Introduction
Trains, planes, automobiles; to some in urban settings dependable transportation is not a concern, rather a choice. However in rural settings the availability of transportation is often limited if provided at all. Reliable transportation is critical to helping rural communities and community members remain healthy and productive, it is what binds communities together and supports economic growth. Research indicates that nearly 40 percent of all rural residents live in areas with no public transportation and another 28 percent live in areas with limited levels of service. Rural residents need to receive medical care, get to work, access child care, purchase food and household items, attend school events, and access many other services just as their urban counterparts, but frequently accessibility is restricted or limited because of the distance to those services or opportunities, and the lack of public and private transportation. Oftentimes special needs that can be alleviated through medical facilities, social service agencies, and educational programs are forgone because of the distance to be traveled. Transportation is also a pivotal factor in determining whether the disabled and aged populations are able to remain in their homes and their communities. Enhancing transportation opportunities for a rural community can improve economic growth and community development that will ensure quality of life for residents in rural environments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tools
ADA Technical Assistance Program
Web site
A comprehensive resource for information on the Americans with Disabilities Act funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR).
Americans with Disabilities Act and You: Frequently Asked Questions on Taxicab Service
Web site
A list of FAQs that answer several important questions about taxi service for customers with disabilities.
APTA: United States Local and State Transit Links
Database
Provides a list of all transit agencies and their local links (if available) by state, county, and city.
Building an Individual Transportation Plan
Research instrument
Designed to help transition specialists, employment counselors, social workers and other human service agency personnel understand how the availability, or lack of transportation services, impacts individuals receiving services.
Car Ownership Clearinghouse
Web site
Resources and information to support the development of low-income car ownership programs.
Center for Excellence in Rural Safety
Web site
Provides citizen-centered research, training, and outreach to enhance rural safety and to meet the online and seminar training needs of rural transportation practitioners and policymakers.
Coordination Myths and Realities: Insurance
Web site
Addressess issues of insurance coverage related to human services transportation. Provides links to organizations that provide insurance or that can offer model programs, toolkits, laws, and other related information.
CTAA Professional Development & Training
Web site
Offers training courses and certification programs for transit leaders and innovators to better serve their communities and passengers.
CTAA's Rural Transportation
Web site
Links to news, publications and information on rural transportation issues.
Easter Seals Project ACTION National Accessible Travelers Database
Web site
A searchable database by state and city to assist travelers with disabilities seeking accessibility in transportation at destinations across the U.S. Contains thousands of accessible transportation services reported to ESPA by providers.
Easter Seals Project Action Resource Catalog
Web site
This catalog lists all publications, videos, training materials and multi-media
resources currently available in the Easter Seals Project ACTION (ESPA) Clearinghouse which provides comprehensive information on
accessible transportation. All products are free of charge and can be ordered in quantity by phone, email, and through their web site.
Easy Rider Program Guide for Public Transportation Organizations
Web site
A practical guide for making transit services more responsive to the needs of America's aging population.
FARS Encyclopedia
Web site
A fatality analysis reporting system (FARS) encyclopedia that provides statistical information on traffic fatalities including vehicle type, people involved and geographic location.
Federal Transit Administration Welfare-to-Work Programs
Web site
Legislation, publications and funding programs related to transportation and welfare-to-work.
FHWA Rural Transportation Planning
Web site
Information on rural transportation initiatives, publications and tools.
Find Senior Care Resources
Web site
Search by state or resource to find advice targeted for seniors regarding end of life care, financial planning and management, health care, home care, housing resources, legal resources, and transportation resources.
Find State and Local Transportation Resources
Web site
Users can select a state or territory from the map or list of states to find transportation resources in a specific area for people with disabilities.
Google Transit
Web site
Gives customers access to travel routes, schedules, and travel times on participating urban and rural transportation services.
Kid One: Transporting Children to Better Health
Web site
Provides children and expectant mothers, that are considered to be transportation disadvantaged, access to health care services throughout the state of Alabama.
Linking People to the Workplace
Web site
An employment transportation toolkit. Overview of the role of transportation in accessing employment. Includes strategies for developing community transportation and examples of successful programs.
Locate In-Person Services
Web site
Contains an A-Z list of government offices and services you can use to locate such services and offices in your state or local area. Website is also available in many other languages.
