on the ratio of urban/rural population within each state. The High Density States factors distribute the other half of the funds to states with population densities in excess of 370 persons per square mile. These funds are apportioned only to urbanized areas within those states. Can be found in: Introduction, MR Introduction, S&S Introduction, RU Introduction
Financial assistance from Section 5316 of the Federal Transit Act. This program pertains to:
1. Access to jobs projects for the development and maintenance of transportation services designed to transport welfare recipients and eligible low-income individuals to and from jobs and activities related to their employment, including: Transportation projects to finance planning, capital, and operating costs of providing access to jobs;
º Promoting public transportation by low-income workers, including the use of public transportation by workers with nontraditional work schedules;
º Promoting the use of transit vouchers for welfare recipients and eligible low-income individuals; and
º Promoting the use of employer-provided transportation, including the transit pass benefit program under section 132 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
2. Reverse commute projects for public transportation designed to transport residents of urbanized areas and other than urbanized areas to suburban employment opportunities, including any projects to: Subsidize the costs associated with adding reverse commute bus, train, carpool, van routes, or service from urbanized areas and other than urbanized areas to suburban workplaces;
º Subsidize the purchase or lease by a nonprofit organization or public agency of a van or bus dedicated to shuttling employees from their residences to a suburban workplace; or
º Otherwise facilitate the provision of public transportation services to suburban employment opportunities.
Financial assistance from Section 5303 of the Federal Transit Act. This program supports the cooperative, continuous and comprehensive planning program for making transportation investment decisions in metropolitan areas. Can be found in: F-10
Financial assistance from Section 5317 of the Federal Transit Act. This is a formula program to encourage services and facility improvements to address the transportation needs of persons with disabilities that go beyond those required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Funds may be used for associated capital and operating costs. Can be found in: F-10, RU-20
Financial assistance from Section 5311 of the Federal Transit Act. This program provides formula funding to States and Indian Tribes for the purpose of supporting public transportation in areas with a population of less than 50,000. Funding may be used for capital, operating, State administration, and project administration expenses. Under Section 5311, SAFETEA-LU also includes provisions for Growing States and High Density States Factors. Can be found in: Introduction, F-10, S&S Introduction, RU Introduction, RU-20
The four-digit number assigned to your transit agency for the FTA electronic grant making system - TEAM (Transportation Electronic Award and Management). Can be found in: B-10, RU-10
Financial assistance from Section 5312 of the Federal Transit Act. This program promotes research, development and demonstration projects to improve or help public transportation meet total urban transportation needs, and also projects that use innovative techniques in managing and providing public transportation; and provides training fellowships in managerial, technical and professional positions in the public transportation field. Can be found in: F-10
SAFETEA-LU establishes a provision in the FTA Urbanized Area Formula program (Section 5307) to distribute funds to urbanized areas under 200,000 population. Under the formula for STIC, funds are apportioned to urbanized areas (UZA) with a population less than 200,000 that meet or exceed the average level of service for all UZAs with populations between 200,000 and 1,000,000. The UZAs must operate at a level of service equal to or above the industry average level of service for all UZAs with a population of at least 200,000 but not more than 999,999, in one or more of six performance categories:
1. Passenger miles traveled per vehicle revenue mile,
2. Passenger miles traveled per vehicle revenue hour
3. Vehicle revenue miles per capita,
4. Vehicle revenue hours per capita,
5. Passenger miles traveled per capita, and
6. Passengers per capita.
Can be found in: Introduction, F-10, FFA-10, MR Introduction, MR-10, RU Introduction
Financial assistance from Section 5310 of the Federal Transit Act. This program provides capital assistance to state and local governments and private non-profit groups in meeting the transportation needs of elderly individuals and individuals with disabilities. A seven State pilot program for FY 2006-2009 has been established to determine whether expanding eligibility to operating assistance would improve services to elderly individuals and individuals with disabilities. In the pilot, up to 33% of a participating State’s apportioned Section 5310 funds may be used for operating expenses. The State (or State-designated agency) administers the section 5310 program.) Can be found in: F-10, F-30, RU-20
Financial assistance from Section 5307 of the Federal Transit Act. This program makes Federal resources available for capital and operating assistance for transit in urbanized areas (UZAs). The Urbanized Area Formula Program also supports planning, in addition to that funded under the Metropolitan Planning program (Section 5303). Funding is apportioned directly to each UZA with a population of 200,000 or more, and to the State Governors for UZAs with populations between 50,000 and 200,000. Generally, operating assistance is not an eligible expense for UZAs with populations of 200,000 or more. However, there are several exceptions to this restriction (See SAFETEA-LU). Under Section 5307, SAFETEA-LU also includes provisions for Small Transit Intensive Cities (STIC) Formula and Growing States and High Density States Factors. Can be found in: Introduction, B-10, F-10, F-30, FFA-10, MR Introduction, S&S Introduction, RU Introduction
The costs of gasoline, diesel fuel, propane, lubricating oil, transmission fluid, grease, etc., for use in vehicles. Can be found in: F-30
Employees of the transit agency meeting the local definition of full time hours. Normally, these persons are entitled to receive the full benefits package (e.g., sick leave, vacation and insurance benefits). Can be found in: R-10, S&S-30
The activity performed or cost center of a transit agency. There are four basic functions for reporting. The four basic functions are:
1. Vehicle operations
2. Vehicle maintenance
3. Non-vehicle maintenance
4. General administration.
The activities included under each basic function are detailed in Section 6.2 of the Uniform System of Accounts (USOA). Can be found in: F-30, R-10
Any funds allocated to transit out of the general revenues of the governmental entity (state or local). General revenue funds are usually determined through a state or local government’s annual budgeting process. Can be found in: F-10
Any funds raised specifically for transit purposes and which are dedicated at their source, rather than through an appropriation of general funds. These funds include:
• Dedicated taxes
• Bridges, tunnels and highway tolls
• Bonds and loans
• Other dedicated funds.
Can be found in: F-10
Any expenditure that involves a transfer of money between the transit agency and another party, such as a contractor or another government agency. Can be found in: F-10, F-30, F-40
Any expenditure that does not involve a transfer of money between the transit agency and another party and that is typically valued using accounting principles. Examples include:
• Depreciation of vehicles
• Intangibles.
Can be found in: F-40
Fiscal Year End
Back to topGenerally Accepted Accounting Principles
Governmental Accounting Standards Board
All activities associated with the general administration of the transit agency, including:
• Transit service development
• Injuries and damages
• Safety
• Personnel administration
• Legal services
• Insurance
• Data processing
• Finance and accounting
• Purchasing and stores
• Engineering
• Real estate management
• Office management and services
• Customer services
• Promotion
• Market research
• Planning.
Can be found in: Internet Reporting, F-10, F-30, F-40, R-10
Component activities include:
• Providing supervision and clerical support for general engineering activities
• Researching available technology for performing transit activities
• Preparing specifications for purchasing or constructing capital assets.
Can be found in: F-30
A general category to collect operating expenses (OE) not related to or easily associated with the other prescribed functions in general administration (160). Can be found in: F-30
Component activities include:
• Providing supervision and clerical support for insurance activities other than public liability
• Insuring the transit agency against losses other than public liability (e.g., fidelity, fire, accident)
• Preparing, submitting and pursuing insurance claims for losses other than public liability.
• Insurance activities involved with public liability should be included under injuries and damages (165).
Can be found in: F-30
Component activities include:
• Providing supervision and clerical support for general legal service activities
• Performing legal services other than those concerned with public liability claims for injuries and damages.
Can be found in: F-30
Component activities include:
• Providing executive assistance and clerical support for general management activities and special projects
• Establishing policies for the development and operation of the transit agency
• Providing top-level management for the transit agency to implement the development and operation policies.
Can be found in: F-30
Facilities used for inspecting, servicing and performing light maintenance work upon revenue vehicles. Light maintenance includes the following:
• Brake adjustments
• Engine degreasing
• Tire work
• Minor body repairs
• Painting.
Can be found in: A-10, RU-20
Affiliated with the FASB, it specializes in accounting principles within government agencies in the United States. Can be found in: Introduction
An intersection of roadways, railroad tracks, or dedicated transit rail tracks that run across mixed traffic situations with:
• Motor vehicles
• Light rail (LR)
• Commuter rail (CR)
• Heavy rail (HR) or
• Pedestrian traffic
Either in mixed traffic or semi-exclusive situations. Can be found in: B-10, A-20, S&S-40
A public transportation facility using and occupying a separate right-of-way (ROW) or rail for the exclusive use of public transportation including the buildings and structures dedicated for the operation of transit vehicles such as:
• At grade
• Elevated and subway structures
• Tunnels
• Bridges
• Track and power systems for rail modes, and
• Paved highway lanes dedicated to bus (MB) mode.
Guideway does not include passenger stations and transfer facilities, bus (MB) pull-ins or communication systems (e.g., cab signaling and train control). Can be found in: F-20
Back to topThe spill or release of any amount of hazardous material that creates an imminent danger to life, health, or the environment and requires special attention be given to clean up the material. Can be found in: S&S-40
A collision type where two vehicles coming from opposite directions impact each other straight on in the front; or in a T-bone or broadside collision, where the front of a vehicle (head-on) impacts the side (angle) of another vehicle. Can be found in: S&S-40
The time interval between vehicles moving in the same direction on a particular route. Can be found in: S-10
Facilities used for performing heavy maintenance work on revenue vehicles. Heavy maintenance includes the following:
• Unit rebuild
• Engine overhaul
• Significant body repairs
• Other major repairs.
Can be found in: A-10
A transit mode that is an electric railway with the capacity for a heavy volume of traffic. It is characterized by:
• High speed and rapid acceleration passenger rail cars operating singly or in multi-car trains on fixed rails
• Separate rights-of-way (ROW) from which all other vehicular and foot traffic are excluded
• Sophisticated signaling, and
• High platform loading.
Can be found in: B-10, MR-10, S&S Introduction, S&S-10, RU-10
Vehicle type: Rail cars with:
• Motive capability
• Driven by electric power taken from overhead lines or third rails
• Configured for passenger traffic
• Usually operated on exclusive right-of-way (ROW).
Can be found in: S&S-40
A concept that allows single occupancy vehicles (SOVs) to gain access to high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes by paying a toll. For formula purposes, FTA recognizes HO/T lanes as fixed guideway if the following conditions are met:
• A State agency with jurisdiction over the HOV facility certifies to the US Secretary of Transportation that they have established a program to monitor, assess, and report on the operation of the facility and the impact of high occupancy / toll vehicles and other low emission and energy efficient vehicles.
• That there is an adequate enforcement program and provision made for limiting or discontinuing the exemptions if the facility becomes seriously degraded.
• The State agency’s certification is submitted to the NTD.
If a transit agency has stricter requirements for high occupancy vehicle (HOV) facilities than the prohibition of SOVs, for example, 3 or more persons per vehicle, then those requirements apply to the HO/T lane, i.e., one and two-person vehicles would pay tolls. Can be found in: F-10, S-20, FFA-10, Declarations
Vehicles that can carry two or more persons. Examples of high occupancy vehicles (HOV) are a bus, vanpool, and carpool. Can be found in: A-20
Exclusive or controlled access right-of-way (ROW) that is restricted to high occupancy vehicles (HOV) (buses, passenger vans, and cars carrying one or more passengers) for a portion or all of a day. Can be found in: F-10, A-20, S-20, Declarations
The act of seizing unlawfully, by force or threat, or by any other form of intimidation, and exercising control of a transit vehicle with the intent to cause any person on board the vehicle to be detained against his/her will, causing any person on board the vehicle to be transported against his/her will to any place other than the next scheduled stop, or causing that vehicle to deviate from its schedule. Can be found in: S&S-40
The killing of one human being by another, including the following:
• Murder and non-negligent manslaughter - The willful (non-negligent) killing of one human being by another.
• Negligent manslaughter - The killing of another person through gross negligence.
Can be found in: S&S-40
High Occupancy / Toll
High Occupancy Vehicle
Mode: Heavy Rail
Vehicle Type: Heavy Rail Passenger Cars
A vehicle that combines two or more sources of power that can directly or indirectly provide propulsion power, so as to increase efficiency and thereby reduce emissions. A hybrid vehicle uses a mixture of technologies such as internal combustion engines, electric motors, gasoline, and batteries. Can be found in: A-30, R-10
Rail System Primarily operating routes on the National system of railroads, but not operating with the characteristics of commuter rail. This service typically operates light rail-type vehicles as diesel multiple-unit trains (DMU's). These trains do not meet Federal Railroad Administration standards, and so must operate with temporal separation from freigh rail traffic. Can be found in: B-10, MR-10, S&S Introduction, S&S-10
Back to topIndependent Auditor Statement
Independent Auditor Statement for Financial Data
Independent Auditor Statement for Federal Funding Allocation Data
Mode: Intercity Bus
NTD identification number
A type of contributed service reported only if there is no obligation to pay for the service. Can be found in: F-10
The vehicles:
• In storage
• Emergency contingency vehicles
• Vehicles pulled from the active fleet but awaiting sale
• Vehicles out of service for an extended period of time for major repairs.
