Transportation Glossary

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights law that bars discrimination against people with disabilities, so they can have the same opportunities as everyone else. It also sets rules for making public spaces and transportation accessible to all.

The ADA also requires public transit agencies to provide a transportation service called “complementary paratransit,” for people with disabilities.

For more information, visit Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, As Amended | ADA.gov.

ADA Accessibility Standards are developed by the U.S. Access Board and approved by the Department of Justice and the Department of Transportation. Once approved, they become law.

These standards apply to any area or space that serves the public, such as businesses and government buildings. They also cover new buildings, as well as changes or additions to existing ones, to ensure they are accessible to everyone.

An ADA Complaint is a complaint process with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) that lets people officially report transit agencies if they believe the agency is breaking the rules of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The agency is required to investigate the complaint, respond to the person who reported it, and follow specific deadlines to finish their research and report their findings.

For more information or to file a complaint, visit File a Complaint with FTA.

ADA Supplemental Service refers to transportation companies hired to help transit agencies when their main services get too busy. These companies often handle rides during the busiest hours, trips that don’t fit the agency’s regular schedule, or rides that are far away from where the agency usually operates.

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) is a group representing about 1,500 organizations involved in public transportation, such as transit agencies, equipment suppliers, and consultants. It works with its members and government officials to support the industry on important issues, like government funding and policies.

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is a bus service designed to carry many people quickly, especially in high-traffic, congested areas.

BRT can look different depending on the program. It can offer regular buses that make fewer stops. Or it can provide special vehicles that use dedicated lanes and stations with raised platforms that make it easier for passengers to step into the vehicle.

Commuter rail is a train service that links city centers to the suburbs and smaller towns nearby. Although these trains must be accessible to people with disabilities, they are not required to provide the complementary ADA paratransit services that other public transit systems must offer.

A companion is someone who rides along with a paratransit passenger, but they are not the passenger’s Personal Care Attendant (PCA). The ADA requires transit agencies to let a passenger with disabilities bring one companion, and they can bring more if there is enough space in the vehicle. Companions pay the same fare as ADA passengers.

Curb-to-curb service means a driver meets you at the curb or parking area for your ride.

The driver exits the vehicle and meets you at the vehicle’s door to provide you with reasonable assistance entering the vehicle, collecting fare, getting you seated, and securing any mobility devices. They will also assist you in exiting the vehicle when you arrive at your destination.

This is the minimum level of service the ADA requires transit agencies to provide.

Demand-Responsive Transportation (DRT) is a general term for transit services that provide rides only when a passenger asks for one. Unlike regular buses or trains that follow set routes and schedules, DRT services are provided based on the specific requests of passengers.

The Department of Transportation is the federal agency that regulates highways, aviation, and railways. Many U.S. states also have their own state-level Departments of Transportation to manage local roads, highways, and passenger transportation–especially in smaller communities and in rural areas.

Door-to-door service means the driver meets you at the door of your building. The driver will assist you getting into the vehicle, collecting your fare, getting seated, and securing any mobility devices. They will also assist you in exiting the vehicle and getting you safely to the door of your destination.

Paratransit providers must offer door-to-door service for any passenger who is unable to use standard curb-to-curb service.

Express bus service runs during busy morning and afternoon commute times. It’s faster than regular bus service because it skips local stops and uses highways or special lanes.

Express bus service doesn’t have to follow the same rules as regular bus service, like using a fixed route or offering complementary ADA paratransit. However, transit agencies must still make sure express buses are accessible to people with disabilities.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) provides funding and support to public transportation systems across the country, including buses, subways, trains, and ferries. The FTA also makes sure these systems are safe, protects riders and workers, and funds new ways to improve transportation.

Fixed-route transit includes buses, light rail, streetcars, and other local transportation that is open to the public. The main feature is that these services follow a set route and a specific schedule.

Because they operate for the general public, they must provide complementary ADA paratransit services in the same areas and at the same times.

Limited-stop service is a transit route that stops at some, but not all, of its usual stops along the way. Because it is a type of fixed-route service, it must follow the same rules as other transit lines, which means it must also provide complementary ADA paratransit service.

Mobility-on-Demand (MOD) is a general term for transportation services that let you travel whenever you need to, with little or no planning ahead. Examples of MOD include renting a scooter, using microtransit, or booking a rideshare.

Microtransit is generally a ride service that you book through an app and that offers shared rides in a specific area. You can request these rides on demand whenever you need them.

For example, a microtransit service might take people from a small suburb to a nearby train station to catch a train into the city.

Micromobility refers to small, personal vehicles that can be rented for short trips. Vehicles can be human-powered (like regular bikes) or electric (like e-bikes or e-scooters). Often, you can reserve them using an app, a kiosk, or at a counter. Common examples include bicycles, e-bikes, e-scooters, and skateboards.

Neighborhood shuttles and circulators are short transit routes that travel in loops around specific neighborhoods or shopping areas. They connect people to places like transit stations, grocery stores, hospitals, and local spots, so you don’t need a car to get around.

These services are not required to provide complementary ADA paratransit, but they must still be accessible for people with disabilities.

A Non-Dedicated Service Provider (NDSP) is a company, like a taxi or a rideshare service, that transit agencies hire to help handle ride requests. Unlike “Dedicated Service Providers” — which use vehicles owned by the transit agency — NDSPs use drivers and cars that are also available to the general public.

Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) connects people to medical services, like doctor appointments, treatments, or the pharmacy. It is often linked to healthcare programs like Medicaid and Medicare. If a ride is not for an emergency but is going to or from a medical facility or pharmacy, it is called NEMT.

On-demand transportation is a service that picks you up and drops you off exactly where you need to go. You usually request rides using an app or a call center. It works like a rideshare service or a shared van, and it is designed to fill the gap between regular bus or train lines and private transportation.

On-Time Performance (OTP) is a way for transit agencies to track if their rides are staying on schedule. OTP sets a time frame window for when a ride is considered “on time.” This window depends on the type of service and the agency.

For paratransit, microtransit, and other on-demand rides, being “on time” usually means arriving within 15 to 30 minutes of the pick-up time. For buses, trains, and other scheduled services, being “on time” usually means leaving within 5 minutes of the scheduled departure time.

A Personal Care Assistant (PCA) is someone hired to help a person with a disability do everyday tasks and take care of their personal needs. A PCA may not be charged fare for complementary ADA paratransit service, however, the ADA does require that PCAs ride for free.

A rideshare is a Transportation Network Company (TNC) that uses an online or mobile phone app to connect people who need a ride with independent drivers who can provide them.

Rider Choice Programs offer riders a choice among at least two providers for any given trip.

Transit agencies create Rider Choice Programs to provide services not required by the ADA to older adults and people with disabilities. These programs offer transportation in areas where ADA paratransit may not be available, or they serve riders, who are ineligible for ADA paratransit.