Medicaid Benefits: Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Services
Web site
State-by-state listing of non-emergency transportation coverage for Medicaid recipients.
Medical Transportation: Toolkit and Best Practices
Web site
Toolkit designed to assist medical organizations and institutions to better serve their clients'
medical transportation needs. Outlines how community transportation can assist
health organizations, explains Medicaid's role in medical transportation, inventories non-Medicaid funding possibilities and describes how to make use of existing transit first.
National Center on Senior Transportation
Web site
Develops, collects and distributes information and resources for use by communities, transportation providers, state and local governments, and human service providers to increase transportation options for older adults. Technical assistance, research toward solutions, strategic communications and building partnerships among stakeholders are additional functions of the center.
National Rural Transit Assistance Programs (RTAP)
Technical assistance
A federal-state-local partnership that provides training and technical assistance products and services, that are developed nationally, for distribution and replication by the states to rural transit agencies and operators. A National Transit Resource Center is supported that offers access to information and expertise, including an online list of state Rural Transit Assistance Program (RTAP) contacts.
National Transportation Library
Web site
Includes links to over 9,000 online transportation publications, as well as frequently asked questions on transportation issues and ask-a-librarian reference service.
Project ACTION (Accessible Community Transportation in Our Nation)
Technical assistance
Provides technical assistance to members of the disability and transportation communities to help address diverse accessibility issues. Also provides a clearinghouse of free publications and a database of available transportation services that can be searched by town or zip code.
Public Involvement Techniques
Web site
A reference work that makes available a variety of public involvement techniques available to transportation agencies. It includes 14 techniques originally published in Innovations in Public Involvement for Transportation Planning.
Public Transportation
Web site
A website designed to inform the public about the benefits and importance of public transportation for all Americans. Includes reports and links to other resources, laws and regulations, a calculator to determine the benefits of transit programs, and a list of transit systems by state and county.
Rural Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Resources
Web site
Provides links to Web sites and articles that will serve as useful resources to visitors looking for the latest information and advances in Intelligent Transportation Systems technology. Information was collected by the Federal Highway Administration and the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) Research Foundation.
Rural Transportation Planning Organizations (RPO) Search Engine
Web site
Search engine for Web sites to find information or documents related to rural transportation planning organizations (RPOs).
RuralTransportation.org
Web site
Tool for rural transportation stakeholders, including local elected officials and regional development professionals. Includes links to publications and resources, examples of state models for rural transportation planning, and more. Produced by the National Association of Counties (NACo) and the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO).
Safe Road Maps
Web site
Combines information from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System with Google Maps to provide a visual representation of traffic safety across the nation. Also available are tutorials, data, videos, resources, and press releases related to highway safety in rural and urban areas.
State Human Service Agency Information and Links
Web site
Provides a directory of state human service agencies. Includes telephone numbers and links to web sites for each state's agency or agencies dealing with human service programs.
State Transportation Statistics
Web site
Presents 2007 statistical profiles of the transportation infrastructure, freight movement and passenger travel, system safety, vehicles, transportation related economy and finance, energy usage and the environment is presented in tables covering the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Transportation Toolbox for Rural Areas and Small Communities
Web site
Designed to assist public and private stakeholders in planning, developing, and improving rural areas and small communities, especially through transportation and related projects. It is a project through the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of Transportation to address long term rural transportation needs.
United We Ride
Web site
A one-stop information resource on all federal programs funding human service transportation. Also includes state supported initiatives, success stories, and a comprehensive database of useful practices.
USDA Rural Passenger Transportation Technical Assistance Program
Technical assistance
Provides planning assistance for rural community transportation projects on topics like transportation coordination, facility development, and new system start-up. Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Maps & Map Collections
Public Transportation Use
Geographic coverage: United States
Printable map that shows percent of workers using public transportation. Data source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2002.
Date: 2002
Regulations, Forms & Other Useful Documents
2-1-1, 5-1-1, and Human Services Transportation
Sponsoring organization: Federal Transit Administration
Provides an assessment of the potential roles of the 211 and 511 telephone services in coordinating the scheduling of human services transportation. Includes background information on each service, followed by a discussion of the differences that are relevant for the one-stop scheduling concept. Reviews the unique qualities of each system, regarding customer bases and missions, information content, and overall approach.
