DRAFT

Washington State Public Transportation Plan
Endnotes
APPENDIX F. DEFINITIONS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
FROM THE OXFORD DICTIONARY:
Buses, trains, subways and other forms of transportation that charge set fares, run on fixed routes
and are available to the public.
FROM AMERICAN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION:
Public Transportation (also called transit, public transit or mass transit) is transportation by a
conveyance that provides regular and continuing general or special transportation to the public, but
not including school buses, charter or sightseeing service
2014 USDOT NATIONAL TRANSIT DATABASE GLOSSARY
As defined in the Federal Transit Act, “transportation by a conveyance that provides regular and
continuing general or special transportation to the public, but does not include school bus, charter,
or intercity bus transportation or intercity passenger rail transportation provided by the entity
described in chapter 243 (or a successor to such entity).” Notes: (1) Passenger rail transportation
refers to Amtrak. (2) This definition does not affect the eligibility of intercity bus service under
the Section 5311 Other Than Urbanized Area (Rural) Formula Program. (3) The intercity bus and
intercity rail (Amtrak) portion of Intermodal terminals is however an eligible capital cost.
US FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION PLANNING GLOSSARY
Transportation by bus, rail, or other conveyance, either publicly or privately owned, which provides
to the public general or special service on a regular and continuing basis. Also known as “mass
transportation”, “mass transit” and “transit.”
AS DEFINED IN THE WASHINGTON STATE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION PLAN:
Any form of transportation, accessible and available to the public, which does not involve a single
person in a motorized vehicle. “Public” in this sense refers to the access to the service, not to the
ownership of the system providing the service.
FROM THE WSDOT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SUMMARY:
Transportation service that is available to any person upon payment of the fare – if charged – and
which cannot be reserved for the private or exclusive use of one individual or group. “Public” in this
sense refers to the access to the service, not to the ownership of the system providing the service.
FROM REVISED CODE OF WASHINGTON 82.70.010
“Public agency” means any country, city or other local government agency or any state government
agency, board or commission.
“Public transportation” means the same as “public transportation service” as defined in Revised Code
of Washington 36.57A.010 and includes passenger services of the Washington state ferries.
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WSDOT | DRAFT October 2015 | WaTransPlan.com