NTN START Transit flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Safety Management System pillars

The four components are safety policy, safety risk management, safety assurance, and safety promotion. Together they form a documented, data-driven framework for controlling risk across a transit agency.

Risk scoring formula

Risk equals likelihood multiplied by severity. Hazards scoring above the agency threshold require mitigation and verification before the activity resumes.

Near miss

An unplanned event that did not cause injury, damage, or disruption but had the potential to do so. Reporting near misses exposes hazards before harm occurs.

Hierarchy of controls

Ranked from most to least effective: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, then personal protective equipment. PPE is the last line, not the first.

On-time performance formula

Trips within the on-time window divided by total trips, times 100. A common window is one minute early to five minutes late.

Headway and frequency

Headway is the time between vehicles in minutes. Frequency in vehicles per hour equals 60 divided by headway. Halving headway doubles frequency.

Average passenger wait

For randomly arriving riders, average wait approximates half the headway. Clock-face schedules reduce perceived wait because riders can predict departure times.

Recovery time

Schedule padding added at terminals so late vehicles can return to schedule. Too little recovery cascades delay along the route and into the next trip.

Run-cut feasibility

An operator work assignment must satisfy spread time, break, and overtime rules in the labor agreement. Violations make the run-cut infeasible and require redesign.

Preventive maintenance interval

Service is due at whichever comes first, mileage or time. The shorter interval governs, and safety-critical systems are inspected every cycle.

Mean distance between failures

Total vehicle miles divided by the number of road calls. A rising value indicates improving fleet reliability and fewer service interruptions.

Daily vehicle inspection report

A driver-completed check of safety-critical items before dispatch. Defects affecting safe operation must be repaired and verified before the vehicle enters service.

Condition-based maintenance

Maintenance triggered by measured condition such as fluid analysis or tire wear trend, rather than fixed intervals. It targets work where evidence shows it is needed.

Service failure recovery

Acknowledge the problem, apologize, resolve it, and follow up. Speed and perceived fairness drive satisfaction more than the size of compensation.

Reasonable modification

An ADA obligation to change policies, practices, or procedures when needed so a rider with a disability can access service, unless doing so fundamentally alters the service.

Limited English proficiency access

Title VI requires meaningful access for riders with limited English proficiency. Language access plans set translation thresholds and identify vital documents and languages.

First-call resolution

The share of contacts resolved without escalation or callback. It is read alongside average handle time, since speed alone can reduce resolution quality.

De-escalation sequence

Lower voice, maintain space, offer choices, and avoid confrontation. Physical intervention is a last resort governed by written policy and reporting.

State safety oversight

49 CFR Part 674 requires a state safety oversight agency for rail transit and an agency safety plan covering hazard management and safety assurance.

Drug and alcohol test types

Part 655 covers pre-employment, random, reasonable suspicion, post-accident, return-to-duty, and follow-up testing. Random rates are set annually by FTA.

Buy America

Federal funding for rolling stock requires domestic content and final assembly in the United States, with documented exceptions and waiver processes.

Records retention

Schedules specify how long inspection, training, and testing records must be kept. Destroying records before the retention date is a compliance finding.

Just-cause discipline

Discipline requires notice of the rule, a fair and consistent investigation, proof, equal treatment across employees, and a penalty proportionate to the offense.

Progressive discipline

An escalating sequence from coaching to written warning to suspension to termination. Each step is documented, and the bargaining agreement governs the process.

Span of control

The number of subordinates reporting to one supervisor. Frontline transit supervision commonly runs roughly eight to fifteen operators, varying with geography and mode.

Competency validation

Training records must show demonstrated skill, not just attendance. Safety-sensitive roles carry recertification dates tracked in the training system.

Automatic vehicle location

GPS-based tracking that feeds dispatch and real-time passenger information. Position data is filtered against route geometry to correct drift.

Farebox recovery ratio

Fare revenue divided by operating cost. It measures how much of the operating cost riders cover and is not a profitability indicator for public transit.

Cost per revenue hour

Total operating cost divided by revenue vehicle hours. It is a standard efficiency indicator used to compare routes and modes.

GTFS and GTFS-Realtime

Open data standards for scheduled service and live vehicle positions. Trip planners and passenger information systems consume them to produce arrival predictions.

Battery-electric bus range factors

Achievable range depends on state of charge, route grade, HVAC load, and temperature. Cold weather causes significant range loss and requires planning margin.

Transit-oriented development

Concentrating housing, jobs, and amenities near stations to raise ridership and reduce vehicle miles traveled. It links land use policy to environmental outcomes.