A
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| Accessible Vehicle |
| | Public transportation revenue vehicles which do not restrict access, are usable, and provide allocated space and/or priority seating for individuals who use wheelchairs. (search site) |
| ACH |
| | Automated Clearing House. FTA provides payment to grantees by electronically wiring funds to the recipient’s financial institution. Two ACH methods: 1. Electronic Clearing House Operation (ECHO) Payment, 2. Requisition Payment. Payment to a grantee is limited to the minimum amounts needed and timed so as to be in accord only with the actual, immediate cash requirements of the grantee in carrying out the approved project. (search site) |
| Active Vehicle |
| | The vehicles that are available to operate in revenue service, including vehicles temporarily out of service for routine maintenance and minor repairs. (search site) |
| Ad Valorem |
| | Added value, our share of real estate taxes. (search site) |
| ADA (AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT) |
| | Americans with Disabilities Act: Federal civil rights legislation for disabled persons passed in 1990; calls on public transit systems to make their services more fully accessible, as well as to underwrite a parallel network of paratransit service" (Citizens' Guide to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission) (search site) |
| Administrative Amendment |
| | An amendment normally initiated by FTA that is needed to change or clarify the terms, conditions or provisions of a grant contract, but does not change the scope, amount or purpose of the grant. (search site) |
| Aerial Tramway |
| | Unpowered passenger vehicles suspended from a system of aerial cables and propelled by separate cables attached to the vehicle suspension system. The cable system is powered by engines or motors at a central location not on board the vehicle. (search site) |
| ALI |
| | Activity Line Item Codes (search site) |
| Allocating |
| | Releasing money for use by the project sponsor (the agency, for instance). Usually done annually, and you have to be wary of "use it or lose it" restrictions. (search site) |
| Allocation |
| | Distribution of Budget Authority made available by administratively prescribed procedure or process. Also, includes distribution based on Congressional earmarks. (search site) |
| Alternative Fuel |
| | Any fuel other than diesel or gasoline. (APTA) (search site) |
| Apportionment |
| | Distribution of Budget Authority made available by statutory formula, or procedure prescribed in law. An apportionment divides amounts available for obligation by specific time period (usually quarters), activities, projects, objects, or a combination thereof. The amounts so apportioned limit the amount of obligations that may be incurred. (search site) |
| Appropriation Act |
| | A statute that generally provides legal authority for federal agencies to incur obligations and to make payments out of Treasury for specified purposes. An appropriation act generally follows enactment of authorizing legislation unless the authorizing legislation provides budget authority. (search site) |
| APTA |
| | American Public Transportation Association (search site) |
| APTS |
| | Advanced Public Transportation Systems (search site) |
| Arterial |
| | A major thoroughfare. (search site) |
| ATF |
| | Automatic Transmission Fluid (Source board meeting 9/26/1996.) (search site) |
| Authorization Act |
| | Substantive legislation that sets up or continues the operation of a federal program or agency either indefinitely or for a specific period of time or that sanctions a particular type of obligation or expenditure within a program. (search site) |
| Automated Guideway Transit |
| | Guided transit passenger vehicles operating singly or in multi-car trains with a fully automated system (no crew on transit units). Service may be on a fixed schedule or in response to a passenger-activated call button. Automated guideway transit includes personal rapid transit, group rapid transit and people mover systems. (search site) |
| Automated Vehicle Identification (AVI) |
| | system or Automatic Vehicle Monitoring System or Automatic Vehicle Location System. A system in which electronic equipment on a vehicle sends signals back to a central control facility, locating the vehicle and providing other information about its operations or about its mechanical condition. AVI is also referred to as Automatic Vehicle Monitoring System and Automatic Vehicle Location System. (search site) |
| Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT) |
| | The total traffic for a year divided by 365. (search site) |
| Average Daily Traffic |
| | is defined as the total traffic volume during a given period (from 1 to 364 days) divided by the number of days in that period. Current ADT volumes can be determined by continuous traffic counts or periodic counts. Where only periodic traffic counts are taken, ADT volume can be established by applying correction factors such as for season or day of week. For roadways having traffic in two directions, the ADT includes traffic in both directions unless specified otherwise. (search site) |
