In France, an French: '''autorité organisatrice de transports''' (transport organisation authority), usually abbreviated AOT, is one of the local government bodies implementing the 1982 law for the organisation of transportation in France.[1]
At the local level a commune, or more commonly a group of them, is an French: [[autorité organisatrice de transport urbain]] (urban transport organisation authority). Such an organisation may either run public transport services itself (a French: [[régie en droit public français]]) or contract them out other bodies such as private companies (a French: [[délégation de service public]]). Authorities try to balance the books, notably by levying a tax called the French: [[versement transport]] (VT) which is deducted from wages of those working in the area covered by their services, known as the French: [[périmètre de transport urbain]] (PTU).
Regions of France are (non-urban transport organisation authorities) for their area.. Before 2017 and NOTRe (Nouvelle Organisation Territoriale de la République - literrally "New Territorial Organization of Republic)) law, departements of France were authorities. French: [[Île-de-France Mobilités]], formerly the French: Syndicat des transports d'Île-de-France (STIF), is the transport organisation authority in the Île-de-France.
In urban areas the AOT governing the regional rail services provided by the French: [[Transport express régional]], that of the General Coach Council and one or more other inter-commune public bodies, all may coexist trying to govern the same geographical area. This can create difficulties in co-ordinating timetables, service frequencies and fares. Sometimes this is sorted out by creating a joint syndicate body to which the several AOTs delegate their authority.