Marin County Transit District Logo

Glossary of Terms

ADA
Americans With Disabilities Act

Fixed Route
Buses that travel along a regular route and schedule.

Golden Gate Transit
Golden Gate Transit provides local fixed route services in Marin County under contract to MCTD.

Headway
The amount of time between buses.

Local Transit
Bus transit services that begin and end in Marin County.

Mandated Service
The demand responsive services mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act for persons who are unable to ride regular fixed route transit.

MCTD
Marin County Transit District: The Marin County Transit District (MCTD) was formed by a vote of the people of Marin County in 1964 and was given the responsibility for providing local transit service within Marin County. Although MCTD has responsibility for local services, it does not own any buses or facilities and does not employ its own drivers. Instead, MCTD contracts with other providers, including Golden Gate Transit and Whistlestop Wheels for local bus and paratransit services.

Measure A
The half-cent transportation sales tax in Marin County, enacted by the voters in November 2004. Over the next 20 years, Measure A provides about $182 million for local transit in four categories – local bus transit services, specialized services for seniors, persons with disabilities, youth and low income residents, rural transit services, and capital improvements.

Non-mandated Services
Demand responsive service provided to residents of Marin County over and above the services required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Operating Subsidy
The amount it costs to operate a transit route, over and above fare revenue.

Paratransit
Demand responsive services that are provided to persons who are unable to ride regular fixed route buses.

Peak Period
The hours roughly between 7-9 A.M. and 4-6 P.M. when traffic volumes and transit ridership are the highest.

Productivity
Usually measured in Passengers per Hour, this is a measure of how many riders board each bus during each hour of service.

Regional Transit
Services operated between Counties, such as service between Marin and San Francisco.

School Service
Regular fixed route transit that is designed to supplement local routes on school days. School services may add additional trips at bell times, or may offer slight alterations of existing routes to better serve schools.

Shuttle
A short route, usually within a single community designed to link residents to major trip generators within the community. Shuttles may be designed to target particular groups of people, like seniors or youth.

SRTP
Short Range Transit Plan – the basis for making changes to the local transit system.

STA
State Transportation Assistance, a funding source available to transit operators. In Marin County, Golden Gate Transit and Marin County Transit District share these funds.

Transitional Routes
Four routes that begin and end in Marin County and are currently being subsidized by Golden Gate Transit. These routes will be transferred to MCTD in April, 2006.

Transportation Development Act Funding
A return of ¼ cent of sales tax to local Counties in California to be spent on transportation purposes. In Marin County, MCTD and Golden Gate Transit share these funds.

Whistlestop Wheels
The contractor who provides paratransit services in Marin County. These services are paid for by the fixed route operators.