Magazine serving the bus and rail transit & motorcoach operations since 1904
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gasoline. The increased oxygen content promotes more complete combustion. ozone: Triatomic oxygen (O3). Forms naturally in the upper atmosphere where it protects Earth from ultraviolet rays from the sun. Also forms as a pollutant and respiratory irritant in lower atmosphere as a reaction from vehicle exhaust. P paddle: Schedule for each bus showing all trips in a day, including arrival and departure times. paratransit: Public transit service more fl exible than fi xed route. Includes carpooling, shared rides and, most commonly, special service for the elderly and disabled. particulate trap: Device on diesel buses to clean exhaust of particulate matter. passenger miles: Total number of miles traveled by passengers on a vehicle. (One bus with 10 passengers traveling 10 miles equals 100 passenger miles.) platooned flow: The grouping of moving pedestrians because of traffi c impedance. PM10: Particulate matter with a diameter less than 10 micrometers. positive train separation: Moving-block signaling system that maintains and verifi es separation both before and behind each train on a line. propane: Gas that is present in natural gas and also refi ned from crude oil. pulse point: Where two or more bus routes converge. pusher: Bus or train with rear engine. push-pull: Train with locomotives at both ends. R rapid rail: Synonym for heavy rail. rapid transit: Synonym for fi xed guideway public transport (usually rail). regenerative braking: To recharge the battery back into the power system. registering fareboxes: Fare is counted and displayed for driver. replacement fuel: Any fuel that the secretary of energy determines is not petroleum and that would yield substantial energy security and environmental benefi ts. residual fuel oil: Topped crude of refi neries, including No. 5 and No. 6, used for producing electricity, space heating and other purposes. revenue passenger trip: The number of fare- paying transit passengers with each person counted once per trip. Excludes transfer and non-revenue trips. reverse commute: Trips in direction opposite to main fl ow of traffi c. reversible facility: HOV lane that can be reversed to match direction of peak travel. RFP: Request for proposal. rolling stock: Vehicles in a transit system, such as railcars and buses. route deviation service: Public transportation on a fi xed route that may deviate from the route from time to time. Also point deviation. route miles: Total number of miles in a fi xed- route transit system. RTAP: Rural Transit Assistance Program. FTA program offering aid for rural transit systems. RTIP: Regional Transportation Improvement Program. run cutting: Scheduling individual assignments or "runs" on a particular route. run pick: Selection by drivers of assignments. S SAFETEA-LU: The Safe, Accountable, Flexible and Effi cient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users. The U.S. DOT's six-year $286 billion surface transportation legislation, signed into law on Aug. 10, 2005. Section 3: Former Federal Transit Act section that authorizes discretionary grants for capital projects. Section 18: Former Federal Transit Act section that authorizes capital and operating grants for non-urban areas. server: In queuing theory, that which performs the service and enables the queue to discharge. shear stability: Percentage of viscosity lost during engine operation. slack adjuster: Adjustable device on the brake chamber pushrod used to make up for brake shoe wear. smart card: Farecard system of plastic cards with a microchip containing fi nancial and other data. stair nosing: Part of the step that extends outward from the vertical surface. station car: Very small vehicle for short-term rental at a station. stored-value card: Type of farecard in which an amount is stored and deducted automatically by machine when a ride is taken. strategic petroleum reserve: Government- controlled crude oil stored in the Gulf Coast. streetcar: Electric transit vehicle railway run with mixed traffi c on streets. Usually single cars boarded from street level. Also called trams in Europe. suburban bus: With front doors only, and usually with high-back seats, no luggage compartments or restrooms. For use for longer distances with few stops. synthetic oils: Can be completely man-made or super-refi ned from mineral oils. T tare weight: Curb weight plus weight of mounted body. TCRP: Transit Cooperative Research Program. A cooperative effort of the industry, TRB and FTA in which the industry determines research priorities. TDM: Transportation Demand Management. Low-cost ways to reduce demand by cars on the transportation system. TIP: Transportation Improvement Program. Federally mandated state program of projects to be implemented over several years. tour: Bus rented by a group for longer periods of time, usually a few days to a few weeks. transfer center: Place where passengers change routes or modes of transportation. transit bus: One designed for frequent stops with front and back-center doors, traditionally with a rear-mounted diesel engine and low-back seating. transitway: Exclusive road or lane designated for buses and other transit vehicles. Transport Workers Union: Major transit labor union. TRB: Transportation Research Board. Arm of the National Research Council. tripper: Assignment to a driver of work not long enough to qualify as a run or full day's work. trolleybus: Rubber-tired bus that draws power from overhead electric wires. Not to be confused with motor buses that have been outfi tted to resemble vintage streetcars. TSA: Transportation Security Administration. Created to protect the nation's transportation systems. turnkey: Type of privatization in which a transit agency hires a single company or consortium to supply systems, drivers, maintenance, management and/or vehicles. Concept has also been expanded to construction and operation of transit facilities. U unlinked passenger trip: One trip by one person on one vehicle; transfer to a second vehicle would be a second trip. upstream: Toward the source of traffi c. UST: Underground storage tank. UZA: Urbanized area. One designated by the U.S. Census Bureau as having at least 50,000 inhabitants in a central city or two adjacent cities. viscosity: Measure of internal resistance to fl ow or motion offered by a fl uid lubricant. VMT: Vehicle miles traveled. V W wayside: Along the side of tracks. WBE: Women's Business Enterprise. Business owned or controlled by one or more women. Requires certifi cation to receive preferential treatment for state and federal projects. Welfare to Work: Federal 1996 program to shift more welfare recipients to jobs. wheelbase: Distance between the front and rear axles. wheel slip: Difference between vehicle wheel speed and wheel speed expressed as a percentage. yard: Area for maintenance and storage of buses and railcars. Y Z ZEB: Zero-emission bus. FACT BOOK 2013 mETRO mAGAZINE > 107