| Average Vehicle Ridership |
| | The ratio of all people traveling by any mode-including cars, buses, trains, and bicycles (or telecommuting) in a given area during a given time period to the number of cars on the road. A key measure of the efficiency and effectiveness of a transportation network; the higher the AVR, the better you're doing in terms of energy consumption and air pollution. (Citizens' Guide to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission) (search site) |
| Average Weekday Daily Traffic (AWDT) |
| | The total traffic for an average weekday. An average weekday is a representative weekday computed as the mathematical average of several typical weekdays selected at random throughout the year. A typical weekday has no anomaly such as heavy traffic due to a special public event or light traffic due to inclement weather. Average Saturday and Sunday data, including holiday service, are determined the same way. (search site) |
B
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| BACS |
| | Bay Area Commuter Services (search site) |
| Benefit/Cost (B/C) ratio |
| | B/C is used to compare the benefit versus the cost of proposed alternatives. For highway projects, benefits may include reduced fuel consumption, travel time, and air pollution; costs may include construction, right of way, and maintenance. (search site) |
| BIOLOGICAL AGENTS |
| | Living organisms that cause disease, sickness and mortality in humans. Anthrax and Ebola are examples of biological agents. (search site) |
| BLISTER AGENTS (VESICANTS) |
| | Substances that cause blistering of the skin. Exposure is through liquid or vapor contact with any exposed tissue (eyes, skin, lungs). Mustard (H), Distilled Mustard (HD), Nitrogen Mustard (HN) and Lewisite (L) are blister agents. Symptoms: Red eyes, skin irritation, burning of skin, blisters, upper respiratory damage, cough, hoarseness. (search site) |
| Blocking |
| | Blocking is determining vehicle schedules. These should be as close as possible to 8 hours in duration. (search site) |
| BLOOD AGENTS |
| | Substances that injure a person by interfering with cell respiration (the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between blood and tissues). Hydrogen cyanide (AC) and Cyanogen chloride (CK) are blood agents. Symptoms: Respiratory distress, headache, unresponsiveness, seizures, coma. (search site) |
| BOCC |
| | Board of County Commissioners (search site) |
| Bottleneck |
| | Highway sections that experience operational problems such as congestion. Bottlenecks may result from factors other than reduced roadway width. For example, the close spacing of exit and entrance ramps can cause weaving patterns that result in congestion. A less obvious example is a steep freeway grade that can slow trucks and cause a localized "bottleneck."
(search site) |
| BPA |
| | Blanket Purchase Agreement (search site) |
| BPO |
| | Blanket Purchase Order (search site) |
| Brokerage System |
| | An association of transportation providers managed by a
broker or agent who makes transportation arrangements
for a specific clientele such as the elderly and persons
with disabilities. The transportation providers in a
brokerage system are typically social service agencies
and taxicab operators. The broker may be the transit
agency directly or the transit agency may contract with an
individual or firm to operate the brokerage system. (search site) |
| BRT |
| | Bus Rapid Transit. (search site) |
| BTI |
| | Basic Transit Infrastructure per Hart FY2006 budget document. (search site) |
| Budget Authority |
| | Authority provided by law to enter into financial obligations that will result in immediate or future outlays involving federal government funds. Budget Authority can be based on General Fund from the Treasury or Contract Authority from Trust Funded resources. (search site) |
| Budget Revision |
| | A transfer of funds within an approved grant budget. No change permitted in grant amount, scope, or terms and conditions.
Do not require prior FTA approval: Planning grants – 5303 & 5313(b); Urbanized Area Formula Program – 5307; and Capital Program – 5309.
1. Fund transfers within scope and between scopes of same matching ratio if under 20 percent of most recently FTA-approved budget, or if under 30 percent for planning grants.
2. Adding activities that are within scope.
Require prior FTA approval:
1. Add, delete or modify grant work tasks consistent with the currently approved Unified Planning Work Program or State work program.
2. Transfer of funds within an approved budget that cumulatively exceeds 20 percent of the budget most recently approved by FTA, but does not exceed 30 percent of planning grants, and FTA’s share of grant is more than $100,000. This would include changes totaling 30 percent or more at the state (cumulative) level for metropolitan planning (5303) grants as well as at the state level for statewide planning (5313(b)).
3. Increase or reduce the number of units to be purchased or constructed where the change does not exceed the greater of two units or 20 percent of the approved grant scope.
