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Data Profile: National Transit Database (NTD)
National Transit Database (NTD)
   Overview
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) collects and disseminates data on the state of mass transportation in the U.S. through the National Transit Database (NTD) program. Over 600 of the nation's transportation providers submit data to the NTD program annually. The data collected consist of selected financial and operating data that generally describe mass transportation characteristics.

The NTD reporting system has evolved from the transit industry-initiated Project FARE (Uniform Financial Accounting and Reporting Elements). Both the private and public sectors have recognized the importance of and need for timely and accurate data on which to assess the continued progress of the nation's mass transportation systems.
   Coverage
The NTD provides information on over 600 transit agencies. The following are typical NTD reporters and requirements:
  • Transit agencies that are recipients or beneficiaries of Urbanized Area Formula Program funds and that administer and manage transit activities are responsible for submitting or coordinating the submission of NTD reports regardless of whether they directly operate or purchase their transit services. These recipients or beneficiaries can be public entities directly operating services or contracting for all or part of the total transit service provided. The transit agency must report all of the service they provide or purchase.
  • Operators of purchased transportation services that may be public transit agencies or private carriers that provide public mass transportation services under contract to recipients or beneficiaries of Urbanized Area Formula Program funds must report data. The data pertains only to the services under contract.
  • Consolidated NTD reporters are a collection of transit agencies filing one report. One reporter may file a consolidated report on behalf of other reporters if it is easier to collect and control the quality of the data. This often occurs when one transit agency coordinates the development and funding of public mass transportation services in an area. Transit agencies filing a consolidated report must operate within the same urbanized area (UZA).

Urbanized Area (UZA): An area defined by the U. S. Census Bureau and includes one or more incorporated cities, villages, and towns ("central place") and the adjacent densely settled surrounding territory ("urban fringe") that together have a minimum of 50,000 persons. The urban fringe generally consists of contiguous territory having a density of at least 1,000 persons per square mile. UZAs do not conform to Congressional districts. The most current UZA designations are based on the 1990 census. The NTD reporting system assigns a unique number to each of the 405 UZAs in the country. All NTD reporting agencies serve at least one UZA with many serving more than one UZA and non-UZAs (rural areas).
   Availability
 
 
First Year1996
Last Year2000
FrequencyAnnual
 
   Summary Tables
 
   National Transportation Statistics
 
Average Age of Urban Transit Vehicles
Number of Stations Served by Amtrak and Rail Transit, Fiscal Year
Railroad System Safety and Property Damage Data (Excludes highway-rail grade-crossing accidents)
Reports of Violent Crime, Property Crime, and Arrests by Transit Mode
System Mileage Within the United States
 
   Related Links
 
American Public Transportation Association
National Transit Database
 
 
   Data Source and Contacts
 
Data Provider AgencyFederal Transit Administration
Data Provider OfficeNational Transit Database
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