Can be found in: A-30, S-10
The provision of transit rides when existing public transportation services cannot meet demand. This is often done through a Guaranteed Ride Home program or policy. There are three common cases:
1. Transit agency works with employers to ensure employees who took transit to work and who must leave work for a personal emergency (illness, family crisis) or have unscheduled overtime, have a ride home
2. Transit vehicle breakdowns or other service interruptions
3. Demand response mode when reserved passenger trips cannot be met.
Can be found in: B-10 and F-30
Can be found in: B-10 and F-30
A transit mode that is a railway operating over exclusive right-of-way (ROW) on steep grades (slopes) with powerless vehicles propelled by moving cables attached to the vehicles and powered by engines or motors at a central location not onboard the vehicle. The special tramway types of vehicles have passenger seats that remain horizontal while the undercarriage (truck) is angled parallel to the slope. Can be found in: B-10, MR-10, S&S Introduction, S&S-10, RU-10
Vehicle type: Special type of passenger vehicles operating up and down slopes on rails via a cable mechanism. Can be found in: A-30, S&S-40
NTD report:
• Not containing all the required reporting forms and data,
• Not in conformance with the NTD requirements, or
• Not containing the chief executive officer (CEO) certification and Independent Auditor Statements (IAS), as applicable.
Can be found in: Introduction, MR Introduction, S&S Introduction
A person appointed and authorized to:
• Examine accounts and accounting records
• Make comparisons with vouchers, invoices and other documents, and
• State the result.
For NTD, the auditor must meet the independence criteria contained in the Government Auditing Standards (Government Accountability Office). Can be found in: Introduction, Declarations, MR Introduction, S&S Introduction
A letter signed by an independent public accountant or other independent entity (such as a state audit agency). There are two Independent Auditor Statements (IAS):
1. Independent Auditor Statement for Financial Data (IAS - FD), and
2. Independent Auditor Statement for Federal Funding Allocation Data (IAS - FFA)
Can be found in: Introduction, Internet Reporting, Declarations, MR Introduction
A letter signed by an independent public accountant or other independent entity (such as a state audit agency) that he has conducted a review of the data used in the FTA Urbanized Formula Program (UAF) and FTA Capital Program for Fixed Guideway Modernization funding allocations. This letter is required for transit agencies with 100 or more vehicles operated in annual maximum service (VOMS) across all modes and types of service (TOS) and serving urbanized areas (UZA) with 200,000 or more population. Can be found in: Introduction, Internet Reporting, Declarations
A letter signed by an independent public accountant or other independent entity (such as a state audit agency) that he has conducted a review of all NTD financial forms to ensure that a transit agency’s accounting system follows the Uniform System of Accounts (USOA), that accrual accounting or a directly translatable method is used, and that all data are in accordance with NTD requirements. Can be found in: Introduction, Internet Reporting, Declarations
Systems for processing data including computers, monitors, printers, scanners, data storage devices and associated software that support transit operations such as general office, accounting, scheduling, planning, vehicle maintenance, non-vehicle maintenance and customer service functions. Can be found in: F-20
Component activities include:
• Providing supervision and clerical support for injury and damage activities
• Insuring the transit agency against liability losses
• Receiving injury and damage claims filed against the transit agency
• Investigating accidents to determine liability
• Negotiating settlements of public liability cases
• Making payments in settlement of liability cases
• Defending public liability cases in court
• Accumulating accident and liability claim statistics.
Can be found in: F-30
Any physical damage or harm to persons as a result of an incident that requires immediate medical attention away from the scene. Can be found in: S&S Introduction, S&S-40, S&S-50, RU-20
Component activities include:
• Inspecting revenue vehicle components on a scheduled preventive maintenance basis (e.g., engine and transmission, fuel system, ignition system, chassis, body - exterior and interior, electrical system, lubrication system, trolleys, pantographs and third rail shoes, trucks, braking system, air conditioning system)
• Changing lubrication fluids
• Replacing minor repairable units of the above listed revenue vehicle components
• Making road calls to service revenue vehicle breakdowns
• Towing and shifting revenue vehicles to maintenance facilities
• Rebuilding and overhauling repairable components
• Performing major repairs on revenue vehicles on a scheduled or unscheduled basis (this work is generally done by the following facilities: machine shop; sheet metal shop; welding and blacksmith shop; woodworking shop)
• Replacing major repairable units of revenue vehicles (including engines, transmissions, traction motors and air conditioners).
Can be found in: F-30, R-20
Component activities include:
• Inspecting service vehicle components on a scheduled preventive maintenance basis (e.g., engine and transmission, fuel system, ignition system, chassis, body - exterior and interior, electrical system, lubrication system, trolleys, pantographs and third rail shoes, trucks, braking system, air conditioning system)
• Performing minor repairs to the above listed service vehicle components
• Changing lubrication fluids
• Replacing minor repairable units of the above listed service vehicle components
• Making road calls for service vehicle breakdowns
• Towing and shifting service vehicles to maintenance facilities
• Rebuilding and overhauling repairable components
• Performing major repairs on service vehicles on a scheduled or unscheduled basis (this work is generally done by the following facilities: machine shop; sheet metal shop; welding and blacksmith shop; woodworking shop)
• Replacing major repairable units of service vehicles (including engines, transmissions, traction motors and air conditioners).
Can be found in: F-30, R-20
The bonus above straight time pay paid to an operator serving as an instructor to new operators. The straight time pay of such operators is charged to platform time (1.04) if the training is being conducted on the vehicle operating in line service, or to other time spent in transportation administration (2.08) for other instruction time. Can be found in: F-50
Regularly scheduled public service using an over-the-road bus that operates with limited stops between two urbanized areas or that connects rural areas to an urbanized area. Intercity bus mode should only be used by private, intercity bus providers. Can be found in: RU Introduction, RU-20
Regularly scheduled bus (MB) service for the general public, using an over-the-road bus (MB), that:
• Operates with limited stops over fixed routes connecting two or more urban areas not in close proximity or connecting one or more rural communities with an urban area not in close proximity;
• Has the capacity for transporting baggage carried by passengers; and
• Makes meaningful connections with scheduled intercity bus (MB) service to points that are more distant.
Can be found in: Introduction, A-10, MR Introduction, S&S Introduction
The charges for the use of borrowed capital incurred by the transit agency, including:
• Interest on long term
• Short-term dept obligations.
• Interest charges pertaining to construction debt that is capitalized will not be reflected as interest expense.
Can be found in: F-40
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) funds transferred from the Interstate Transfer Program to FTA for transit projects. This program is for segments of the Interstate Highway System that were not built. The funding for these segments was redesigned for other highway and transit projects. Can be found in: F-10
The incidental time between any two pieces of a run. Can be found in: F-50
The victims of Robbery, Larceny, or Other Assaults or the injured parties in the case of Other Safety Occurrences not otherwise Classified. The perpetrator of a crime is not counted as an involved party. Can be found in: S&S-50
Mode: Inclined Plane
Vehicle Type: Inclined Plane Vehicles
Back to topFTA Job Access and Reverse Commute Program
A transit mode comprised of passenger cars or vans operating on fixed routes (sometimes with minor deviations) as demand warrants without fixed schedules or fixed stops. Can be found in: B-10, MR-10, S&S Introduction, S&S-10, RU-10
An object class cost (e.g., labor, services, materials and supplies) that is shared by one or more functions, modes or types of service (TOS). For example, bus (MB) and demand response (DR) revenue vehicles may fuel at the same location (vehicle operations function - MB and DR/DO) so that fuel expenses (object class 504.01) and their taxes (object class 507) are shared. Can be found in: F-30
Two or more public agencies, when authorized by their governing authority, to enter into agreements to jointly exercise any power common to the contracting parties. The agency or entity provided by the agreement to administer or execute the agreement may be: One or more of the parties to the agreement or a commission or board constituted pursuant to the agreement or a person, firm or corporation, including a nonprofit corporation, designated in the agreement. The administering agency is a public entity separate from the parties to the agreement and shall possess the common power specified in the agreement and may exercise it in the manner or according to the method provided in the agreement. As a general proposition, there are no new powers but merely a new procedure for the exercise of existing powers. Can be found in: B-10
Mode: Jitney
Back to topThe pay and allowances due employees in exchange for the labor services they render in behalf of the transit agency. The labor allowances include payments direct to the employee arising from the performance of a piece of work. Can be found in: F-30
The length of a roadway (in miles) dedicated to high occupancy vehicles (HOV) multiplied by the number of traffic lanes. Only pavement normally used should be included, shoulders should not be included, except if shoulders are legally used in peak hours. Can be found in: A-20
The unlawful:
• Taking
• Carrying
• Leading, or
• Riding away of property from the possession, or
• Constructive possession, of another person.
Attempted larcenies are excluded. Can be found in: S&S-40, S&S-50
NTD report not submitted by the due date, the last day of the grace period, or the extended due date. Can be found in: Introduction, MR Introduction, S&S Introduction
The hours scheduled at the end of the route before the departure time of the next trip. This time is scheduled for two reasons:
1. To provide time for the vehicle operator to take a break (layover)
2. To provide time to get back on schedule before the next trip departs if the trip arrives late at the end of the route (recovery).
Can be found in: S-10, R-20, MR-20
Vehicles leased under a closed end agreement whereby the leasee acquires the capital appreciation of the vehicles as lease payments are made. At the end of the lease, the leasee owns the vehicles. Can be found in: A-30, RU-20
Vehicles leased or borrowed through a public entity as the result of legal or governmental agreements or restrictions. For example, a state may purchase all vehicles (hold title) and distribute the vehicles to transit agencies; or vehicles may be owned by a county government and leased to a public transit authority that is legally prohibited from owning the vehicles. Can be found in: A-30, RU-20
Vehicles leased or borrowed through a purchased transportation (PT) agreement. Can be found in: A-30
The payments for the use of capital assets not owned by the transit agency. True leases are those in which the lessor and lessee are:
• Not related parties
• The total lease payments cover the lessor’s cost of the property for the period of the lease plus interest
• The ownership of the property remains with the lessor upon expiration of the lease.
For the true lease, this object class includes:
• The lease payments on true lease property.
Can be found in: F-40
A qualitative measure that characterizes operational conditions within a traffic stream and their perception by motorists and passengers. The descriptions of individual levels of service characterize these conditions in terms of such factors as:
• Speed and travel time
• Freedom to maneuver
• Traffic interruptions
• Comfort and convenience.
Can be found in: S-20, FFA-10
A situation, such as a fire, the presence of smoke, fuel leak, electrical or other hazard, that constitutes an imminent danger to passengers, employees, contractors, or other persons. Can be found in: S&S-40, RU-20
A transit mode that typically is an electric railway with a light volume traffic capacity compared to heavy rail (HR). It is characterized by:
• Passenger rail cars operating singly (or in short, usually two car, trains) on fixed rails in shared or exclusive right-of-way (ROW)
• Low or high platform loading, and
• Vehicle power drawn from an overhead electric line via a trolley or a pantograph.
Can be found in: B-10, MR-10, S&S Introduction, S&S-10, RU-10
Vehicle type: Rail cars with:
• Motive capability
• Usually driven by electric power taken from overhead lines
• Configured for passenger traffic
• Usually operating on exclusive rights-of-way (ROW).
Can be found in: A-30, S&S-40
A controlled-access road to which access from adjacent properties is limited in some way. It can mean anything from a city street to which the maintaining authority limits driveway access to a freeway (or other equivalent terms). The precise definition may vary by jurisdiction. Often, on these kinds of road, low-speed vehicles and non-motorized uses including pedestrians, bicycles, and horses, are not permitted. Can be found in: S&S-40
A trip from origin to destination on the transit system. Even if a person must make several transfers during a journey, the trip is counted as one linked trip on the system. Can be found in: FFA-10
Financing mechanism used to raise funds. Loans can be either secured or non-secured debt. They typically are offered to transit agencies by commercial entities (e.g., banks) or other government entities (e.g., states, counties, cities). The terms of the loan specify the term of the loan (e.g., 10 years), the interest rate (e.g., 5%), and frequency of payments (e.g., monthly, quarterly, annually). Generally, the payments are constant (or level) for the term of a loan. Each payment consists of interest and principal (repayment of a portion of the loan amount). When the last payment is made, the entire principal will have been repaid. Can be found in: F-10
Financial assistance from local entities to assist in paying capital. They include:
• Tax levies - A specified amount from local tax levies that is dedicated to supporting the capital costs of the public transit system.