4. Change the size of physical characteristics of the project scope items.
5. Transfer funds between operating, capital/planning scopes; or scopes with different matching ratios.
6. Refer to section 6 of chapter I for more detailed information. (search site) |
C
|
| CAA |
| | Clean air Act. (search site) |
| Cable Car |
| | Streetcar type of passenger vehicles operating by means of an attachment to a moving cable located below the street surface and powered by engines or motors at a central location not on board the vehicle. (search site) |
| CAD/AVL |
| | Computer Assisted Dispatch and Automatic Vehicle Locator (search site) |
| Capacity |
| | Capacity refers to a rate of vehicular or person flow that can be expected to traverse a point or uniform section of a lane or roadway during a specific period, which is most often a peak 15-minute period, and which is not the maximum volume that can be accommodated during an hour, under prevailing roadway, traffic, and control conditions. Capacity and Level of Service (LOS) are analyzed separately and are not simply related to each other; both must be fully considered to evaluate the overall operation of a facility. Capacity analysis may be used in the computation of Volume-to-Capacity (V/C) ratios. In some cases, the V/C ratio is used to define LOS. (search site) |
| Capital Funds |
| | These are monies dedicated to new systems or improving/ replacing elements of systems. Examples are widening roads, rail extensions, improving transit stations, new bicycle lanes. (search site) |
| Categorical Exclusion |
| | Examples of categorical exclusions are actions which, based on past experience with similar actions, do not involve significant environmental impacts. They are actions which do not do any of the following: induce significant impacts to planned growth or land use for the area; require the relocation of significant numbers of people; have a significant impact on any natural, cultural, recreational, historic or other resource; involve significant air, noise, or water quality impacts; have significant impacts on travel patterns; or otherwise, either individually or cumulatively, have any significant environmental impacts.
(search site) |
| CE |
| | Categorical Exclusion. Listed in CFR 771.117. Include utility installations, construction of bicycle and pedestrian lanes, highway safety plan activities, bus and rail car rehabilitation, vehicle purchase if existing facilities can accommodate them. (search site) |
| Central Business District (CBD) |
| | The downtown retail trade and commercial area of a city or an area having high land values, traffic flow, and concentration of retail business offices, entertainment, lodging, and services. (search site) |
| Central Office (Public Transit Block Grant Program -NTD driven) |
| | Responsible for distributing tables allocating funds to the District Offices and eligible public transit providers each year. The tables will be sent to the District Offices within 30 days following the signing of the appropriations act by the Governor. The Department may supplement the block grant allocations to recipients if non PTO funds are available, if requested by the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) or, if there is no MPO, by the county with jurisdiction, consistent with Section 341.052(8), F.S. (search site) |
| CFDA |
| | Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (search site) |
| CGI |
| | Common Gateway Interface. Specification by which a Web server passes data between itself and an application program. (search site) |
| Changeable Message Sign (CMS) |
| | A CMS is used to advise drivers of traffic or roadway conditions ahead and, in some cases, recommend alternate routes. The CMS also reduces driver frustration by providing advance warning. A CMS is also referred to as a Variable Message Sign (VMS). (search site) |
| Charter vs Event |
| | Charter is Private group (ex: Rental for a wedding)
Event the Public has access to. (ex: State Fair) (search site) |
| CHOKING AGENTS |
| | Substances that cause physical injury to the lungs. Exposure is through inhalation. In extreme case, membranes swell and lungs become filled with liquid (pulmonary edema). Death results from lack of oxygen; hence, the victim is "choked". Phosgene (CG) is a choking agent. Symptoms: Irritation to eyes/nose/throat, respiratory distress, nausea and vomiting, burning of exposed skin. (search site) |
| Clean Air Act |
| | Federal legislation that requires each state with areas that have not met federal air quality standards to prepare a State Implementation Plan, or SIP. The sweeping 1990 amendments to the CAA established new air quality requirements for the development of metropolitan transportation plans and programs. (Citizens' Guide to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission) (search site) |
| Close-out |
| | Close-out means that all claims and invoices are audited and all pending issues are resolved. (search site) |
| CMAQ |
| | Congestion Mitigation/ Air Quality
These federal funds assist air quality non-attainment and maintenance areas to implement transportation projects that will contribute to the area's compliance with the Clean Air Act. These are Federal Highway Administration funds, and when they are prioritized by the MPO for transit uses, the funds are transferred to the Federal Transit Administration. In order for HART to receive these funds, projects must be prioritized by the MPO in the TIP, and then they must be incorporated in the FDOT work program (or STIP). HART receives about half the CMAQ funds for the area. The FDOT administers these programs for the federal government. HART is using CMAQ funds to construct and operate the Streetcar, purchase buses, develop rider-ship and public outreach, and to operate the Downtown trolleys.