Date: 11 / 2004
2004 Rural Transportation Survey Findings: Regional Development Organizations and State Transportation Agencies Establish Collaborative Processes for Developing Rural Transportation Plans
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Development Organizations
Discusses results of a 2003 survey of regional transportation planning. Includes a list of transportation needs in rural areas.
Date: 01 / 2004
A Heavy Load: The Combined Housing and Transportation Burdens of Working Families
Author(s): Barbara J. Lipman
Identifies and compares housing and transportation costs for working families with $20,000-$50,000 incomes in 28 metro areas. These families move farther from work to afford housing but they spend more on transportation.
Date: 10 / 2006
Aging Americans: Stranded Without Options
Author(s): Linda Bailey
Sponsoring organization: Surface Transportation Policy Project
Discusses the challenge of providing transportation to an aging population, and the increasing need for public transit and pedestrian-friendly options for those no longer able to drive. Includes a section on rural and small-town issues.
Date: 04 / 2004
Around the Country: Angel Flight West: A Higher Level of Kindness
Author(s): Candi Helseth
Sponsoring organization: Rural Assistance Center
Describes a program that provides free, private air transportation for people with medical and other needs.
Journal citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 2007
Building Better: A Guide to America's Best New Development Projects
Sponsoring organization: Sierra Club Foundation
Highlights a variety of development projects nationwide because of their ability to offer transportation choices, revitalize neighborhoods and preserve local values.
Date: 10 / 2005
Building Mobility Partnerships for People with Disabilities: Opportunities for Federal Funding and Promising Practices
Sponsoring organization: Easter Seals Project ACTION
Guide designed to help transportation providers, metropolitan planning officials, disability service providers, and individuals with disabilities identify the federal programs and services available to them.
Date: 01 / 2007
Community Mobility Options: The Older Person's Interest
Author(s): Ari Houser
Sponsoring organization: AARP
Discusses the importance of transportation alternatives for older persons. Information is supported with statistics. Strategies for extending years of mobility are presented.
Date: 2005
Current State Issues with Implementing Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5310 and Section 5311 Programs
Sponsoring organization: Transportation Research Board
Identifies current issues facing state DOTs in the management and administration of their S.5310 and S.5311 programs (Formula Grants for Special Needs of Elderly Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities, S. 5311 focuses on non-urbanized areas) and explore options for addressing these issues. Includes rural applications.
Date: 07 / 2007
Current State of Transportation for People with Disabilities in the United States
Sponsoring organization: National Council on Disability
Report developed to provide a better understanding of access to transportation and mobility for people with disabilities, including access to traditional public transportation systems, private transportation services, alternative transportation initiatives, and the pedestrian environment; to identify transportation barriers as well as promising practices and models; and to develop recommendations in keeping with the goals of the New Freedom Initiative to expand transportation opportunities for people with disabilities.
Date: 06 / 2005
Developing Coordinated Transportation Systems for Older Persons: The Leadership Role of State Units on Aging
Author(s): Greg Link
An overview of transportation coordination and its implications for State Units on Aging (SUAs), including a discussion of the major challenges states are facing now; a look at past and present federal initiatives for developing coordinated transportation systems; and a look at the leadership role SUAs play in successful transportation strategy.
Date: 11 / 2004
Expanding Mobility Options for People with Disabilities: A Practitioner's Guide to Community-Based Transportation Planning
Sponsoring organization: Community Transportation Association of America
A tool for communities to use in their own efforts to undertake planning activities when improving transportation options for people with disabilities. Provided is a model approach for community-based transportation planning that incorporates methods and activities communities can implement.
Date: 04 / 2005
Faith Based Organizations: Potential Partners in Rural Transportation
Sponsoring organization: Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities
Reports on a survey of rural Faith Based Organizations (FBOs) to assess their interest in providing local transportation for people with disabilities and their capacity to do so.
Date: 05 / 2007
Forming Community Partnerships to Respond to Senior Employment Transportation Needs
Author(s): Pamela Friedman
Sponsoring organization: Community Transportation Association of America
Presents information about partnering opportunities and funding sources that can be used to facilitate coordination of transportation services to older adult workers.