• General funds - Transfers from the general fund of local governments to cover the Local Share portion of transit system capital costs.
• Specified contributions - Contributions from the local government towards the Local Share portion of transit system capital costs.
• Reserve funds - Transfers from a capital reserve fund of local governments expressly established to be used to cover the Local Share portion of transit system capital costs.
• Donations - Donations from individuals or organizations to help cover the transit system capital costs.
Can be found in: RU-20
Financial assistance from local governments (below the state level) to help cover the costs of providing transit services. Can be found in: F-10
Financial assistance from local entities that support the operation of the transit system. They include, but are not limited to:
• Tax levies - A specified amount from local levies that is dedicated to supporting public transit system operating costs.
• General funds - Transfers from the general fund of local governments to cover the Local Share portion of the transit system budget.
• Specified contributions - Contributions from city, county or other municipal government towards the Local Share portion of the transit system budget.
• Donations - Donations from individuals or organizations to help cover the costs of providing transit service but which are not related to specific passengers or trips.
• Other - Other revenues such as advertising.
Can be found in: RU-20
A self-propelled unit of rail equipment designed primarily for moving (pushing or pulling) passenger cars. It does not include self- propelled passenger cars. Can be found in: S-10
Level of Service
Lease under Lease Purchase Agreement
Leased or Borrowed from Related Parties
Mode: Light Rail
Vehicle Type: Light Rail Vehicles
Back to topPrimary rail over which rail transit vehicles travel between stations; it excludes:
• Yard, and
• Siding track.
Can be found in: S&S-40
A non-collision incident in which one or more wheels of a transit vehicle unintentionally leaves the rails. Can be found in: S&S-40
Component activities include:
• Providing supervision and clerical support for the administration of transit way and structures maintenance and other buildings, grounds and equipment maintenance
• Preparing and updating records for transit way and structures maintenance and other buildings, grounds and equipment maintenance records
• Providing technical training to facilities maintenance personnel
• Engineering maintenance of transit way and structures, and of other buildings, grounds and equipment.
Can be found in: F-30
Component activities include:
• Providing supervision and clerical support for the administration of vehicle maintenance
• Preparing and updating vehicle maintenance records
• Accumulating and computing vehicle performance data (e.g., mileage, fuel and oil consumption)
• Providing technical training to vehicle maintenance personnel
• Appearing as a witness
• Engineering vehicle maintenance activities.
Can be found in: F-30, R-20
Facilities where maintenance activities are conducted including garages, shops (e.g., body, paint, machine) and operations centers (see Vehicle Maintenance (041) function). Include in maintenance buildings, equipment that enhances the maintenance function, for example: bus (MB) diagnostic equipment. Do not include information systems such as computers that are used to process maintenance data. Can be found in: F-20
Inspecting, cleaning, repairing and replacing all components of communication systems (e.g., office telephone, public address units), other than those devoted to the vehicle movement control function which are included in maintenance of vehicle movement control systems (101). Can be found in: F-30
Inspecting, cleaning, repairing and replacing all components of fare collection and counting equipment (e.g., fare boxes, vaults, counters, changers and sorters). Can be found in: F-30
Component activities include:
• Inspecting, repairing and replacing components of garage and shop buildings and equipment
• Providing custodial services for garage and shop buildings and grounds.
Can be found in: F-30
Component activities include:
• Inspecting, cleaning, repairing and replacing components of buildings and equipment used for general administration
• Providing custodial services for buildings and grounds used for general administration.
Can be found in: F-30
Component activities include:
• Inspecting, repairing and replacing components of operating station buildings and equipment
• Providing custodial services for operating station buildings and grounds.
Can be found in: F-30
Component activities include:
• Inspecting, repairing and replacing components of passenger station buildings and equipment
• Providing custodial services for passenger station buildings and grounds.
Can be found in: F-30
Component activities include:
• Inspecting, cleaning, repairing, clearing and replacing all components of roadway and track.
Can be found in: F-30
Component activities include:
• Inspecting, cleaning, repairing and replacing all components of structures, tunnels, bridges and subways.
Can be found in: F-30
Component activities include:
• Inspecting, cleaning, repairing and replacing all components of vehicle movement control equipment (e.g., radios, roadway phones and monitor units).
Can be found in: F-30
A failure of some mechanical element of the revenue vehicle that prevents the vehicle from completing a scheduled revenue trip or from starting the next scheduled revenue trip because actual movement is limited or because of safety concerns. Can be found in: R-20, S-20
Component activities include:
• Providing supervision and clerical support for research activities
• Conducting consumer behavior research and transit service demand surveys to help define new routes, revisions to existing routes, etc.
Can be found in: F-30
Synonymous term with public transportation. Can be found in: B-10
The tangible products obtained from outside suppliers or manufactured internally. Expenses include:
• Freight-in
• Purchase discounts
• Cash discounts
• Sales taxes and excise taxes (except on fuel and lubricants) are to be included in the cost of the material or supply.
Can be found in: F-10
Mode: Bus
Mode: Monorail and Automated Guideway modes
The number of tracks per one-mile segment of right-of-way (ROW). Miles of track are measured without regard to whether or not rail traffic can flow in only one direction on the track. All track is counted, including yard track and sidings. Can be found in: A-20
The time that must be added to a run in order to make the run total a minimum number of hours for a day, or in order to make a work piece equal the minimum number of hours for a piece of work. Can be found in: F-50
The time that must be added to an operator’s time to guarantee him a minimum number of pay hours for a weekly, biweekly or semi-monthly pay period. Can be found in: F-50
The time beyond that associated with the performance of a work piece that an operator has been called out to perform in order to bring the total amount of time paid up to a guaranteed minimum for the call out. Can be found in: F-50
A light duty vehicle having a typical seating capacity of up to seven passengers plus a driver. A minivan is smaller, lower and more streamlined than a full-sized van, but it is typically taller and has a higher floor than a passenger car. Minivans normally cannot accommodate standing passengers. Can be found in: RU-20
TThe expenses that cannot be attributed to any of the other major expense categories (object classes labor (501), fringe benefits (502), services (503), materials and supplies (504), utilities (505), casualty and liability costs (506), taxes (507) and purchased transportation (508)). Can be found in: F-30
Roadways other than exclusive and controlled access rights-of-way (ROW) used for transit operations that are mixed with pedestrian and vehicle traffic. Does not include guideway that only has grade crossings with vehicular traffic. Can be found in: A-20, S-10, FFA-10, S&S-40
A system for carrying transit passengers described by specific right-of-way (ROW), technology and operational features. Can be found in: Introduction, Internet Reporting, B-10, F-20, F-30, F-40, A-10, A-20, A-30, S-10, S-20, R-10, R-20, R-30, FFA-10, Declarations, MR Introduction, MR-10, MR-20, S&S Introduction, S&S-10, S&S-30, S&S-40, RU-10
Description of mode of service operated with subcategories for bus and demand response modes. Bus mode can be conventional bus fixed route service, bus deviated fixed route service, or intercity bus service. Demand response can be the usual service (no standing reservations) or subscription demand response where there are on-going reservations for scheduling consistent passenger trips. These subscription services are for categorical programs, such as Medicaid, Meals-on-Wheels, sheltered workshops, independent living centers and any social service agency programs. Sub-recipients of § 5311 funds may report these programs to the extent that services are provided in coordination with public transit trips; i.e., they are included in a coordinated public transit -human services transportation system. Can be found in: RU-10, RU-20.
Vehicle model number as used by the manufacturer. Can be found in: A-30
The consideration paid by the public body to the private or public seller of transportation service (private / public carrier). The monetary consideration may include any of the following:
• Cash reimbursement of a private / public carrier’s operating deficit
• Negotiated rate per unit of service delivered by the private / public carrier
• Cash reimbursement to the private / public carrier for reduced fare programs specified by the public body (e.g., for students and for the elderly and persons with disabilities)
• Vehicles given, sold, loaned or leased by the public body to the private / public carrier at or below market value
• Maintenance facility leased by the public body to the private / public carrier.
Can be found in: Introduction, B-30, MR Introduction
Monorail and Automated Guideway modes on exclusive guideway without using steel wheels on rails
The act or attempted act of stealing a motor vehicle. Can be found in: S&S-50
Service operated primarily within the boundaries of two or more counties/independent cities or parishes. Can be found in: RU-20
A passenger station that also serves non-transit services. Can be found in: A-10
A town, village, or other district having powers of local self-government. For Rural NTD reporting, the term municipality does not include a city or county. Can be found in: RU-20
Vehicle type: Minivans
Back to topFederal Highway Administration (FHWA) funds transferred from the National Highway System (NHS) to FTA for transit projects. The National Highway System (NHS) provides for a wide range of transportation activities. Eligible transit projects include:
• Fringe and corridor parking facilities
• Bicycle and pedestrian facilities
• Vanpool projects
• Public transportation facilities in National Highway System (NHS) corridors.
Can be found in: F-10
Actual payments or accruals by the buyer under the purchased transportation (PT) agreement, net of and not including purchased transportation (PT) fares. For contracts in which the seller retains fare revenues, the net contract expenditures by the buyer equals the actual payments or accruals made by the buyer. For contracts in which the purchased transportation (PT) fare revenues are returned to the buyer by the seller, the net contract expenditures by the buyer equals the actual payments or accruals made by the buyer net of or less the purchased transportation (PT) fare revenues. Can be found in: B-30
Non-Federal (funded vehicles)
Non-Fixed Guideway
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) program whose funds can be flexed to FTA Section 5307 Urbanized Area Formula Program for transit projects. The National Highway System (NHS) provides for a wide range of transportation activities. Eligible transit projects include:
• Fringe and corridor parking facilities
• Bicycle and pedestrian facilities
• Vanpool projects
• Public transportation facilities in National Highway System (NHS) corridors.
Can be found in: F-10
Public transportation passenger facilities, which do not provide ready access by individuals with disabilities, including individuals who use wheelchairs. Refer to 49 CFR Part 37, Appendix. Can be found in: A-10
Vehicles not used exclusively for contracted service. Can be found in: A-30
Rail right-of-way (ROW) over which motor vehicle and/or pedestrian traffic moving in the same direction or cross directions may pass. Can be found in: S&S-40
Vehicles purchased without Federal funding. Can be found in: A-30
Mixed traffic right-of-way (ROW). For Federal funding purposes, excludes trolleybus (TB) and ferryboat (FB) modes, which are considered fixed guideway (FG). Can be found in: Introduction, FFA-10, MR Introduction, S&S Introduction
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) program whose funds can be flexed to FTA Section 5307 Urbanized Area Formula Program for transit projects. The goal of this program is to demonstrate how imporovements to walking and bicycling infrastructure can increase mode share for walking and bicycling. Eligible projects include sidewalks, bicycle lanes, and pedestrian and bicycle paths that connect directly to transit stations. Can be found in: F-10
The time an operator spends on the job in a capacity other than operating, making preparations for or completing the immediate operation of a revenue vehicle. Non-operating time includes instructor premium for operator training, student training time, accident reporting time, witness time, time spent on union functions, run selection time, other time spent in transportation administration, time spent in revenue vehicle movement control, time spent in ticketing and fare collection, time spent in customer service, and other. Can be found in: F-50
Transit modes whose vehicles typically operate on roadways - streets, highways or expressways, but may also operate on waterways (ferryboat (FB)) or via aerial cable (aerial tramways (TR)). Vehicles are typically powered by motors onboard the vehicle, with one exception, aerial tramway (TR) vehicles which are electrically powered by a motor not onboard the vehicle in order to pull the vehicle via an overhead cable. NTD recognizes eight non-rail modes:
1. Aerial Tramway (TR)
2. Bus (MB)
3. Bus rapid transit (RB)
4. Commuter bus (CB)
5. Demand Response (DR)
6. Ferryboat (FB)
7. Jitney (JT)
8. Publico (PB)
9. Trolleybus (TB), and
10. Vanpool (VP).
Can be found in: Introduction, F-20, A-10, A-20, S-10, R-10, R-30, MR Introduction, MR-10, S&S Introduction, S&S-40
A facility or an area that is not used to enable individuals to board or alight transit vehicles, and that is primarily staffed by transit employees. Can be found in: S&S-40, S&S-50
Services provided on demand, rather than with predetermined fixed time points, i.e., a schedule. Nonscheduled services are:
• Demand response (DR)
• Vanpool (VP)
• Jitney (JT)
• Publico (PB) services.