1999-2001 table showing allocation of funds; Source: http://www.fta.dot.gov/funding/data/grants_financing_1712.html
Source: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/cmaqpgs/
In 1990, Congress amended the Clean Air Act (CAA) to bolster America's efforts to attain the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The amendments required further reductions in the amount of permissible tailpipe emissions, initiated more stringent control measures in areas that still failed to attain the NAAQS (nonattainment areas), and provided for a stronger, more rigorous linkage between transportation and air quality planning. In 1991, Congress adopted the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA). This law authorized the CMAQ program, and provided $6.0 billion in funding for surface transportation and other related projects that contribute to air quality improvements and reduce congestion. The CAA amendments, ISTEA and the CMAQ program together were intended to realign the focus of transportation planning toward a more inclusive, environmentally-sensitive, and multimodal approach to addressing transportation problems.
The CMAQ program, jointly administered by the FHWA and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), was reauthorized in 2005 under the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). The SAFETEA-LU CMAQ program provides over $8.6 billion dollars in funds to State DOTs, MPOs, and transit agencies to invest in projects that reduce criteria air pollutants regulated from transportation-related sources over a period of five years (2005-2009). The current CMAQ program is similar to its TEA-21 predecessor. Funding is available for areas that do not meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (nonattainment areas) as well as former nonattainment areas that are now in compliance (maintenance areas). The formula for distribution of funds, which considers an area's population by county and the severity of its ozone and carbon monoxide problems within the nonattainment or maintenance area, with greater weight given to areas that are both carbon monoxide and ozone nonattainment/maintenance areas, is continued.
The SAFETEA-LU requires States and MPOs to give priority in distributing CMAQ funds to diesel engine retrofits, and other cost-effective emission reduction and congestion mitigation activities that provide air quality benefits. SAFETEA-LU also requires the Secretary to evaluate and assess the effectiveness of a representative sample of CMAQ projects to determine the direct and indirect impact of the projects on air quality and congestion levels, and to ensure the effective implementation of the program. (search site) |
| CMAQ - Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program |
| | A TEA-21 funding category for projects and activities that reduce congestion and improve air quality. (search site) |
| CMAQ Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program |
| | A pot of federal money contained in TEA 21 for projects and activities that reduce congestion and improve air quality, both in regions not yet attaining federal air quality standards and those engaged in efforts to preserve their attainment status. (search site) |
| CNG |
| | Compressed Natural Gas (search site) |
| COA |
| | Comprehensive Operations Analysis (search site) |
| COLD ZONE |
| | Area where the command post and support functions that are necessary to control the incident are located. This is also referred to as the clean zone, green zone or support zone in other documents. (EPA Standard Operating Safety Guidelines, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120, NFPA 472) (search site) |
| Collateral |
| | The a portion of the run that is non-revenue, turn-in allowance, report allowance, deadhead. (search site) |
| Collector Distributor (CD) |
| | A CD freeway system separates local and through traffic by use of CD roadways and through roadways ("main lanes" or "core roadway"). The CD roadway is located between the main lanes and a frontage road or local street system. On the main lanes, traffic flow is improved since weaving is eliminated and access points are reduced; the CD roadway provides needed freeway access points. A CD roadway is different from a frontage road because access to adjacent properties is not permitted. A CD roadway can complement an existing frontage road system by inclusion of ramps connecting the CD roadway to the frontage road; the frontage road is then better able to handle traffic accessing adjacent properties. For traffic traveling between a freeway system and more distant points, "direct connect" ramps can be used to "directly connect" the CD roadway to major thoroughfares (leading to major traffic generation areas) and, thereby, bypass frontage roads or local streets adjacent to the freeway. This CD roadway and direct connect ramp arrangement eliminates merging and weaving movements that would otherwise occur between the freeway, frontage road, and local roads. During peak traffic, this arrangement can provide the added benefit of keeping open those sections of freeway lanes approaching exit ramps since greater storage length for exiting traffic queues (lines of vehicles waiting their turn) is made; increased queue storage is made by the greater length of the direct connect ramps, the reduction of turbulence in the queue (no access to adjacent property), and the relocation of the queue away from, instead of parallel with the freeway. A CD system with direct connect ramps can promote intermodalism since it provides for easier movement of transit vehicles like buses. Buses can easily travel directly between the CD roadway and local streets without having to merge and weave on and off of frontage roads. The CD roadway's operating speed is generally lower than the main lanes since the CD roadway has more entrance and exit areas. It is worth noting that a freeway's optimal traffic carrying capacity occurs at around 45 mph. Because of this lower operating speed, the CD roadway may be designed with a lower design speed which allows for more flexible design. In general, a freeway system with high traffic volumes, in a city-type area, can have its overall traffic carrying capacity and flow operations improved by use of a CD system. CD systems are currently in operation in several cities across the nation.