Date: 01 / 2008
Freedom To Travel
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Transportation
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS),
within the U.S. Department of Transportation gathered and analyzed national data to identify the specific transportation habits and needs of people with disabilities, and compared the results to the non-disabled population.
Date: 2003
Getting Children Where They Need to Go
Author(s): Candi Helseth
Sponsoring organization: Rural Assistance Center
Discusses the importance of public transportation in rural areas and how many rural children would not get to Head Start, doctors' appointments, day care or other services without it. Highlights Sweetwater Transit Authority Resources (STAR) in Wyoming which provides transportation for riders of all ages.
Journal citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 03 / 2007
Guide for Enhancing Rural Emergency Medical Services
Sponsoring organization: Transportation Research Board
Guidance for implementation of the AASHTO Strategic Highway Safety Plan. Provides strategies that can be employed to enhance rural emergency medical services.
Date: 2005
Impact of Federal Programs on Transportation for Older Adults
Author(s): David Koffman, David Raphael, Richard Weiner
Sponsoring organization: AARP
Overview of federal programs and activities with the greatest direct impact on transportation and mobility for older adults. Includes discussion of Section 5311: Formula Grants for Other Than Urbanized Areas, and other programs that address rural transportation needs for the elderly.
Date: 12 / 2004
ITS As An Emergency Preparedness Tool
Author(s): Amy Linehan, Zanetta Doyle
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Development Organizations
Describes how regional development organizations (RDOs) are actively involved in making the connection between intelligent transportation systems and homeland security issues.
Journal citation: Regional Development Digest
Date: 05 / 2005
Medical Transportation: Challenges of the Future
Author(s): Jon E. Burkhardt
Sponsoring organization: Community Transportation Association of America
Discusses how trends in aging and access to healthcare interact with funding programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, and the challenges they present.
Date: 2006
Mode of Travel and Actual Distance Traveled for Medical or Dental Care by Rural and Urban Residents
Sponsoring organization: South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
Fact sheet addressing the cost and difficulty associated with travel for medical or dental care. A full report is also available.
Date: 2007
Mode of Travel and Actual Distance Traveled For Medical or Dental Care By Rural and Urban Residents: Executive Summary
Author(s): Janice C. Probst, Sarah B. Laditka, Jong-Yi Wang, Andy Johnson
Sponsoring organization: South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
Discusses the cost and difficulty associated with travel for medical or dental care, which may serve as a barrier for rural populations. The full report is available by contacting Janie Godbold at
godboldj@gwm.sc.edu.
Date: 05 / 2006
Models of Rural Transportation for People with Disabilities: Rural Practice Guideline
Sponsoring organization: Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities
Describes five rural transportation model categories: (1) public transit, (2) agency-focused, cooperatives, (3) volunteer/voucher, (4) public-private partnerships and (5) personal ownership to help transportation providers begin to develop new programs in response to the most recent Transportation Act (2005), the "Safe, Accountable, Efficient, Flexible Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users" or SAFETEA-LU.
Date: 02 / 2007
New Horizons: Information for the Air Traveler with a Disability
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Transportation
Designed to offer travelers with disabilities a brief but authoritative source of information about the Air Carrier Access rules: the accommodations, facilities, and services that are now required to be available. It also describes features required by other regulations designed to make air travel more accessible.
Date: 02 / 2004
Perfect Together: Public Transportation and Medical Transportation
Author(s): Rex Knowlton
Sponsoring organization: Community Transportation Association of America
Identifies how transportation to medical appointments and treatment is an essential element of healthcare, and how this transportation fits in the community transportation framework.
Date: 2006
Planning for Transportation in Rural Areas
Sponsoring organization: Federal Highway Administration
Provides resource information needed by rural planners, city and county engineers, stakeholders, local officials, and other decisionmakers involved with developing rural transportation plans. Includes a discussion of "rural," the variety of jurisdictions involved in rural transportation planning, including transit, and samples of successful transportation planning.
Date: 01 / 2004
Public Transportation on the Move in Rural America
Author(s): Dennis M. Brown
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
Identifies what rural public transportation is and discusses its usage and importance in rural areas. Examines the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) and its importance to rural America.
Rural Transportation at a Glance
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
Discusses several current characteristics of rural transportation. These include deregulation that affects freight traffic, car ownership rates, the gap in passenger transportation, and the quality of roads and bridges.