Can be found in: A-10, S-10
Non-public transportation services, such as intercity bus (MB) and rail operations that do not meet the requirements of the Federal Transit Act for public transportation. See public transportation. Can be found in: A-10
The revenue earned from activities not associated with the provision of transit service. Non-transportation funds include:
• Investment earnings
• Other non-transportation sources, including:
• Revenues earned from sales of maintenance services on property not owned or used by the transit agency
• Rentals of revenue vehicles to other operators
• Rentals of transit agency buildings and property to other organizations
• Parking fees generated from parking lots not normally used as park-and-ride locations
• Donations
• Grants from private foundations
• Development fees
• Rental car fees
• Other.
Can be found in: F-10
Other than Urbanized Area
All activities associated with facility maintenance, including:
• Administration
• Repair of buildings, grounds and equipment as a result of accidents or vandalism
• Operation of electric power facilities
• Maintenance of: Vehicle movement control systems
• Fare collection and counting equipment
• Structures, tunnels and subways
• Roadway and track
• Passenger stations, operating station buildings, grounds and equipment
• Communication systems
• General administration buildings, grounds and equipment, and
• Electric power facilities.
Can be found in: Internet Reporting, F-20, F-30, R-10
Incidents such as strikes and blockages that result in the disruption of transit service. Can be found in: S&S-50
National Transit Database
NTD Identification Number
A unique FTA-assigned number (NTD ID) that each transit agency must have before filing a report. Can be found in: Introduction, B-10, MR Introduction, S&S Introduction
The total number of operational revenue vehicles in the fleet available for general public transit service, including spare or back up revenue vehicles. The total should also include any operational revenue vehicles used by contractors in general public transit service. Non-revenue service vehicles and personal vehicles should not be included. Can be found in: RU-20
The number of active vehicles in the fleet which meet all ADA accessibility requirements. Can be found in: RU-20
The number of locations at which other traffic may traverse the right-of-way (ROW) for rail modes operating at grade. Can be found in: A-20
Back to topFor operating expense reporting, an article or service obtained. Can be found in: F-30
An object is an article or service obtained. An object class is a grouping of expenses based on goods or services purchased. The object classes include:
• Salaries and wages
• Fringe benefits
• Services
• Materials and supplies
• Other expenses.
Object classes are detailed in section 5.2 of the Uniforms System of Accounts (USOA). Can be found in: F-10, F-30, F-40
The number of events or incidents experienced. Can be found in: S&S-50
Operating Expense
Other Federal Funds (funded vehicles)
Police officers hired by a transit agency to provide security at the agency during the officers’ time away from their regular job. Can be found in: S&S-30
Component activities include:
• Providing supervision and clerical support for office management and services
• Performing general office activities (e.g., receptionist, switchboard operator)
• Printing and distributing office supplies and forms
• Processing incoming and outgoing mail
• Operating library and central file facilities
Can be found in: F-30
Owned Outright
Rail transit way below surface level in an excavated cut that has not had a covering constructed over it. Transition segments to open cut or subway tunnel / tube segments are included. Can be found in: A-20
Financial funding to help cover the operating costs of providing transit services. Operating costs are classified by function or activity and the goods and services purchased. The basic functions and object classes are detailed in the Operating Expenses form (F-30) and are defined in Section 5.2 and 6.2 of the Uniform System of Accounts (USOA). Can be found in: Introduction, F-10, FFA-10, MR Introduction
The expenses associated with the operation of the transit agency, and classified by function or activity, and the goods and services purchased. The basic functions and object classes are defined in Section 5.2 and 6.2 of the Uniform System of Accounts (USOA). These are consumable items with a useful life of less than one year or an acquisition cost which equals the lesser of:
• The capitalization level established by the government unit for financial statement purposes, or
• $5,000.
Can be found in: Introduction, Internet Reporting, B-10, F-10, F-30, S-20, FFA-10, Declarations, MR Internet Reporting
The employees engaged in the operation of the transit system, categorized by their functions. The three-digit codes preceding the definition for each labor classification are the function codes in the Uniform System of Accounts (USOA). Can be found in: R-10
Supervising, monitoring and operating power generation and distribution facilities (i.e., inspecting, cleaning, repairing and replacing all components of electric power generation and distribution facilities and equipment (including third rail and overhead lines). Can be found in: F-30
The personnel (other than security agents) scheduled to be aboard vehicles in revenue operations, including:
• Vehicle operators
• Conductors
• Ticket collectors.
Operators may also include: Attendants who are transit agency employees that are aboard vehicles to assist riders in boarding and alighting, securing wheelchairs, etc., typically the elderly and persons with disabilities. Can be found in: Introduction, F-30, MR Introduction, S&S Introduction
The labor of employees of the transit agency who are classified as revenue vehicle operators or crew. Can be found in: F-30
A report stage indicating the first time the NTD Annual Report was sent to NTD, and the report is undergoing validation. Can be found in: Internet Reporting
Other Safety Occurrence Not Otherwise Classified
Transit service that does not fit into one of the previous categories. Can be found in: RU-20
These are requests submitted via the e-File to NTD from the agency regarding the following:
• Consolidation Request
• Extension Request
• FY Change Request
• New Fixed Guideway Segment Request
• New ID Request.
Can be found in: Internet Reporting
An unlawful attack or attempt by one person upon another where no weapon was used or which did not result in serious or aggravated injury to the victim. This includes:
• Simple assault
• Minor assault
• Assault and battery
• Injury by culpable negligence
• Intimidation
• Coercion
• Hazing, and
• All attempts to commit these offenses.
Can be found in: S&S-50
The revenue earned from operations closely associated with transportation operations other than from concessions and advertising revenues. Other auxiliary transportation revenues include:
• ID card fees (seniors, persons with disabilities, employees)
• Fare evasion and park-and-ride lot fines
• Automotive vehicle ferriage.
Can be found in: F-10
Any item not described as guideway, passenger stations, administrative buildings, maintenance buildings, revenue vehicles, service vehicles, fare revenue collection equipment or systems including:
• Furniture and equipment that are not an integral part of buildings and structures
• Shelters, signs and passenger amenities (e.g., benches) not in passenger stations.
Can be found in: F-20
Expenses of the buyer (public transit agency or governmental unit) that are directly attributable to the provision of purchased transportation (PT) services. Examples include:
• The provision of maintenance services or fuel for the vehicles used by the seller
• Gathering and compiling NTD data
• Monitoring of the seller's operations and other similar costs where the buyer uses its resources to support the purchased service.
Can be found in: B-30, F-30
Any funds dedicated to transit at their source other than income, sales, property, gasoline and other taxes; and, bridges, tunnels and highway tolls. These funds include:
• Vehicle licensing and regsitration fees
• Lottery and casino proceeds
• Sale of property and assets
• Other.
Can be found in: F-10
Any funds not included in the directly generated sources common to all transit agencies and for independent political entities. Can be found in: F-10
Vehicles purchased through Federal programs other than the FTA Urbanized Area Formula Program (UAF). Can be found in: F-10, A-30
Other FTA programs other than:
• FTA Capital Program funds (Section 5309)
• FTA Special Needs of Elderly Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities Formula Program (Section 5310)
• FTA Other Than Urbanized Area Formula Program (Section 5311)
• FTA Job Access and Reverse Commute Formula Program (Section 5316)
• FTA New Freedom Program (Section 5317)
• FTA Alternative Transportation in Parks and Public Lands (Section 5320), and other US DOT programs and any other federal programs.
Can be found in: RU-20
Any collision type that impacts the front of the vehicle and that would not be described as head-on. Can be found in: S&S-40
Any FTA funds not reported as FTA Capital Program (Section 5309) and FTA Urbanized Area Formula Program (5307) funds. These funds include:
• FTA Metropolitan Planning (Section 5303)
• FTA Clean Fuels Program (Section 5308)
• FTA Special Needs of Elderly Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities Formula Program (Section 5310)
• FTA Other Than Urbanized Area Formula Program (Section 5311)
• FTA Research, Development, Demonstration and Training Projects (Section 5312)
• FTA Job Access and Reverse Commute Formula Program (Section 5316)
• FTA New Freedom Program (Section 5317)
• FTA Alternative Transportation in Parks and Public Lands (Section 5320)
• Interstate Transfer Program
Can be found in: F-10
Any state government or any local government funding sources that are not dedicated to transit at their source or are not included in the budgeting process of general revenue funds. These funds include:
• Vehicle licensing and registration fees
• Communications access fees, surcharges, taxes
• Lottery and casino proceeds
• Sale of property and assets
• Other.
Can be found in: F-10
The costs of materials and supplies not specifically identified in object classes fuel and lubricants (504.01) and tires and tubes (504.02) issued from inventory or purchased for immediate consumption. Can be found in: F-30
A failure of some other mechanical element of the revenue vehicle that, because of local agency policy, prevents the revenue vehicle from completing a scheduled revenue trip or from starting the next scheduled revenue trip even though the vehicle is physically able to continue in revenue service. Can be found in: R-20
Encompasses multiple types of motorized passenger vehicles such as automobiles, minivans, pickup trucks, motorcycles, rail cars, and buses intended for roadway or rail travel. Can be found in: S&S-40
The bonuses for special operating situations not covered by overtime, spread time and shift premiums. Can be found in: F-50
Any other costs that cannot be captured in the object classes of interest expenses (511), leases and rentals (512), depreciation (513), purchase lease agreements (514) and related parties lease agreements (515). Can be found in: F-40
Includes incidents such as:
• Slips,
• Trips,
• Falls,
• Electric shock,
• Yard derailments,
• Smoke or the odor of smoke/chemicals noticed in a transit vehicle or facility, or
• Other safety events not specifically listed as a Reportable Incident but which meet a reportable incident threshold.
Can be found in S&S-40, S&S-50
The labor of employees of the transit agency who are not classified as revenue vehicle operators or crew. Can be found in: F-30
Revenues generated from a charge imposed by the state or local government, or independent political entity (e.g., transit authority) on persons or property help to pay expenses, including:
• Payroll taxes
• Utility taxes
• Communication taxes (e.g., telephone taxes and fees)
• Motor vehicle and tire excise taxes;
but excluding:
• Income taxes
• Property taxes
• Sales taxes
• Gasoline taxes.
Can be found in: F-10
An area with a population of fewer than 50,000 so designated by the U.S. Bureau of the Census. Can be found in: Introduction, B-10, S-20, FFA-10, Declarations, MR Introduction, RU Introduction
Revenues generated from nonpublic transportation, including:
• School bus revenues
• Charter bus revenues
• Freight tariffs.
Can be found in: F-10
Financial assistance from non-FTA programs of the US Department of Transportation (USDOT). These funds include:
• Federal Railroad Administration (including Amtrak)
• Other.
Can be found in: F-10
An individual who is neither an employee of a transit agency nor a purchased transportation (PT) provider and who is providing specific services at a transit agency. Can be found in: R-10, S&S Introduction, S&S-40, S&S-50
An individual who is neither a:
• Transit passenger
• Transit facility occupant
• Employee / other worker at the transit agency, nor
• Trespasser.
Can be found in: R-10, S&S Introduction, S&S-40, S&S-50
A bus characterized by an elevated passenger deck located over a baggage compartment. Can be found in: MR Introduction, RU-10
Vehicles owned outright or as part of a safe harbor leasing agreement where only the tax title is sold. Can be found in: A-30, RU-20
Back to topTypes of passenger transportation which are more flexible than conventional fixed-route transit but more structured than the use of private automobiles. Paratransit includes demand response (DR) transportation services, shared-ride taxis, car-pooling and vanpooling (VP), and jitney (JT) services. Most often refers to wheelchair-accessible, demand response (DR) service. Can be found in: Introduction, B-10, F-30, F-40, S-10
Revenues earned from parking fees paid by passengers who drive to park-and-ride lots operated by the transit agency to utilize transit service. Can be found in: F-10
Employees of the transit agency who work less than the local definition of full time. Normally, these persons are not provided the full benefits package (e.g., sick leave, vacation and insurance benefits) associated with full time employment. Full time employees working part of their time in a function or mode are not part time employees. Can be found in: R-10
Capital or operating financial assistance passed through to other transit agencies that have no relationship to the directly operated (DO) and / or purchased transportation (PT) services provided by the designated recipient. Can be found in: F-10
An individual on board, boarding, or alighting from a revenue transit vehicle. Excludes operators, transit employees and contractors. Can be found in: S&S-40
A unit of rolling rail equipment that provides transportation and seating and standing room for the general public. It includes self-propelled cars. Can be found in: S-10
The hours that passenger cars are scheduled to or actually travel while in revenue service (actual passenger car revenue hours) plus deadhead hours. Actual passenger car hours include:
• Layover / recovery time.
