Transit Asset Management

NTD Narrative Report Example Format

This resource is intended to support agencies with developing their narrative report by providing prompts for information that could be useful for inclusion in their own report.

Agencies Adopting TAM

Watch our brief video to see how and why transit providers use asset management

TAM Resources

Click here to view our interactive TAM Resource Table, or contact us at TAM@dot.gov.

TAMNews

Read the latest edition of TAMNews to stay up to date on FTA’s asset management initiatives.

Managing Transit Assets

The primary purpose of the FTA’s Transit Asset Management (TAM) program is to help achieve and maintain a State of Good Repair (SGR) for the nation’s public transportation assets. FTA recommends TAM practices to preserve and expand transit investments, helping to ensure that operations are safe and dependable.

U.S. DOT research shows that as of 2018, an estimated 15 percent of buses and 9 percent of rail transit assets were in marginal or poor condition. The deferred reinvestment backlog for all transit assets totaled $101 billion in 2018.

FTA’s TAM resources are designed to support successful agency implementation of Transit Asset Management. FTA’s TAM program provides information on requirements and deadlines from official FTA guidance, technical assistance, and examples of best practices.

Questions? Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

Featured Resources

Type	Title and Description
	TAM Systems Handbook This handbook is intended to expand upon and provide general information and guidance on the management of systems and associated assets used in the transit operating environment in support of the TAM rule.
	NTD Narrative Report Example Format Agencies provide an annual narrative report to the National Transit Database (NTD) describing changes to asset condition and detailing progress to meet performance targets. While there is no specific format requirement, this resource provides an example format for the narrative report.
	National Transit Summaries and Trends The National Transit Summaries and Trends (NTST), published annually by the FTA, describes the state of public transit using National Transit Database (NTD) data. The document summarizes transit data and provides a clear overview of public transit service in the United States.
	TAMPLATE This technical assistance tool is designed to assist transit providers and Group TAM Plan Sponsors in developing their TAM Plans.
	Group TAM Plan Sponsor Workbook This document provides a consolidated list of activities, considerations, suggestions, and best practices to assist group plan sponsors in developing group plans.
	TERM Lite The FTA Transit Economic Requirements Model (TERM Lite) is a Microsoft Access application designed to estimate an agency's transit capital investment needs over an extended time horizon.
	Tribal Reporting Tool [BETA] This Excel tool provides tribes with a template for reporting agency information and completing the required asset inventory, condition assessment, and agency targets.
	Asset Management Guide Supplement: Asset Category Overviews & Lifecycle Management This report update provides detailed information about asset category organization and current lifecycle management practices.
	TAM Executive Training Template for Agency Use This customizable presentation supports transit professionals in communicating the value of TAM to executives.