Date: 01 / 2005
Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act - A Legacy for Users: Selected Major Provisions
Author(s): John W. Fischer
Sponsoring organization: Library of Congress
Discusses the major provisions of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act (SAFETEA-LU). This act reauthorizes federal surface transportation programs through the end of FY2009.
Date: 09 / 2005
Senior Transportation: Toolkit and Best Practices
Author(s): Jane Hardin, Scott Bogren, Wendy Chamberlain, Charles Dickson
Sponsoring organization: Community Transportation Association of America
Provides information about the varied transportation needs of older people, how community and public transportation providers are meeting those needs, and means and resources for improving and creating senior transportation service.
Date: 05 / 2003
Strategic Highway Safety Plans: A Champion's Guide to Saving Lives
Sponsoring organization: Federal Highway Administration
Identifies the State's key safety needs and guides investment decisions to achieve significant reductions in highway fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads.
Date: 09 / 2005
Strategies for Transportation Providers
Author(s): Pamela Friedman
Sponsoring organization: Community Transportation Association of America
Discusses the types of transportation challenges faced by older workers and outlines several strategies that transportation providers can adopt.
Date: 01 / 2008
Toolkit for Rural Community Coordinated Transportation Services (Executive Summary)
Author(s): Jon E. Burkhardt
Sponsoring organization: Transportation Research Board
A stand-alone executive summary of the TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program report that provides information, instructions, and lessons learned from rural communities that have implemented coordinated transportation services.
Date: 08 / 2004
Tools, Techniques, and Methods for Rural Transportation Planning
Sponsoring organization: Transportation Research Board
Identifies planning tools and techniques currently used and available to support the transportation systems in rural areas.
Date: 01 / 2004
Transportation Innovations for Seniors: A Report from Rural America
Author(s): Helen Kerschner
Sponsoring organization: Community Transportation Association of America
Discusses the context of senior
transportation in rural areas; identifies
transportation needs, services,
challenges, and solutions; and explores
the concept, practice, and promotion of
innovations within transportation
services.
Date: 07 / 2006
Transportation Needs in Rural Communities
Author(s): Pamela Friedman
Sponsoring organization: Rural Assistance Center
Discusses transportation issues facing low-income workers in rural areas. Lists funding sources for providing transportation, organizations and contacts, publications, and examples of successful programs in several states.
Date: 03 / 2004
Transportation Planning in Rural America: Emerging Models for Local Consultation, Regional Coordination & Rural Planning Organizations
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Development Organizations
Report provides insight into the impact, trends and partnerships being developed as a result of the new rural planning and consultation rules. Report examines why regional development organizations
have emerged as a valued and trusted partner for
state transportation officials as they strive to implement the new federal guidelines. Discusses the growing network of Rural Planning Organizations being created and staffed by regional development organizations with the support of state and local officials, along with case studies that showcase the activities and results of these regional planning entities.
Date: 12 / 2005
Transportation Services for People with Disabilities in Rural and Small Urban Communities (Summary Report)
Sponsoring organization: Easter Seals Project ACTION
A summary of an in-depth report studying rural transportation challenges. Identifies challenges in meeting the transportation needs of people with disabilities in rural and small urban areas and offers innovative and effective solutions through the presentation of case studies.
Date: 08 / 2006
Transportation-Disadvantaged Populations: Actions Needed to Clarify Responsibilities and Increase Preparedness for Evacuations
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
Provides discussion on preparing for the evacuation of transportation-disadvantaged populations. Includes the challenges state and local emergency management officials face in identifying and locating these populations, determining their transportation needs, and providing for their transportation.
Date: 12 / 2006
Transportation-Disadvantaged Seniors: Efforts to Enhance Senior Mobility Could Benefit from Additional Guidance and Information
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
Identifies federal programs that address mobility issues for transportation-disadvantaged seniors, the extent to which those programs meet seniors' transportation needs, and attributes of senior-friendly transportation programs. Includes examples of successful programs throughout the country.
Date: 09 / 2004
Use of Section 5310 Transportation Resources in Urban and Rural America: A Baseline Assessment
Author(s): Tom Seekins
Sponsoring organization: Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities
Reports on a rural study that assessed and compared the local distribution and use of Section 5310 funds in urban and rural areas. Section 5310 transportation funds are allocated to states, which in turn distribute them to eligible local applicants.