But exclude:
• Hours for charter services
• Operator training, and
• Vehicle maintenance testing.
Can be found in: S-10
The hours that passenger cars are scheduled to or actually travel while in revenue service. Passenger car revenue hours include: Can be found in: S-10
The hours that passenger cars are scheduled to or actually travel while in revenue service. Passenger car revenue hours include:
• Layover / recovery time.
But exclude:
• Deadhead
• Operator training
• Charter services
• Vehicle maintenance tests, and
Can be found in: S-10
The miles that passenger cars are scheduled to or actually travel while in revenue service. Passenger car revenue miles exclude:
• Deadhead
• Operator training
• Vehicle maintenance tests, and
• Charter services.
Can be found in: S-10
The maximum number of passenger cars actually operated to provide service on an average weekday, average Saturday and average Sunday. Can be found in: S-10, MR-20
The subsidy given to the transit agency, usually by state and local governments, on behalf of specific classes of passengers, such as students, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. The subsidy may also come from the private sector, such as employers giving assistance to offer employees programs to use public transit services at reduced rates or free. The fare assistance helps to offset the reduced or free services provided to these passengers. It is usually based on the amount of service provided; i.e., the subsidy is calculated based on the number of rides taken, but may be a lump sum payment. Can be found in: F-10
The revenue earned from carrying passengers in regularly scheduled and demand response (DR) services. Passenger fares include:
• Base fare
• Zone or distance premiums
• Express service premiums
• Extra cost transfers
• Quantity purchase discounts applicable to the passenger's ride
• Special transit fares.
Can be found in: F-10
Any data sampling technique, by mode and type of service (TOS), used to calculate passenger miles traveled that meets the 95 percent confidence and ± 10 percent precision levels. Can be found in: Internet Reporting
The cumulative sum of the distances ridden by each passenger. Can be found in: Internet Reporting, F-10, S-10, FFA-10, Declarations, MR Internet Reporting
A passenger boarding / deboarding facility with a platform, which may include:
• Stairs
• Elevators
• Escalators
• Passenger controls (e.g., faregates or turnstiles)
• Canopies
• Wind shelters
• Lighting
• Signs
• Buildings with a waiting room, ticket office or machines, restrooms, or concessions. Includes all fixed guideway (FG) passenger facilities (except for on-street cable car (CC) and light rail (LR) stops), including busway passenger facilities; underground, at grade, and elevated rail stations; and ferryboat (FB) terminals. Includes transportation / transit / transfer centers, park-and-ride facilities, and transit malls with the above components, including those only utilized by motor buses (MB).
Does not include stops (which are typically on-street locations at the curb or in a median, sometimes with a shelter, signs, or lighting) for:
• Bus (MB)
• Light rail (LR)
• Cable car (CC)
Can be found in: F-20, F-30, A-10
Mode: Publico
Vehicle type: Publico
Employees of the transit agency meeting the local definition of part time or full time hours. Normally, these persons retain job security rights and are entitled to receive the full benefits package (e.g., sick leave, vacation and insurance benefits) if working full time. Part time permanent employees may be eligible for a limited benefits package and may have job security rights. Can be found in: R-10
Vehicles that are used by the transit provider to transport passengers in revenue service but are owned by private individuals, typically an employee of the agency or a volunteer driver. Can be found in: RU-20
The number of persons used routinely to patrol grounds and to respond to incident in or on transit property. Can be found in: S&S-30
Component activities include:
• Providing supervision and clerical support for personnel activities
• Maintaining employment history records
• Recruiting, interviewing, testing, screening and giving medical examinations to prospective employees
• Administering fringe benefit, medical, welfare, pension, job evaluation, performance evaluation, promotion and other related programs
• Conducting orientation programs
• Providing supervisory and management training
• Researching labor relations issues
• Negotiating labor contracts
• Administering low level grievances
• Administering a worker’s compensation program.
Can be found in: F-30
Component activities include:
• Providing supervision and clerical support for planning activities
• Conducting long range and regional transit planning and analysis.
Can be found in: F-30
A horizontal surface raised above the level of the adjacent area, such as a boarding and alighting area alongside rail tracks. Can be found in: F-20, A-10
The time during which an operator operates the revenue vehicle in a) line service or in deadheading (including layover periods in the vehicle at a rest point) or b) for charter, contract, and special non-contract service, or is deadheading or laying over as a result of such service. Can be found in: F-30
Passenger Miles (now referred to as passenger miles traveled)
Passenger Miles Traveled (formerly referred to as passenger miles)
A method of providing transit service to all origins and destinations within a corridor, defined by a prescribed distance from a street (e.g., ¾ mile), making scheduled stops at mandatory time points along the corridor on a predetermined schedule. This type of service (TOS) does not follow a fixed route because the path is determined based on the origins and destinations of the passengers. Passengers can use the service in three ways:
1. By traveling between mandatory time points on the schedule
2. By advising the bus operator if they want to be taken to a destination that is not a scheduled time point when boarding, or
3. If they want to be picked up at a location that is not a scheduled time point, by calling the transit system and requesting a pickup.
Can be found in: B-10, S-10
The primary reason why the project was constructed or acquired, or how it is used by the measure of the amount of passengers served by a mode/TOS, or by the number of revenue vehicles serviced, or the square footage of a facility. Can be found in: S&S-30, F-20
Component activities include:
• Researching transit technology
• Researching service area to determine which transit technology to apply, route configurations, service level requirements
• Conducting hearings and meetings with various interest groups to identify their perceived needs and to expose planning concepts for discussion
• Developing construction project management capability
• Performing preliminary design and engineering work on major construction projects.
This function covers the operating expenses associated with performing these activities prior to the time when a firm commitment to construction is made. Costs of this nature incurred after the commitment to construct is made would be capitalized.
Can be found in: F-30
All the activities, supplies, materials, labor, services, and associated costs required to preserve or extend the functionality and serviceability of the asset in a cost effective manner, up to and including the current state of the art for maintaining such asset. These capital maintenance expenses are eligible to use FTA formula funding programs for these functions:
• Vehicle maintenance function (041)
• Non-vehicle maintenance (042) function.
Can be found in: : F-30, RU-20
The security force that the agency uses routinely or assigns to patrol its grounds and respond to incidents in or on transit property. Primary and secondary security forces could be interchangeable due to staffing concerns (e.g., major sporting events). Can be found in: S&S-30
A nonpublic entity that provides public transportation services. For-profit entities exist primarily to generate a profit, (i.e., a surplus of revenues over expenditures). Can be found in: Introduction, B-30, F-10, A-10, MR Introduction, S&S Introduction
A nonpublic entity with a tax-free status that provides public transportation services. Nonprofit entities exist to provide a particular service (e.g., public transportation) to the community. Nonprofit refers to a type of business — one that is organized under rules that forbid the distribution of profits to owners. Profit refers to a surplus of revenues over expenditures. Can be found in: Introduction, B-30, F-10, A-10, MR Introduction, S&S Introduction
Component activities include:
• Providing supervision and clerical support for promotion activities
• Media relations including preparing and distributing press releases
• Designing, producing and distributing promotional material (e.g., posters, decals, photographs, leaflets, newspaper mats)
• Designing and implementing, with or without outside agency assistance, programs for advertising and promoting the use of transit service.
Can be found in: F-30
The estimated dollar value of all property that is damaged in a Reportable Incident. This includes transit-owned property and other vehicles and property involved in the incident that are not owned by the transit agency (excludes personal property such as cell phones and computers). Property damage also includes the cost of clearing wreckage. Can be found in: S&S Introduction, S&S-40, RU-20
Purchased Transportation
A public entity that provides public transportation services. It may be a state or local government, or any department, special purpose district (e.g. transit or transportation district), authority or other instrumentality of one or more state or local governments (e.g., joint powers agency). Can be found in: Introduction, B-30, F-10, A-10, MR Introduction, S&S Introduction
Any of the following three categories (49CFR37):
• Any state or local government
• Any department, agency, special purpose district, or other instrumentality of one or more state or local governments
• The National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) and any commuter authority.
Can be found in: Introduction, B-30, F-10, A-10, MR Introduction, S&S Introduction
As defined in the Federal Transit Act, "transportation by a conveyance that provides regular and continuing general or special transportation to the public, but does not include school bus, charter, or intercity bus transportation or intercity passenger rail transportation provided by the entity described in chapter 243 (or a successor to such entity)."
Notes: (1) Passenger rail transportation refers to Amtrak. (2) This definition does not affect the eligibility of intercity bus service under the Section 5311 Other Than Urbanized Area (Rural) Formula Program. (3) The intercity bus and intercity rail (Amtrak) portion of Intermodal terminals is however an eligible capital cost. Can be found in: Introduction, B-10, A-10, A-20, A-30, MR-10, S&S Introduction, RU Introduction
A transit mode comprised of passenger vans or small buses operating with fixed routes but no fixed schedules. Publicos (PB) are a privately owned and operated public transit service which is market oriented and unsubsidized, but regulated through a public service commission, state or local government. Publicos (PB) are operated under franchise agreements, fares are regulated by route and there are special insurance requirements. Vehicle capacity varies from eight to 24, and the vehicles may be owned or leased by the operator. Can be found in: B-10, MR-10, S&S Introduction, S&S-10, RU-10
The payments for which the arrangement is a financing plan for the purchase of the property by the lessee. The ownership of the property passes to the lessee upon expiration of the lease, sometimes with an additional payment far below the expected market value of the property. The property covered by such leases may or may not have been booked as owned assets, either during or after the period of the lease, in the transit agency’s internal accounting records. If purchase leases have not been capitalized in the transit agency’s internal accounting records, this category includes the lease payments for the purchase lease agreement. If the lease has been capitalized in the internal accounting records of the transit agency, it is to be accounted for in the NTD system as it has been accounted for internally. Can be found in: F-40
Transportation service provided to a public transit agency or governmental unit from a public or private transportation provider based on a written contract. The provider is obligated in advance to operate public transportation services for a public transit agency or governmental unit for a specific monetary consideration, using its own employees to operate revenue vehicles. Purchased transportation (PT) does not include:
• Franchising
• Licensing operations
• Management services
• Cooperative agreements, or
• Private conventional bus service.
Can be found in: Introduction, B-10, B-30, F-10, F-20, F-30, A-10, A-20, A-30, R-30, FFA-10, Declarations, MR Introduction, MR-10, MR-20, S&S Introduction, S&S-10, S&S-40, S&S-50, RU-10
The fare revenues derived from the transit services provided under the purchased transportation (PT) agreement, regardless of whether fares are retained by the seller or returned to the buyer. They are usually collected by the seller. However, they also include:
• Fares collected or sold by the buyer for users of the purchased service.
• For example, if the buyer of the purchased transportation (PT) service sells tickets, tokens or passes for these users, this revenue is part of purchased transportation (PT) fare revenues.
Can be found in: B-30, F-10
The payment or accrual (net of fare revenues) to other transit agencies, public or private, for providing transportation service and purchased transportation (PT) fare revenues. This object class is divided into 2 parts:
1. Filing in report (508.01), and
2. Filing separate report (508.02).
Can be found in: F-30
The payment or accrual (net of fare revenues) to other transit agencies, public or private, for providing transportation service and purchased transportation (PT) fare revenues involving sellers who file a complete, separate NTD report. Can be found in: F-30
The payment or accrual (net of fare revenues) to other transit agencies, public or private, for providing transportation service and purchased transportation (PT) fare revenues involving sellers whose non-financial data are included in the buyer’s report. Can be found in: F-30
Component activities include:
• Providing supervision and clerical support for purchasing and stores activities
• Preparing specifications for materials and supplies from vendors
• Issuing and receiving materials and supplies at storage facilities
• Delivering materials and supplies to and from requisition points
• Maintaining physical control of materials and supplies including storing, picking and packing
• Maintaining inventory control records of materials and supplies including determining reorder points and order quantities.
