CSS-Transit key terms

The time interval between consecutive transit vehicles passing the same point on a route, usually measured in minutes. Shorter headways mean more frequent service and shorter passenger waiting times.

The time a transit vehicle remains stopped at a station or stop to let passengers board and alight. It directly affects schedule reliability and total trip time.

The time a vehicle takes to travel between two defined points on a route, excluding dwell time at stops. Schedules are built from run time plus dwell time.

How closely a vehicle operates relative to its published timetable at timepoints along the route. It is the core measure of on-time performance used in service monitoring.

The number of scheduled vehicle trips passing a stop or station per unit of time, such as trips per hour. It is the inverse of headway and drives capacity and convenience.

The ratio of passengers carried to the total seating or standing capacity provided on a vehicle or route. It indicates crowding and helps planners size service.

The count of passenger boardings on a transit system over a defined period. It is a primary demand indicator used for planning, funding, and performance reporting.

The share of operating costs covered by passenger fare revenue, expressed as a percentage. It is a common financial performance metric for transit agencies.

The recurring expense of running transit service, including labor, fuel or power, maintenance, and administration. It is distinct from capital costs for assets.

The portion of an agency budget allocated to long-lived assets such as vehicles, facilities, and rail infrastructure. It is typically funded separately from operating expenses.

The condition in which transit assets are functioning at their designed performance level and are maintained to avoid deferred replacement. It guides asset management and capital planning.

A technology that adjusts traffic signals to give approaching transit vehicles extra green time or earlier green, reducing delay at intersections. It improves reliability on mixed-traffic routes.

A system using GPS or other positioning to report a vehicle's real-time location to dispatch and passenger information systems. It underpins arrival predictions and service monitoring.

Software that helps dispatchers monitor, assign, and communicate with vehicles in real time. It combines location data, schedules, and radio links to manage service disruptions.

A structured, agency-wide approach to managing safety risk through policy, risk assessment, assurance, and promotion. It moves safety from reactive incident response to proactive hazard control.

A condition, object, or activity with the potential to cause harm to people, property, or the environment. Hazards are identified and controlled before they produce incidents.

The combination of the likelihood that a hazard will cause harm and the severity of that harm. Risk is assessed and prioritized so controls target the most serious exposures.

A maintained log of identified hazards, their assessed risk levels, assigned controls, and responsible owners. It provides traceability and supports periodic review of mitigation progress.

The part of a safety management system that monitors whether controls work as intended, using audits, data analysis, and performance indicators. It closes the loop between planned and actual safety performance.

A systematic review of a transit system's assets and operations to identify weaknesses that could be exploited by an attacker. Findings guide protective measures and resource priorities.

A design approach that reduces crime and fear by shaping lighting, sightlines, access, and maintenance in public spaces. It is applied to stations, platforms, and bus stops.

A documented set of procedures that assigns roles and actions for fires, collisions, medical events, and other emergencies. It is exercised through drills and coordinated with outside agencies.

The coordinated process of detecting, responding to, and recovering from service disruptions and safety events. It covers command roles, communications, and restoration of normal operations.

Barriers installed along platform edges that open only with train doors to separate passengers from the track area. They reduce intrusion risk and can improve station climate control.

A document describing an agency's inventory of assets, their condition, and the investments needed to keep them in good repair. It links condition data to capital and maintenance decisions.

Scheduled servicing and inspection performed on vehicles and equipment to prevent failures rather than repair them after breakdown. It reduces road calls and extends asset life.

The process by which an agency plans, solicits, evaluates, and awards contracts for goods and services. It must balance competition, cost, and compliance with funding rules.

A solicitation that invites vendors to submit technical and price proposals against stated requirements and evaluation criteria. It is used when solutions or approaches may vary.

A solicitation used when requirements are fully defined and award goes to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder. Price is the decisive factor rather than qualitative evaluation.

A set of domestic content requirements that applies to federally funded transit procurements, requiring certain manufactured products and steel to be produced in the United States. Compliance must be documented.

A federally mandated program setting participation goals for firms owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals on federally funded contracts. Agencies must track and report participation.

A federal civil rights law prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in programs receiving federal funds. Transit agencies must assess service equity impacts.

A study of whether proposed fare or service changes create disparate impacts on minority or low-income riders. It is required for major changes under federal civil rights rules.

A sensor system that automatically counts passengers boarding and alighting at each stop. The data supports ridership reporting, load analysis, and service planning.

The hardware and software used to sell, validate, and reconcile fares, including card readers, ticket machines, and back-office processing. Modern systems support contactless and account-based payment.

A fare system that accepts riders' existing contactless bank cards or mobile wallets instead of a proprietary transit card. It lowers distribution costs and simplifies boarding.

A rail safety technology that automatically enforces speed limits and stop signals to prevent collisions and overspeed derailments. It integrates onboard, wayside, and back-office systems.

A structured plan to recruit, train, and retain employees, addressing skill gaps and succession for critical roles. It aligns training investments with projected retirements and service needs.

The process of identifying and preparing employees to fill key roles as current holders leave or retire. It reduces institutional knowledge loss and leadership gaps.

A framework describing the knowledge, skills, and behaviors required for specific transit roles. It is used to design training, assessments, and career pathways.