Date: 09 / 2006
Youth Employment Transportation Briefs
Sponsoring organization: Community Transportation Association of America
A compilation of documents on youth employment transportation barriers, initiatives, funding and success stories.
Date: 2008
Journals
Community Transportation Magazine
The magazine that covers the field of public and community transportation service, and the people and communities it serves.
Journal of Transportation and Statistics
The Journal of Transportation and Statistics (JTS) is a scholarly, peer-reviewed journal sponsored by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Its 25-member Editorial Board is made up of prominent individuals in academia and DOT. The journal serves the transportation community by increasing the understanding of the role of transportation in society, its function in the economy, and its interactions with the environment. In addition, the JTS provides a forum for the latest developments in transportation information and data, theory, concepts, and methods of analysis relevant to all aspects of the transportation system.
Rural Monitor: Transportation
Fall 2006 issue is devoted to rural transportation. Includes examples of transportation programs, and finding funds for rural transportation.
Rural Safety News
Newsletter from the Center for Excellence in Rural Safety. Provides the latest research and resources concerning rural safety.
Rural Transportation Newsletter
Offers articles, news, and events related to rural transportation. This is a quarterly publication.
United We Ride Newsletter
Newsletter about policy issues, awards, grants, educational resources and other issues related to the human service transportation coordination effort.
Organizations
American Public Transit Association (APTA)
National organization
The national, nonprofit trade association representing the public transit industry. APTA members include more than 400 public transit systems, as well as state and local departments of transportation and planning agencies, manufacturers and suppliers of transit equipment, consultants, contractors and universities.
Angel Flight West
Nonprofit/Foundation
Provides free non-emergency air transportation to medical treatment for people who cannot afford public transportation, or who cannot tolerate it for health reasons. Available only in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. For longer flights or flights originating in other regions, go to the Angel Flight America National Patient Travel Center Web Site.
Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living: Rural Transportation Homepage (APRIL)
National organization
An advocacy home page to develop policies to promote universally accessible rural transportation for people with disabilities.
Center for Excellence in Rural Safety (CERS)
National organization
Provides citizen-centered research, training, and outreach to enhance rural safety and to meet the online and seminar training needs of rural transportation practitioners and policymakers. The Center conducts several focused research activities to explore policy, behavior, and technology approaches, such as projects addressing safety-conscious planning, ITS and rural emergency response, integrated policy approaches, and related human factors, societal trends, and stakeholder needs analysis.
Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA)
National organization
Provides a wide variety of information on economic development, financing, technical assistance, and a resource depot of publications. Current and future issues of rural and urban public and community transportation are a concern of the CTAA.
Federal Highway Administration
Federal government
Charged with the responsibility of ensuring that America's roads and highways continue to be the safest and most technologically up-to-date. Part of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
Federal government
Administers a variety of grant programs to serve local communities throughout the United States by ensuring non-discriminatory, equitable, accessible and safe public transportation for all Americans.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Federal government
Works to reduce deaths, injuries and economic losses resulting from motor vehicle crashes. Part of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
National Society for American Indian Elderly (NSAIE)
Tribal organization
Provides small grants to tribal member organizations to support a variety of programs for American Indian elders to address nutrition, transportation and other services. Currently, there are 237 tribal senior programs in the United States.
Office of Community Services (OCS)
Federal government
Works in partnership with states, communities, and other agencies to provide a range of human and economic development services and activities in order to reduce the causes and the characteristics of poverty and to assist persons in need.
Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities (RTC)
Academic/Research
Conducts research on issues of access to transportation and housing, employment and self-employment, independent living services, health and wellness facilities, and inclusion in community planning and activities of people with disabilities. Provides information and training to rural communities on disabilities.
Transportation Planning Capacity Building Program (TPCB)
Federal government
Provides training, technical assistance, and support targeted to State, local, regional, and tribal governments, transit operators, and community leaders. Part of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Transportation Research Board (TRB)
Academic/Research
Promotes innovation and progress in transportation by stimulating and conducting research, facilitating the dissemination of information, and encouraging the implementation of research results. A unit of the National Research Council.