Can be found in: F-30
Back to topAn individual with a working knowledge and education or background in statistics who determines if techniques for passenger miles traveled data collection meet FTA's requirements for statistical reliability (95 percent confidence and 10 percent precision). Can be found in: S-10
Back to topTransit modes whose vehicles travel along fixed rails - bars of rolled steel - forming a track. The vehicles are usually electrically propelled typically through motors onboard the vehicles, but motors may also be at a central location not onboard the vehicles to pull the vehicles by cables (cable car (CC), inclined plane (IP)). For commuter rail (CR), vehicles may be self-propelled or may be drawn by a locomotive. NTD recognizes nine rail modes:
1. Alaska Railroad (AR)
2. Monorail/Automated guideway transit (MG)
3. Cable car (CC)
4. Commuter rail (CR)
5. Heavy rail (HR)
6. Inclined plane (IP)
7. Light rail (LR)
8. Streetcar (SR), and
9. Hybrid rail (YR)
Can be found in: Introduction, F-20, A-10, A-20, S-10, S-20, R-30, MR Introduction, MR-10, S&S Introduction, S&S-40
The one-time rebuild or replacement of major subsystems on revenue producing rail cars and locomotives - commonly referred to as midlife overhaul. Can be found in: F-20
The carnal knowledge of a person, forcibly and/or against that person's will. Can be found in: S&S-40
Mode: Bus Rapid Transit
Component activities include:
• Providing supervision and clerical support for real estate management activities
• Researching transit real estate opportunities
• Negotiating purchases and sales of transit real estate
• Arranging and managing concessionaire contracts
• Negotiating leases.
Can be found in: F-30
A collision type where a vehicle is impacted on its back end by the front of another vehicle. Can be found in: S&S-40
A collision type where the front of a vehicle impacts the back end of another vehicle. Can be found in: S&S-40
Any items where accounting practices vary for handling these expenses as a result of local ordinances and conditions. Reconciling items include:
• Depreciation and amortization
• Interest payments
• Leases and rentals.
They are called reconciling items because they are needed to provide an overall total that is consistent with local published reports. Can be found in: F-40
The rebuilding of revenue vehicles to original specifications of the manufacture. Rebuilding may include some new components but has less emphasis on structural restoration than would be the case in a remanufacturing operation, focusing on mechanical systems and vehicle interiors. Can be found in: F-20
Leases for which the lease payments required of the lessee differ substantially from those in a true lease arrangement because the lessor and lessee are related organizations. Can be found in: F-40
The structural restoration of revenue vehicles in addition to installation of new or rebuilt major components (e.g., as engines, transmissions, body parts) to extend service life. Can be found in: F-20
The replacement of revenue vehicles having reached the end of a minimum normal service life. Can be found in: F-20
The Report Stage is an indicator of how an agency’s NTD Annual Report is progressing from initial data input through closeout. There are four stages:
1. Working Data
2. Original Submission
3. Revision
4. Closeout
Can be found in: Internet Reporting
A safety or security incident occurring on transit property or otherwise affecting revenue service that results in one or more of the following conditions:
• A fatality confirmed within 30 days of the incident
• An injury requiring immediate medical attention away from the scene for one or more persons
• Property damage equal to or exceeding $25,000
• An evacuation for life safety reasons; or
• A mainline derailment.
Can be found in: S&S Introduction, S&S-40
Relief from filing an NTD report. Can be found in: Introduction, Internet Reporting, S&S Introduction
A tract of land set apart by the Federal government for a special purpose, especially one for the use of a Native American people. Can be found in: RU-20
A location or an area within a location that is used to enable individuals to board or alight transit vehicles and that is controlled by the transit system. Can be found in: S&S Introduction, S&S-40, S&S-50
The time when a vehicle is available to the general public and there is an expectation of carrying passengers. These passengers either:
• Directly pay fares
• Are subsidized by public policy, or
• Provide payment through some contractual arrangement.
Vehicles operated in fare free service are considered in revenue service. Revenue service includes:
• Layover / recovery time.
Revenue service excludes:
• Deadhead
• Vehicle maintenance testing
• School bus service, and
• Charter service.
Can be found in: A-10, A-30, S-10, R-20, FFA-10, Declarations
The hours (miles) those are comprised of running time and layover / recovery time. Can be found in: S-10
The floating and rolling stock used to provide revenue service for passengers. Can be found in: Introduction, B-10, F-20, F-30, A-10, S-10, R-10, R-20, R-30, Declarations, MR Introduction, MR-10, S&S Introduction, S&S-40
Component activities include:
• Providing supervision and clerical support for revenue vehicle movement control activities
• Dispatching operators and vehicles from the operating station
• Monitoring transit operations in communications and control centers
• Supervising transit operations along transit routes
• Controlling the return of operators and vehicles to the operating station.
These may be accomplished by conventional means or through the use of advanced technologies including automatic vehicle location, transit operations software and automated demand response (DR) dispatching systems. Vehicle guidance systems and intermodal transportation management centers may also be employed to assist revenue vehicle movement control activities. Can be found in: F-30
Component activities include:
• Moving revenue vehicles along transit routes while boarding and discharging passengers
• Moving revenue vehicles from operating stations to route termini or between route termini (e.g., deadheading)
• Laying over at route termini for an operator’s rest period
• Moving operators to and from relief points
• Providing non-driving assistance in passenger loading.
Can be found in: F-30
Revenue accrued by a seller of transportation services through purchased transportation (PT) agreements, not including passenger fares for purchased transportation (PT) services from service provided under the purchased transportation (PT) agreement. Can be found in: F-10
A report stage indicating that the NTD Annual Report has been submitted to NTD by the agency more than once and the report is undergoing validation. Can be found in: Internet Reporting
The area through which a train travels; a train's dynamic envelope. Can be found in: S&S-40
Vehicle Type: Commuter Rail Locomotives
The taking, or attempting to take, anything of value under confrontational circumstances from the:
• Control
• Custody, or
• Care of another person by force or threat of force or violence and / or
• By putting the victim in fear of immediate harm.
Can be found in: S&S Introduction, S&S-40, S&S-50
A type of transit service that operates as conventional fixed route bus (MB) service along a fixed alignment or path with scheduled time points at each terminal point and key intermediate locations. Route deviation service is different than conventional fixed route bus (MB) service in that the bus (MB) may deviate from the route alignment to serve destinations within a prescribed distance (e.g., ¾ mile) of the route. Following an off route deviation, the bus must return to the point on the route it left. Passengers may use the service in two ways:
1. If they want to be taken off route as part of a service deviation, they must tell the bus operator when boarding, or
2. If they want to be picked up at an off route location, they must call the transit system and request a pickup, and the dispatcher notifies the bus operator.
Can be found in: B-10, S-10
Vehicle Type: Commuter Rail Passenger Coaches
Vehicle Type: Commuter Rail Self-Propelled Passenger Cars
The hours (miles) the vehicle travels on the route in passenger service, typically from the beginning to the end of a route. It includes all travel and time from the point of the first passenger pickup to the last passenger drop-off, as long as the vehicle does not return to the dispatching point. Can be found in: F-10, S-10
A unique five-digit alpha-numeric identification number (ID) assigned by FTA that each transit agency must have before filing a report. Can be found in: RU-10
Back to topThe deliberate destruction of transit property or the slowing down of public transit operations by employees with the intention of damaging business or the economic condition of the transit agency. Can be found in: S&S-40
Concept that applies to priority lanes on freeways, expressways and other /high-speed facilities used by bus (MB) mode and other high occupancy vehicles (HOV), i.e., vanpools (VP) and carpools, to ensure safe travel. For these lanes, there must be some indication of separation to ensure safe access between free flowing high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes and the congested, unrestricted lanes. Separation can be accomplished at least two ways:
1. Physical barriers such as cones, concrete dividers, medians
2. Pavement markings such as a double solid wide line, a single solid wide line, a single broken wide line, or a diagonally striped area between lanes.
Can be found in: S-20
Component activities include:
• Providing supervision and clerical support for a system safety program
• Providing safety-first and other campaigns among employees or the public for the purpose of preventing accidents and damages
• Compiling and maintaining safety statistics.
Can be found in: F-30
An attestation by the CEO of a transit agency certifying the accuracy of safety and security data submitted to the NTD in the past calendar year. Can be found in: Internet Reporting, S&S Introduction, S&S-20
Occurrences and / or arrests / citations that do not meet the requirements of Reportable Incidents:
• Occurrences of:
º Robbery (confrontational theft)
º Larceny (non-confrontational theft)
º Burglary
º Motor vehicle theft
º Other safety occurrences not otherwise classified (injuries)
º Fires.
• Arrest / citation for:
º Other assaults (no injuries)
º Fare evasion
º Trespassing
º Vandalism
º Non-violent civil disturbance.
A collision, derailment, fire, hazardous material spill, act of nature (Act of God), evacuation, or OSONOC occurring on transit-controlled property and meeting established NTD thresholds. Can be found in: S&S Introduction, S&S-40, S&S-50, RU-20
A statistical technique for the collection of passenger miles traveled data. The sampling technique may be one of the FTA approved procedures or an alternative methodology that meets FTA's requirements for statistical reliability (95 percent confidence and ±10 percent precision). Can be found in: S-10, MR-10, MR-20
Vehicle Type: School Buses
The passenger car revenue miles computed from the scheduled service. It includes only the scheduled passenger car revenue miles from the whole trip. It excludes:
• Deadhead
• Service interruptions, and
• Special additional services.
Can be found in: S-10
Revenue service that is provided for picking up and discharging passengers on a continuing and regular basis, i.e., "scheduled." A scheduled revenue trip appears on internal transit agency planning documents (e.g., run paddles, trip tickets and public timetables). Can be found in: R-20
The total service scheduled to be provided for picking up and discharging passengers. Scheduled service is computed from internal transit agency planning documents (e.g., run paddles, trip tickets and public timetables). Scheduled service excludes:
• Service interruptions, and
• Special additional services.
Can be found in: S-10
The vehicle revenue miles computed from the scheduled service. It includes only the scheduled vehicle revenue miles from the whole trip. It excludes:
• Deadhead
• Service interruptions, and
• Special additional services.
Can be found in: S-10
Component activities include:
• Providing supervision and clerical support for scheduling activities
• Collecting data for schedule making
• Making schedules
• Cutting runs
• Furnishing schedule information (e.g., routes, miles, time and run definitions).
Can be found in: F-30
The vehicle hours of travel by revenue vehicles while serving as a school bus. School bus hours are only hours where a bus is primarily or solely dedicated to carrying school passengers. Can be found in: S-10, MR-20
The exclusive use of buses to carry children and school personnel to and from their schools or school-related activities. It includes county school buses, private school buses, and buses chartered from private companies for the express purposes of carrying students to or from school and / or school-related activities. Can be found in: Introduction, S-10, MR Introduction, S&S Introduction
The revenue earned operating vehicles under school bus contracts. This is the exclusive use of buses to carry children to and from their schools. Can be found in: F-10
Vehicle type: Passenger vehicles which are:
• Designed or used to carry more than ten passengers in addition to the driver
• Used primarily for the purpose of transporting pre-primary, primary or secondary school students either to such schools from home or from such schools to home.
Can be found in: B-10, S&S-40
Additional capacity that an agency adds to an existing public transit route to meet the demands of traveling students. The additional service is open to the general public. Can be found in: S-10
The number of seats that are actually installed in the vehicle. Can be found in: A-30
Secondary
Security
The number of personnel used occasionally to respond to more serious event occurring in or on transit property when the Primary Security Personnel force requires assistance.
Can be found on S&S-30
The security force that is used occasionally to respond to more serious events occurring in or on transit property when the Primary Security Personnel force requires assistance. Can be found in: S&S-30
An occurrence of a bomb threat, bombing, arson, hijacking, sabotage, cyber security event, assault, robbery, rape, burglary, suicide, attempted suicide, larceny, theft, vandalism, homicide, fare evasion, trespassing, nonviolent civil disturbance, or CBR (chemical/biological/radiological) or nuclear release. Can be found in: S&S Introduction, S&S-40, S&S-50
The public agency or private company providing transit services under a purchase transportation (PT) agreement with the NTD reporter buying the transit services. The seller uses its employees to operate the service (vehicle operators). Can be found in: Introduction, B-30, F-10, F-20, F-30, A-10, A-20, A-30, S-10, FFA-10, Declarations, MR Introduction, S&S Introduction
A measure of access to transit service in terms of population served and area coverage (square miles). The reporting transit agency determines the service area boundaries and population for most transit services using the definitions contained in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). Transit agency reporters are required to submit service area information on the Identification form (B-10). Can be found in: Introduction, B-10, FFA-10, RU-10
A measure of access to transit service in terms of population served and area coverage (square miles). The reporting transit agency determines the service area boundaries and population for most transit services using the definitions contained in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA): "Bus. (i) The entity shall provide complementary paratransit service to origins and destinations within corridors with a width of three-fourths of a mile on each side of each fixed route. The corridor shall include an area with three-fourths of a mile radius at the ends of each fixed route. (ii) Within the core service area, the entity also shall provide service to small areas not inside any of the corridors but which are surrounded by corridors. (iii) Outside the core service area, the entity may designate corridors with widths from three-fourths of a mile up to one and one-half miles on each side of a fixed route, based on local circumstances. (iv) The core service area is that area in which corridors with a width of three-fourths of a mile on each side of each fixed route merge together such that, with few and small exceptions, all origins and destinations within the area would be served."