(search site) |
| Community Investment Tax Revenues |
| | Passed by the voters of Hillsborough County in November 1996, these funds provided for the purchase of buses. These buses are used in circulator and regular route service throughout Hillsborough County. (search site) |
| Community Report |
| | Published for the public & is incorporated into TIP (search site) |
| Commuter Rail |
| | Long-haul rail passenger service operating between metropolitan and suburban areas, whether within or across the geographical boundaries of a state, usually characterized by reduced fares for multiple rides, and commutation tickets for regular, recurring riders. Also known as "regional rail" or "suburban rail." (search site) |
| Congestion Management System (CMS) |
| | A systematic process which provides information on transportation system performance and alternative strategies to alleviate congestion and enhance the mobility of persons and goods. A CMS includes methods to monitor and evaluate performance, identify alternative actions, access and implement cost-effective actions, and evaluate the effectiveness of implemented actions. (search site) |
| Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program |
| | A special provision of the ISTEA that directs funds towards projects in Clean Air Act Non-Attainment areas for ozone and carbon monoxide. (search site) |
| Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality (CMAQ) |
| | These federal funds assist air quality non-attainment and maintenance areas to implement transportation projects that will contribute to the area's compliance with the Clean Air Act. These are Federal Highway Administration funds, and when they are prioritized by the MPO for transit uses, the funds are transferred to the Federal Transit Administration. In order for HART to receive these funds, projects must be prioritized by the MPO in the TIP, and then they must be incorporated in the FDOT work program (or STIP). HART receives about half the CMAQ funds for the area. The FDOT administers these programs for the federal government. (search site) |
| Congestion Pricing |
| | The policy of charging drivers a fee that varies with the level of traffic on a congested roadway. Congestion pricing is designed to allocate roadway space in a more efficient manner. Congestion pricing is also known as relief tolling, variable pricing, and road pricing. (search site) |
| Congestion/Demand Management (CDM) |
| | See Transportation Demand Management and Congestion Management System (search site) |
| Contract Administrator |
| | Plays an intermediary role between the contractor and the agency. Serves as a problem-solver, monitoring service delivery and payment for products and services. (search site) |
| Contract Authority |
| | Authority that permits obligations to be incurred in advance of appropriations or receipts. (search site) |
| Contract Award |
| | After evaluation of proposals, process of extending contract to serve the best interests of the agency. (search site) |
| Contracting Officer |
| | Board of Directors assigns fiscal authority to Contracting Officers. Only these people can obligate the agency to buy. (search site) |
| Contracting Officer Representative |
| | Appointed by CO to a project as overseer and mediator of all issues. Provides contractor direction in writing, and submits modifications to CO. Resolves and documents outcomes of disagreements. (search site) |
| Contracting Officer Technical Representative |
| | Assist CO in matters related to inspection and acceptance, and may provide guidance and general direction to a contractor on matters that fall within the scope of the contract. (search site) |
| Contractors |
| | Those to whom contracts are issued; suppliers who do their work according to a contract. (search site) |
| Control of Access (COA) |
| | This is also referred to as access control. COA is the regulated limitation of access and is achieved by regulation of public access rights into (ingress) and out of (egress) properties abutting a roadway. There are two types: full control of access and partial control of access. Also, there are driveway and approach control regulations. On a roadway with full COA, preference is given to the movement of through traffic by providing access connections only with selected public roads, by prohibiting crossings at the same grade, and by prohibiting direct private driveway connections. On a roadway with partial COA, preference is given to through traffic; however there may be access connections with selected public roads, crossings at the same grade, and private driveway connections. Full or partial access control is usually accomplished by legally obtaining right-of-access from the abutting property owners or by the use of frontage roads. (search site) |
| Controlled Access Right-of-Way |
