NTN START Transit key terms

A structured, documented set of policies, procedures, and feedback loops an agency uses to identify hazards, control risk, and continuously improve safety performance across all transit functions.

The systematic process of finding conditions, actions, or combinations that could cause harm to passengers, employees, or property before an incident occurs.

The ongoing monitoring, measurement, and review activities that confirm safety controls are working as intended and reveal new or changing risks.

A grid that ranks hazards by combining likelihood of occurrence with severity of consequences, producing a priority score that guides resource allocation.

An action taken to reduce the likelihood or severity of a hazard, such as engineering changes, procedure updates, signage, or additional training.

A standardized, scalable command structure used to manage emergency response, assigning clear roles for operations, planning, logistics, and finance under a single incident commander.

A written document describing how an agency will respond to emergencies, including roles, communication channels, evacuation procedures, and coordination with outside responders.

A discussion-based drill where staff talk through a simulated emergency scenario to test plans, clarify roles, and expose gaps without disrupting live service.

A structured debrief held after an incident or drill that documents what worked, what failed, and which corrective actions are assigned to which owners.

An independent, evidence-based examination of safety practices and records to verify compliance with internal standards and regulatory requirements.

The time interval between consecutive vehicles passing the same point in the same direction, a core measure used to set schedules and assess service frequency.

The time a vehicle spends stopped at a stop or station while passengers board and alight, including door cycle time.

The percentage of vehicle trips that arrive at designated timepoints within an agency-defined tolerance window, typically measured against the published schedule.

How closely a vehicle follows its published timetable at each timepoint, capturing both early and late operation.

The planned actions an agency takes to restore normal service after a disruption, such as short-turning, inserting extra vehicles, or bridging with shuttle buses.

A scheduled sequence of trips assigned to one vehicle over a service day, including pull-out, layover, and pull-in times.

The process of grouping scheduled work into operator assignments that satisfy labor rules, break requirements, and cost targets.

A scheduled, mileage- or time-based inspection and servicing routine designed to catch wear and defects before they cause breakdowns or safety failures.

A formal record authorizing and tracking a maintenance task, capturing the vehicle, reported defect, labor, parts used, and completion status.

The average distance a fleet travels per mechanical road failure, used as a headline reliability indicator for maintenance performance.

A service interruption in which a vehicle fails in the field and requires assistance, repair on scene, or towing back to the garage.

Complementary demand-responsive service that an agency must provide for people whose disability prevents them from using fixed-route transit, under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Shared-ride, origin-to-destination service required to parallel fixed-route service within a defined area and time window for eligible riders.

The formal process of assessing an applicant's functional ability to use fixed-route transit and issuing an approval, denial, or conditional certification.

A change to policies, practices, or procedures that an agency must make to avoid discriminating against a person with a disability, unless it fundamentally alters the service.

The federal law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in programs receiving federal financial assistance, including transit service and planning.

A documented strategy for identifying and serving riders with limited English proficiency through translation, interpretation, and outreach.

A formal document describing how an agency will inform the public and gather input on service and funding decisions, including timelines and outreach methods.

Transit operating on published routes and schedules with designated stops, open to all riders who pay the fare.

A system for logging, categorizing, routing, and resolving rider complaints so patterns can be analyzed and service improved.

Policies and scheduling practices that limit excessive consecutive driving time and address fatigue risk through breaks, rest rules, and education.

A management philosophy that distinguishes honest human error from reckless behavior, encouraging reporting while still holding people accountable for willful violations.

A structured sequence of corrective steps, from coaching to formal warning to termination, used to address repeated performance or conduct problems consistently.

A negotiated contract between the agency and the union representing employees that sets wages, work rules, seniority, and grievance procedures.

A quantifiable measure tied to a strategic goal, such as ridership per revenue hour, used to monitor and compare performance over time.

Sensors on vehicles that record boardings and alightings by stop, producing ridership data used for planning, reporting, and performance monitoring.

A GPS-based system that reports vehicle positions in real time, supporting arrival predictions, dispatch, and schedule adherence monitoring.

A bus that produces no tailpipe emissions, most commonly battery-electric or hydrogen fuel cell, requiring supporting charging or fueling infrastructure.

The depot and en-route equipment, power capacity, and controls needed to charge electric buses, including consideration of utility upgrades and site layout.

A phased roadmap for replacing conventional vehicles with zero-emission buses, covering procurement, facility upgrades, workforce training, and funding.

The state of meeting applicable laws, regulations, and grant conditions, verified through records, audits, and mandated reporting.

An incident management arrangement in which multiple agencies share authority and coordinate decisions through one integrated command structure.