This definition is taken in part from the U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Register, Vol. 56, No. 173, Rules and Regulations, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). Can be found in: B-10, RU-10
AAs Demand Response does not operate over a fixed route, but rather serves a broad area, the service area cannot be measured by corridors (see Service Area — Bus (MB)). Therefore, the service area for demand response (DR) is the area encompassing the origin to destination points wherever people can be picked up and dropped off. Can be found in: B-10, RU-10
A measure of access to transit service in terms of population served and area coverage (square miles). The reporting transit agency determines the service area boundaries and population for most transit services using the definitions contained in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA): "Rail. (i) For rail systems, the service area shall consist of a circle with a radius of 3/4 of a mile around each station. (Ii) At end stations and other stations in outlying area, the entity may designate circles with radii of up to 1-1/2 miles as part of its service area, based on local circumstances."
This definition is taken in part from the U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Register, Vol. 56, No. 173, Rules and Regulations, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). Can be found in: B-10, RU-10
The amount of service actually used by passengers and which is measured by unlinked passenger trips and passenger miles traveled. Can be found in: S-10
The amount of service scheduled or actually operated. Service supplied is measured in vehicles, miles and / or hours that were operated. Can be found in: S-10
The vehicles used to support revenue vehicle operations and that are not used to carry transit passengers. Types of service vehicles include:
• Tow trucks
• Supervisor vans
• Transit police cars
• Staff cars
• Maintenance vehicles for maintaining passenger facilities and rights-of-way (ROW) (rail stations, bus shelters, track, etc.). Also referred to as non-revenue vehicles.
Can be found in: F-20, F-30, A-10, R-20, RU-20
The labor and other work provided by outside organizations for fees and related expenses. In most instances, services from an outside organization are procured as a substitute for in-house employee labor, except in the case of independent audits, which could not be performed by employees in the first place. The substitution is usually made because the skills offered by the outside organization are needed for only a short period of time or are better than internally available skills. The charge for these services is usually based on the labor hours invested in performing the service. Services include:
• Management service fees
• Advertising fees
• Professional and technical services
• Temporary help
• Contract maintenance services
• Custodial services and security services.
Can be found in: F-30
Component activities include:
• Providing supervision and clerical support for the servicing of service vehicles
• Washing and cleaning exterior of service vehicles
• Washing and cleaning interior of service vehicles
• Hostling service vehicles throughout service area (within operating station or garage)
• Refueling and adding oil and water to service vehicles.
Can be found in: F-30, R-20
Component activities include:
• Providing supervision and clerical support for servicing revenue vehicles
• Washing and cleaning revenue vehicles
• Hostlering revenue vehicles throughout service area (within operating station or garage)
• Refueling and adding oil and water to revenue vehicles.
Can be found in: F-30, R-20
A collision type in which two vehicles traveling in the same direction or opposite directions contact each other along the side in a scraping-type action, or a moving vehicle scraping its side against a stationery object. Can be found in: S&S-40
Sightseeing may or may not involve a tour guide. Can be found in: Introduction, MR Introduction, S&S Introduction
A vehicle having only one occupant (the driver). Can be found in: F-10, S-20, FFA-10, Declarations
Relief from filing a complete NTD report if the transit agency operates nine or fewer vehicles in annual maximum service across all modes and types of service (TOS), and all service operates on non-fixed guideway (NFG) (mixed traffic right-of-way (ROW)). Can be found in: Introduction, Internet Reporting, B-10, Declarations, MR Introduction, MR-10, S&S Introduction
A public or private nonprofit organization providing specialized programs and transportation service to a specific clientele such as the elderly and persons with disabilities. Can be found in: B-30
Single Occupancy Vehicle
The revenue vehicles maintained by the transit agency to:
• Meet routine and heavy maintenance requirements
• Meet unexpected vehicle breakdowns or accidents
• Thereby preserve scheduled service operations.
Can be found in: Introduction, A-30, S-10, MR Introduction
The revenues earned for rides given in regular transit revenue service, but paid for by some organization rather than by the rider, and for rides given along special routes for which revenue may be guaranteed by a beneficiary of the service. Special transit fares include:
• Providing rides for letter carriers with payments being made directly from the US Postal Service
• Providing rides for police with payments being made directly from the police authority
• Industrial firms, shopping centers, public and private universities, etc., to guarantee minimum revenue on a line operated especially for the benefit of the payer
• Contractual arrangements with state or local governments
• Contractual arrangements from non-government entities for special transit fares and from providing special service rides for sporting events, sightseeing, etc., where fares are not guaranteed on a contractual basis.
Can be found in: F-10
Public transportation services that are paid, in whole or in part, directly to the transit provider by a third party. These services may be offered by transit providers as part of a Coordinated Human Services Transportation Plan. Common sponsors include the Veterans Administration, Medicare, sheltered workshops, the Association for Retarded Citizens-Arc, Assisted Living Centers, and Head Start programs.
A high-performance four-wheel drive car built on a truck chassis. It is a passenger vehicle which combines the towing capacity of a pickup truck with the passenger-carrying space of a minivan or station wagon. Most SUVs are designed with a roughly square cross-section, an engine compartment, a combined passenger and cargo compartment, and no dedicated trunk. Most mid-size and full-size SUVs have three rows of seats with a cargo area directly behind the last row of seats. Compact SUVs and mini SUVs may have five or fewer seats. Can be found in: RU-10
Mode: Streetcar Rail
The number of standing passengers that can be accommodated aboard the revenue vehicle during a normal full load (non-crush) in accordance with established loading policy or, in absence of a policy, the manufacturer’s rated standing capacity figures. Can be found in: A-30
Financial assistance from any state agency to assist in paying capital costs. Can be found in: RU-20
Financial assistance obtained from a state government(s) to assist with paying the costs of providing transit services. Can be found in: F-10
Financial assistance from any state agency that supports the operation of the transit system. It includes, but is not limited to:
• Tax levies - A specified amount from state levies that is dedicated to supporting public transit system operating costs.
• General funds - Transfers from the general fund of state governments to cover the Local Share portion of the transit system budget.
• Specified contributions - Contributed from the state towards the Local Share portion of the transit system budget.
Can be found in:RU-20
The revenue earned from granting operating rights to businesses (e.g., concessionaires, newsstands, candy counters) on property maintained by the transit agency. Can be found in: F-10
FTA Small Transit Intensive Cities Formula
Surface Transportation Program
This mode is for rail transit systems operating entire routes predominantly on streets in mixed-traffic. This service typically operates with single-car trains powered by overhead catenaries and with frequent stops.
Shared use transit service operating in response to on-going reservations made by passengers to the transit operator, who can schedule in advance a consistent trip to pick up the passenger and transport them to their destination. Can be found in: RU-20
The funds obtained from other sectors of a transit agency’s operations to help cover the cost of providing transit service. Subsidies from other sectors of transit operations include:
• Subsidies from utility rates where the transit agency is a utility company
• Subsidies from bridge and tunnel tolls owned and operated by the transit agency
• Subsidies from other sources provided by the same entity that operates the transit agency.
Can be found in: F-10
Government financial assistance. Can be found in: F-10
Rail transit way below surface with a cover over the tunnel. Cut and cover, bored tunnel, underwater tubes, etc., are included. Can be found in: A-20
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) program whose funds can be flexed to FTA Section 5307 Urbanized Area Formula Program for transit projects. These funds may be used for capital projects including, ridesharing projects, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, transit safety improvements and transportation control measures; and, for planning activities including transit research and development, environmental analysis and wetland mitigation. Can be found in: F-10
Track device to diverge cars / trains to another track. Can be found in: S&S-40
A system is a group of devices or objects forming a network especially for distributing something or serving a common purpose (e.g. telephone, data processing systems). Can be found in: F-20
Component activities include:
• Providing supervision and clerical support for security activities
• Patrolling revenue vehicles and passenger stations during revenue operations
• Patrolling and controlling access to yards, buildings and structures
• Monitoring security devices such as closed circuit TV and alarm systems
• Reporting breaches of security.
Security activities associated with the fare collection and counting process should be included as part of ticketing and fare collection (151). Can be found in: F-30
Back to topStraight track. Can be found in: S&S-40
The taxes levied against the transit agency by Federal, state and local governments. Can be found in: F-30
A private for-profit company where passenger vehicles are for hire by the riding public. Can be found in: B-30
Vehicle type: An automobile in which passengers are carried for a fare at a rate usually recorded by a taximeter. Can be found in: A-30
Vehicle type: A station wagon in which passengers are carried for a fare at a rate usually recorded by a taximeter. Can be found in: A-30
Vehicle type: A van in which passengers are carried for a fare at a rate usually recorded by a taximeter. Can be found in: A-30
Vehicle type: Three categories of vehicles based upon size: sedan (TS), van (TV), and station wagon (TW). Can be found in: S-10, B-30, A-10
Mode: Trolleybus
Vehicle Type: Trolleybuses
FTA Recipient Identification Number
Employees of the transit agency working full time or part time hours, but only for a limited period of time for the completion of a set task. These persons are usually not entitled to receive any benefits and do not have any job security rights. Persons employed through a temporary employment agency are not temporary employees of the transit agency. Can be found in: R-10
Component activities include:
• Providing supervision and clerical support for fare collection and counting activities
• Producing fare media
• Controlling tickets and tokens in the custody of sales agents
• Pulling vaults and downloading credit and debit card data from fare collection devices
• Transporting cash, credit card and debit card data to accounting facilities
• Counting cash, transfers and tokens
• Performing the accounting for credit and debit card sales
• Destroying used fare media
• Providing security for the fare collection process
• Auditing and controlling fare collection including reconciling readings to cash, credit card and debit card collections.
The term fare media includes any means of payment or proof of payment distributed by the agency either directly or through agents under private contract, and includes:
• Tickets
• Tokens
• Transfers
• Passes
• Fare cards
• Smart cards.
Can be found in: F-30
Start of morning transit service, i.e., the time when the first revenue service vehicle leaves the garage or point of dispatch. Can be found in: S-10
End of night transit service; i.e., the time when a revenue service vehicle returns to the garage or point of dispatch. Can be found in: S-10
The lease payments for tires and tubes rented on a time period or mileage basis, or the cost of tires and tubes for replacement of tires and tubes on vehicles. Can be found in: F-30
Type of Service
The total miles accumulated during the period on all active vehicles, based on the end of period inventory. Can be found in: A-30
The time from when a transit vehicle starts (pull-out time) from a garage to go into revenue service to the time it returns to the garage (pull-in time) after completing its revenue service. Since total service covers the time between:
• Pullout, and
• Pull-in
It therefore includes both:
• Deadhead, and
• Revenue service.
Can be found in: S-10
The carnal knowledge of a person, forcibly and/or against that person's will. Can be found in: S&S-40
Transportation, Community, and System Preservation Program
Vehicle Type: Aerial Tramways
One or more passenger cars (including locomotives) coupled together and propelled by self-contained motor equipment. Also known as a consist which may be any one of the following:
• A locomotive and one or more passenger cars as in the commuter rail (CR) mode, or
• One or more heavy rail (HR) or light rail (LR) vehicles, or
• One vehicle only, if appropriate to that mode (e.g. cable car (CC)).
Can be found in: S-10, S&S-40
The hours that trains are scheduled to or actually travel while in revenue service (actual train revenue hours) plus deadhead hours. Actual train hours include:
• Layover / recovery time.
But exclude:
• Hours for charter services
• Operator training, and
• Vehicle maintenance testing.
Can be found in: S-10
The miles that trains are scheduled to or actually travel while in revenue service (actual train revenue miles) plus deadhead miles. Actual train miles exclude:
• Miles for charter services
• Operator training, and
• Vehicle maintenance testing.
Can be found in: S-10
The hours that trains are scheduled to or actually travel while in revenue service. Train revenue hours include:
• Layover / recovery time.
But exclude:
• Deadhead
• Training operators prior to revenue service
• Vehicle maintenance tests, and
• Charter services.
Can be found in: S-10
The miles that trains are scheduled to or actually travel while in revenue service. Train revenue miles exclude:
• Deadhead
• Training operators prior to revenue service
• Vehicle maintenance tests, and
• Charter services.
Can be found in: S-10
The maximum number of trains actually operated to provide service on an average weekday, average Saturday and average Sunday. Can be found in: S-10
Synonymous term with public transportation. Can be found in: B-10
In-house non-sworn security guards (i.e., not sworn police officers) that are employees of the transit agency. Can be found in: S&S-30
Property owned by the transit agency and areas utilized by a transit agency to provide revenue service such as bus stops, transit centers, and parking lots. Can be found in: S&S-40
An individual who is compensated by the transit agency as follows:
• For directly operated (DO) services, the labor expense for the individual is reported in object class 501 labor.