| | Lanes restricted for at least a portion of the day for use by transit vehicles and/or other high occupancy vehicles. Use of controlled access lanes may also be permitted for vehicles preparing to turn. The restriction must be sufficiently enforced so that 95 percent of vehicles using the lanes during the restricted period are authorized to use them. (search site) |
| Cooperative Agreement |
| | An agreement where 1 or more public transit agencies or
governmental units contribute to, or are assessed for, the
value of public transit services provided by another public
transit agency. There is usually a written memorandum of
understanding or mutual agreement on the calculation and
payment for the services. Generally, the service is part of
the public transit agency’s directly operated service. (search site) |
| Cost Reimbursement |
| | Provides for payment to contractor of reasonable, allocable, and allowable costs incurred. (search site) |
| CPC’s |
| | Capitalized Personnel Costs. (search site) |
| Critical Movement Analysis (CMA) |
| | For signalized intersections, CMA focuses on lane groups or movements which control signal requirements. CMA focuses on the identification and provision of capacity for such flows called critical movements. CMA is also used in capacity analysis. (search site) |
D
|
| DANGEROUS WATER REACTIVE MATERIAL |
| | Produces significant toxic gas when it comes in contact with water. (search site) |
| Days Schedule Operated |
| | The number of days that service was actually operated
according to the schedule of service. For non-scheduled
services such as demand response and vanpool, days
schedule operated refers to the days when service
normally was operated. (search site) |
| DBE |
| | Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (search site) |
| Deadhead |
| | Deadhead is the time and distance that a vehicle spends on the road between the garage and the start of revenue service and the garage at the end of a run. (search site) |
| Deadheading – Non-Scheduled Fixed Route Services |
| | Similar criteria to scheduled fixed route services apply to
non-scheduled fixed route services (publico, jitney): Travel
along the defined route either carrying or seeking revenue
passengers is reported as vehicle revenue miles and
hours; and travel between the garage and the beginning or
end of the route and a storage facility are considered
deadhead travel, and are included only in total vehicle
miles and hours. (search site) |
| Deadheading – Non-Scheduled Non-Fixed Route Services |
| | The concept for non-scheduled, non-fixed route services
(demand response, vanpool) follows the rules below:
Vehicles traveling from a dispatching point to the first
passenger pick-up point are considered deadheading and
are not included in revenue service. Vehicles traveling
back to a dispatching location are considered
deadheading. Vehicles traveling with or without
passengers while available to carry passengers between
pick-up/drop-off points are considered vehicle revenue
miles and hours.
If vehicle storage and maintenance locations are different
from the dispatching locations, travel between any of
these locations is considered deadheading. (search site) |
| Deadheading – Scheduled Fixed Route Services |
| | For scheduled fixed route transit services, vehicle travel
between the garage and the beginning of the route where
passengers may board is deadheading. Other
deadheading includes vehicle travel from the end of one
route to the beginning of another route, and travel from the
end of a route to a garage or other storage facility. (search site) |
| Declarations |
| | Three documents stating the validity of the data being
reported to the NTD/FTA: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Certification, Independent Auditor Statement for Financial
Data and the Independent Auditor Statement for Federal
Funding Allocation Data. (search site) |
| DECOMPOSITION PRODUCTS |
| | Products of a chemical or thermal break-down of a substance. (search site) |
| DECONTAMINATION |
| | The removal of dangerous goods from personnel and equipment to the extent necessary to prevent potential adverse health effects. Always avoid direct or indirect contact with dangerous goods; however, if contact occurs, personnel should be decontaminated as soon as possible. Since the methods used to decontaminate personnel and equipment differ from one chemical to another, contact the chemical manufacturer, through the agencies listed on the inside back cover, to determine the appropriate procedure. Contaminated clothing and equipment should be removed after use and stored in a controlled area (warm/contamination reduction/limited access zone) until cleanup procedures can be initiated. In some cases, protective clothing and equipment cannot be decontaminated and must be disposed of in a proper manner. (search site) |
| DEIS |
| | Draft Environmental Impact Statement (search site) |
| Demand Response |
| | A transit mode comprised of passenger cars, vans or class
C buses operating in response to calls from passengers or
their agents to the transit operator, who then dispatches a
