Innovative Rural Transit Services (2011)

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32 GLOSSARY OF TERMS Fixed-Route—Services provided on a repetitive, fixed- schedule basis along a specific route with vehicles stop- ping to pick up and deliver passengers to specific locations using rubber tire vehicles. Flex-Route or Route Deviation—A type of transit service that operates as conventional fixed-route bus service along a fixed alignment or path with scheduled time points at each terminal point and key intermediate loca- tions. Flex-route service is different from conventional fixed-route bus service in that the bus may flex from the route alignment to serve destinations within a prescribed distance (e.g., ¾ mile) of the route. Following an off-route deviation, the bus must return to the point on the route it left. Passengers may use the service in two ways: a. If they want to be taken off route as part of a service deviation, they must tell the bus operator when board- ing; or b. If they want to be picked up at an off-route location, they must call the transit system and request a pickup, and the dispatcher notifies the bus operator. Hybrid Service—Types of transit services that are a cross between fixed-route and paratransit. Typical hybrid designs include flex-route service and point-deviation service. Immediate Response Dial-a-Ride—A form of paratransit in which the customer requests service about an hour before service is needed. It is similar to a taxi, but with grouping of trips to the maximum extent. Intercity Bus—Regularly scheduled bus service for the gen- eral public, using an over-the-road bus, that— a. Operates with limited stops over fixed routes connect- ing two or more urban areas not in close proximity, or connecting one or more rural communities with an urban area not in close proximity; b. Has the capacity for transporting baggage carried by passengers; and c. Makes meaningful connections with scheduled inter- city bus service to points that are more distant. Mobility Manager—Mobility management is a process of managing a coordinated community-wide transportation service network comprising the operations and infra- structures of multiple trip providers in partnership with each other. a. Focus on moving people rather than vehicles; b. Offer a full range of travel options to the single-occu- pant auto; c. Focus on innovation, changing usual business practices; d. Cultivating partnerships and multiagency activities; e. Offer a single point of access for customers to multiple travel modes; f. Apply advanced technologies; g. Coordinate community-wide planning with transpor- tation influencing land use and zoning decisions; h. Ensure transit-friendly designs in long-range plans; and i. Receive business community and voter support as well as local governmental support. Nonemergency Medical Transportation—Transportation provided for persons on Medicaid, often the largest fund- ing source for rural transit. Each state manages its pro- gram in its own way, resulting in many different models. Some states coordinate service with public transit and others do not. Paratransit—Types of passenger transportation that are more flexible than conventional fixed-route transit, but more structured than the use of private automobiles; typi- cally identified by its curb-to-curb or door-to-door ser- vice. Paratransit includes demand-response transportation services, shared-ride taxis, car-pooling, and vanpooling. Section 5310 (Elderly Individuals and Individuals with Dis- abilities)—Financial assistance for purchasing capital equipment or purchasing service to be used to transport the elderly and persons with disabilities. Section 5311 (Nonurbanized or Rural Area)—Financial assistance to enhance the access of people in nonurban- ized (rural) areas for any needs and provide for the par- ticipation of private transportation providers in nonurbanized transportation [Section 5311(f) to the max- imum extent feasible]. Section 5316 (Job Access and Reverse Commute—JARC)— The JARC program provides funding for developing new or expanded transportation services that connect low-income persons to jobs and other employment-related services, and to transport residents of urbanized areas and nonurbanized areas to suburban employment opportunities. Section 5317 (New Freedom)—The New Freedom program provides funding to assist individuals with disabilities to access and use transportation services, including trans- portation to and from jobs and employment support ser- vices. Projects funded through the New Freedom program must be both new and go beyond the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.