Terms & Acronyms
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) A civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in the areas of employment, transportation, telecommunications, and public accommodation.
Bus (Motorbus) A rubber-tired, self-propelled, manually-steered vehicle with fuel supply carried on board the vehicle.
Bus, Charter A bus transporting a group of persons who, pursuant to a common purpose, and under a single contract at a fixed price, have acquired the exclusive use of a bus to travel together under an itinerary.
Bus, Express A bus that operates a portion of the route without stops or with a limited number of stops.
Bus, Feeder A bus service that picks up and delivers passengers to a rail rapid transit station or express bus stop or terminal.
Bus, Medium-size A bus from 29 to 34 feet in length.
Bus, Small A bus 28 feet or less in length.
Bus, Standard-size A bus from 35 to 41 feet in length.
Bus, Suburban A bus with front doors only, normally with high-backed seats, and without luggage compartments or restroom facilities for use in longer-distance service with relatively few stops.
Bus, Transit A bus with front and center doors, normally with a rear-mounted engine, low-back seating, and without luggage compartments or restroom facilities for use in frequent-stop service.
Demand Responsive Non-fixed-route service utilizing vans or buses with passengers boarding and alighting at pre-arranged times at any location within the system's service area. Also called "Dial-a-Ride."
Dial-a-Ride See "Demand Responsive."
Fixed Route Service provided on a repetitive, fixed-schedule basis along a specific route with vehicles stopping to pick up and deliver passengers to specific locations; each fixed-route trip serves the same origins and destinations, unlike demand responsive and taxicabs.
Flexroute Transit route that combines aspects of a fixed route with paratransit.
Human Service Transportation The basic, day-to-day mobility needs of
transportation-disadvantaged populations, especially individuals with low-incomes, people with disabilities, and older Americans.
Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) A transportation system that provides the preparedness, response and recovery tools necessary in safeguarding the U.S. transportation system against various threats. Often developed by regional development organizations these plans and systems designate alternate routes in emergency situations, disseminate up-to-the-minute information about the state of a region's transportation system and identify vulnerabilities to U.S. transit systems.
Intermodal Those issues or activities which involve or affect more than one mode of transportation (automobile, transit, ship, bicycle and walking), including transportation connections, choices, cooperation and coordination of various modes. Also known as "multimodal."
Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) The legislation that preceded TEA-21.
JARC (Job Access and Reverse Commute Program) Designed to serve low-income individuals and families. Provides transportation assistance to urban and rural residents who commute to jobs in suburban communities, by subsidizing the cost of the commute, providing transportation services or facilitating the provision of mass transit services to suburban employment opportunities. Funds are appropriated through TEA-21.
Model An analytical tool (often mathematical) used by transportation planners to assist in making forecasts of land use, economic activity, travel activity and their effects on the quality of resources such as land, air and water.
Multimodal Refers to the availability of multiple transportation options, especially within a system or corridor. A concept embraced in ISTEA, a multimodal approach to transportation planning focuses on the most efficient way of getting people or goods from place to place, be it by truck, train, bicycle, automobile, airplane, bus, boat, foot or even a computer modem.
Paratransit Comparable transportation service required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for people with disabilities who are unable to use fixed-route transportation systems.
Ridership The number of rides taken by people using a public transportation system in a given time period.
Ridesharing A form of transportation, other than public transit, in which more than one person shares the use of the vehicle, such as a van or car, to make a trip. Also known as "carpooling" or "vanpooling."
RPO (Regional Planning Organization) RPOs are responsible for conducting planning activities for specific geographic areas within the state. RPOs assist the municipalities with planning and administrative services and provide a forum for inter-municipal concerns and representation in relating to state and federal programs.
Shuttle A public or private vehicle that travels back and forth over a particular route, especially a short route or one that provides connections between transportation systems, employment centers, etc.
Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) TEA-21 authorized over $200 billion to improve the nation's transportation infrastructure, enhance economic growth and protect the environment. A wide array of environmental and water quality improvement projects were eligible for TE funding, including pollution abatement and mitigation projects.
Vanpool An arrangement in which a group of passengers share the use and cost of a van in traveling to and from pre-arranged destinations together.
Zone Fares A system of fares where a transit system's service area is divided into zones within which specified rates or fares apply.
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