Policy, Regulation, and Compliance
What this domain tests
Policy, Regulation, and Compliance tests the rules that govern transit funding, safety, accessibility, drug and alcohol testing, civil rights, procurement, and records. Items often ask which requirement applies and what evidence proves compliance.
Core rules and concepts
- FTA programs and the National Transit Database (NTD) require accurate reporting; safety data and financial data are separate but linked to oversight.
- The Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP) and State Safety Oversight apply to covered rail and bus systems.
- ADA rules cover fixed-route accessibility, paratransit, and reasonable modification.
- Drug and alcohol testing under 49 CFR Part 655 and Part 40 uses random rates; a common current rate is 50% for drugs and 10% for alcohol among safety-sensitive employees.
- Title VI, procurement thresholds, and records retention require documentation, not just intent.
Worked example
An agency has 240 safety-sensitive employees. Random drug testing at 50% requires at least 120 tests per year; alcohol at 10% requires at least 24. Reasoning: the percentages apply to the random pool, not total headcount, and selections must be spread across the year. If the agency tests 100, it is short and needs a corrective schedule.
Traps that cost marks
Using total employees instead of safety-sensitive employees; testing all employees in one month; confusing calendar-year totals with random-pool selection; and assuming a policy document proves compliance without records.