• For purchased transportation (PT) service, the labor expense for the individual meets the same criteria as object class 501 labor.
Can be found in: S&S Introduction, S&S-30, S&S-40, S&S-50
A person who is inside the public passenger area of a transit revenue facility. Employees, other workers, or trespassers are not transit facility occupants. Can be found in: S&S-40
A person who is:
• On board
• Boarding
• Alighting from a transit vehicle for the purpose of travel.
Excludes operators, transit employees, and contractors. Can be found in: S&S Introduction, S&S-40, S&S-50
See passenger station
Component activities include:
• Supervising station and terminal transportation activities
• Providing clerical support for transportation administration activities
• Making operators available for revenue vehicle operation (i.e., report, standby, breaks other than layovers, and turn-in time)
• Instructing operators, except that instructor’s base pay for platform instruction time is included in revenue vehicle operation (030)
• Inspecting operator performance by service inspector
• Reporting accidents and appearing as a witness
• Selecting runs during sign-up
• Representing union
• Administering sign-ups.
Can be found in: F-30
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) program whose funds can be flexed to FTA Section 5307 Urbanized Area Formula Program for transit projects. This program is a comprehensive initiative of research and grants to investigate the releationships between transportation, community, and system preservation plans and practices and identify private sector-based initiatives to improve such relationships. States metropolitan planning organizations, local governments, and tribal governments are eligible for discretionary grants to carry out eligible projects to integrate transportation, community, and system preservation plans and practices that:
• Improve the efficiency of the transportation system of the United States.
• Reduce environmental impacts of transportation.
• Reduce the need for costly future public infrastructure investments.
• Ensure efficient access to jobs, services, and center of trade.
• Examine community development patterns and identify strategies to encourage private sector development patterns and investments that support these goals. It may be used for transit activities including corridor preservation activities that are necessary to implement.
• Transit-oriented development plans.
• Traffic calming measures.
• Other coordinated TCSP practices..
Can be found in: F-10.
The unauthorized entry of transit owned land, structure, or other real property not intended for public use. Can be found in: S&S Introduction, S&S-40, S&S-50
A person in an area of transit property not intended for public use (i.e., an unauthorized area). Can be found in: S&S Introduction, S&S-40, S&S-50
A transit mode comprised of electric rubber-tired passenger vehicles, manually steered and operating singly on city streets. Vehicles are propelled by a motor drawing current through overhead wires via trolleys, from a central power source not onboard the vehicle. Can be found in: B-10, MR-10, S&S Introduction, S&S-10, RU-10
Vehicle Type: Rubber-tired, electrically powered passenger vehicles operated on city streets drawing power from overhead lines with trolleys. Reporting manual reference: A-30, S&S-40
Vehicles leased in a manner so that the lessee does not acquire the capital appreciation of the vehicles as lease payments are made. However, a true lease (TL) may include an option to buy the vehicles after the term of the lease at the depreciated or at a prearranged value. Can be found in: A-30, RU-20
Vehicle Type: Taxicab Sedan
Vehicle Type: Taxicab Van
Vehicle Type: Taxicab Station Wagon
The period of partial darkness between day and night both at dusk and at dawn. Can be found in: S&S-40
Describes how public transportation services are provided by the transit agency: directly operated (DO) or purchased transportation (PT) services. Can be found in: Introduction, Internet Reporting, B-10, F-20, F-30, F-40, A-10, A-20, S-10, S-20, R-20, FFA-10, Declarations, MR Introduction, MR-10, MR-20, S&S Introduction, S&S-10, S&S-40, S&S-50, RU-10
A day on which the transit agency operates its normal, regular schedule and there are no anomalies such as extra service added for a convention or reduced service as a result of weather. Can be found in: S-10
Back to topUrbanized Area Formula Program (funded vehicles)
FTA Urbanized Area Formula Program
Urbanized Area Funding
Transit industry initiative for a uniform reporting system for transit agencies. Can be found in: Introduction, MR Introduction, RU Introduction
A structure of categories and definitions used for NTD reporting to ensure uniform data. The USOA contains:
• Various categories of accounts and records for classifying financial (Chart of Accounts) and operating data
• Definitions of the data elements included in each category
• Definitions of practices for the orderly and regular collection and recording of the data.
Can be found in: Introduction, B-10, F-30, S-10, FFA-10, Declarations, MR Introduction
The number of passengers who board public transportation vehicles. Passengers are counted each time they board vehicles no matter how many vehicles they use to travel from their origin to their destination. Can be found in: Internet Reporting, F-10, S-10, FFA-10, Declarations, MR-20
Unlinked Passenger Trips
An area defined by the U. S. Census Bureau that includes:
• One or more incorporated cities
• Villages, and
• Towns (central place), and
• The adjacent densely settled surrounding territory (urban fringe) that together has a minimum of 50,000 persons.
The urban fringe generally consists of contiguous territory having a density of at least 1,000 persons per square mile. Urbanized areas do not conform to congressional districts or any other political boundaries. Can be found in: Introduction, Internet Reporting, B-10, S-10, FFA-10, Declarations, MR Introduction, S&S Introduction, RU Introduction
Vehicles purchased with funds administered under the Urbanized Area Formula Program. Can be found in: A-30
Uniform System of Accounts
The payments made to various utilities for utilization of their resources (e.g., electric, gas, water, telephone, etc.). Utilities include:
• Propulsion power purchased from an outside utility company and used for propelling electrically driven vehicles
• Other utilities such as electrical power for purposes other than for electrically driven vehicles, water and sewer, gas, garbage collection and telephone.
Can be found in: F-30
Urbanized Area
A code assigned by FTA that is a numerical ranking by urbanized area (UZA) population size. Urbanized area (UZA) and population are based on 2000 US Bureau of the Census statistics. Can be found in: B-10, FFA-10
Back to topThe willful or malicious destruction or defacement of transit property or vehicles. Can be found in: S&S Introduction, S&S-40, S&S-50
Repairing all special damage to buildings, grounds and equipment resulting from willful or malicious destruction or defacement. Can be found in: F-30
Repairing all special damage to revenue vehicles resulting from willful or malicious destruction or defacement. Can be found in: F-30, R-20
A transit mode comprised of vans, small buses and other vehicles operating as a ride sharing arrangement, providing transportation to a group of individuals traveling directly between their homes and a regular destination within the same geographical area. The vehicles shall have a minimum seating capacity of seven persons, including the driver. For inclusion in the NTD, it is considered mass transit service if it meets the requirements for public mass transportation and is publicly sponsored
Public mass transportation for vanpool programs must:
• Be open to the public and that any vans that are restricted a priori to particular employers in the public ride-matching service of the vanpool are excluded from the NTD report;
• Be actively engaged in advertising the vanpool service to the public and in matching interested members of the public to vans with available seats
• Whether operated by a public or private entity, be operated in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and implementing regulations at 49 CFR 37.31; and
• Have a record-keeping system in place to meet all NTD Reporting Requirements, consistent with other modes, including collecting and reporting full-allocated operating and capital costs for the service.
Publicly sponsored service is:• Directly-operated by a public entity; or
• Operated by a public entity via a contract for purchased transportaion service with a private provider; or
• Operated by a private entity as a grant recipient or subrecipient from a public entity; or
• Operated by an independent private entity with approval from a public entity that certifies that the vanpool program is helping meet the overall transportation needs of the local urbanized area
Can be found in: B-10, MR-10, S&S Introduction, S&S-10, RU-10
Transit service operating as a ride sharing arrangement, providing transportation to a group of individuals traveling directly between their homes and a regular destination within the same geographical area. The vehicles shall have a minimum seating capacity of seven persons, including the driver. Vanpool(s) must also be open to the public and that availability must be made known. Does not include ridesharing coordination. Can be found in: RU-20
An enclosed vehicle having a typical seating capacity of 8 to 18 passengers and a driver. A van is typically taller and with a higher floor than a passenger car, such as a hatchback or station wagon. Vans normally cannot accommodate standing passengers. Can be found in: A-30, S&S-40
The revenue earned from granting rights to concessionaires (e.g., food and beverage service) on the transit agency’s vehicles. Can be found in: F-10
The hours (miles) that a vehicle is scheduled to or actually travels from the time it pulls out from its garage to go into revenue service to the time it pulls in from revenue service. It is often called platform time. Can be found in: S-10
All activities associated with revenue and non-revenue (service) vehicle maintenance, including:
• Administration
• Inspection and maintenance
• Servicing (cleaning, fueling, etc.) vehicles.
In addition, vehicle maintenance includes repairs due to vandalism and accident repairs of revenue vehicles. Can be found in: Internet Reporting, F-20, F-30, R-10
All activities associated with vehicle operations, including:
• Transportation administration and support
• Revenue vehicle movement control
• Scheduling of transportation operations
• Revenue vehicle operation
• Ticketing and fare collection
• System security.
Can be found in: Internet Reporting, F-30, R-10
The hours that vehicles are scheduled to or actually travel while in revenue service. Vehicle revenue hours include:
• Layover / recovery time
But exclude:
• Deadhead
• Operator training, and
• Vehicle maintenance testing, as well as
• School bus and charter services.
Can be found in: S-10
The miles that vehicles are scheduled to or actually travel while in revenue service. Vehicle revenue miles include:
• Layover / recovery time
But exclude:
• Deadhead
• Operator training, and
• Vehicle maintenance testing, as well as
• School bus and charter services.
Can be found in: F-10
The form of passenger conveyance used for revenue operations. Can be found in: A-30, S&S-40, RU-20
The number of revenue vehicles available to meet the annual maximum service requirement. Vehicles available for maximum service include:
• Spares
• Out of service vehicles, and
• Vehicles in or awaiting maintenance.
But exclude:
• Vehicles awaiting sale, and
• Emergency contingency vehicles.
Can be found in: Introduction, A-10, S-10, MR Introduction
The maximum number of vehicles actually operated to provide service on an average weekday, average Saturday and average Sunday. Can be found in: S-10
All revenue vehicles held at the end of the fiscal year, including those:
• In storage
• Emergency contingency
• Awaiting sale.
Can be found in: A-30
The number of revenue vehicles operated to meet the annual maximum service requirement. This is the revenue vehicle count during the peak season of the year, on the week and day that maximum service is provided. Vehicles operated in maximum service (VOMS) exclude:
• Atypical days, or
• One-time special events.
Can be found in: Introduction, Internet Reporting, B-10, B-30, A-30, S-10, Declarations, MR Introduction, MR-10, MR-20
Vehicle type: Vintage or antique rail cars originally manufactured before 1975. The vehicles are typically operated in mixed traffic right-of-way (ROW), but may also operate on exclusive or controlled access rights-of-way (ROW). Can be found in: A-30
Vehicle Type: Vans
Transit agency, public or private, which is not a recipient or beneficiary of Urbanized Area Formula Program funds. Can be found in: Introduction, B-10, MR Introduction, S&S Introduction
Individuals who drive vehicles in revenue service to transport passengers for the transit provider but are not employees of the transit provider and are not compensated for their labor. Can be found in: RU-20
Vehicles Operated in Annual Maximum Service
Mode: Vanpool
Vehicle Revenue Hours
Actual Vehicle Revenue Miles
Vehicle Revenue Miles
Vehicle Type: Vintage Trolley / Streetcar
Back to topRelief from a specific reporting requirement based on either a threshold value or good cause. There are three categories of waivers:
1. Nine or fewer vehicles
2. Data
3. Report.
Can be found in: Basic information module, Introduction, Internet Reporting, S&S Introduction, S&S-10, S&S-30, S&S-40, S&S-50
The period in the morning when additional services are provided to handle higher passenger volumes. The period begins when normal scheduled headways are reduced and ends when headways return to normal. Can be found in: S-10
The period between the end of the AM peak and the beginning of the PM peak. Can be found in: S-10
The nighttime period after the PM peak and before the AM peak when normal scheduled headways are reduced. This is sometimes referred to as night and owl services. Can be found in: S-10
The period in the afternoon or evening when additional services are provided to handle higher passenger volumes. The period begins when normal headways are reduced and ends when headways are returned to normal. Can be found in: S-10
A report stage indicating that the NTD Annual Report can be edited and revised by the agency and the edited data and revisions have not been submitted to NTD. Can be found in: Internet Reporting
Back to topThe year of original manufacture of the vehicle. Can be found in: A-30, RU-20
The year in which the transit agency reinvested in the vehicle to enhance its reliability or extend its useful life. Can be found in: A-30
Mode: Hybrid Rail
Last Updated: 01/09/2012
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