vehicle to pick up the passengers and transport them to
their destinations. A demand response operation is
characterized by the following: a) the vehicles do not
operate over a fixed route or on a fixed schedule except,
perhaps, on a temporary basis to satisfy a special need;
and, b) typically, the vehicle may be dispatched to pick up
several passengers at different pick-up points before
taking them to their respective destinations and may even
be interrupted en route to these destinations to pick up
other passengers. The following types of operations fall
under the above definitions provided they are not on a
scheduled fixed route basis: many origins – many
destinations, many origins –1 destination, 1 origin – many
destinations and 1 origin –1 destination. (search site) |
| Depreciation and Amortization |
| | The charges that reflect the loss in service value of the
transit agency’s assets. Depreciated items have a high
initial cost and a useful life of more than one accounting
period. In order to account for the reduction in value
(usefulness) of this type of asset, a portion of the cost is
expensed each year of the asset’s life. Depreciation and
amortization include the depreciation of the physical
facilities such as guideways, tracks and roadbeds,
elevated structures, passenger stations and parking
facilities, revenue vehicles, operating stations, facilities
(including buildings, equipment and furnishings) for power
generation and distribution, revenue vehicle movement
control, data processing, revenue collection and
processing, and other general administration. (search site) |
| Design Hour Volume (DHV) |
| | Typically, the DHV is the thirtieth highest hourly traffic volume for the design year, commonly twenty years from the time of construction. The DHV is given in units of vehicles per hour. (search site) |
| Directional Design Hour Volume (DDHV) |
| | Typically, the DDHV is the thirtieth highest hourly traffic volume in one direction for the design year, commonly twenty years from the time of construction. DDHV is given in units of vehicles per hour. (search site) |
| Directional Route Miles |
| | The mileage in each direction over which public
transportation vehicles travel while in revenue service.
Directional route miles are a measure of the route path
over a facility or roadway, not the service carried on the
facility; e.g., number of routes, vehicles or vehicle revenue
miles. Directional route miles are computed with regard to
direction of service, but without regard to the number of
traffic lanes or rail tracks existing in the right-of-way.
Directional route miles do not include staging or storage
areas at the beginning or end of a route. (search site) |
| Directly Generated Funds |
| | Any funds where revenues are generated by or donated
directly to the transit agency, including passenger fare
revenues, advertising revenues, donations, bond proceeds
and taxes imposed by the transit agency. (search site) |
| Directly Levied Taxes |
| | The tax revenues to transit agencies that are organized as
independent political subdivisions with their own taxation
authority. (search site) |
| Directly Operated |
| | Transportation service provided directly by a transit
agency, using their employees to supply the necessary
labor to operate the revenue vehicles. This includes
instances where an agency’s employees provide
purchased transportation services to the agency through a
contractual agreement. (search site) |
| District Office (Public Transit Block Grant Program-NTD driven) |
| | The Department of Transportation, District Modal Development Office and/or staff. (search site) |
| Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) |
| | An environmental document that is prepared when it is initially determined that the action/project may cause significant impacts to the environment, when environmental studies and early coordination indicate significant impacts, or when review of the environmental assessment indicates that the impacts anticipated to result from the project may be significant. The DEIS compares all reasonable alternatives to the proposed project and summarizes the studies, reviews, consultations, and coordination required by legislation and Executive Orders to the extent appropriate at the draft stage in the environmental process. This document lists all entities from which comments are being requested. (search site) |
E
|
| ECHO |
| | Electronic Clearing House Operation. See ACH. (search site) |
| ECN |
| | ECHO control number. (search site) |
| EDEMA |
| | The accumulation of an excessive amount of watery fluid in cells andtissues. Pulmonary edema is an excessive buildup of water in the lungs, for instance, after inhalation of a gas that is corrosive to lung tissue. (search site) |
| Elasticity |
| | The percentage change in ridership produced by a 1% change in fare. The 37% rule of thumb corresponds to an elasticity of 1/3 or .33. A higher elasticity indicates greater sensitivity to fare changes. (search site) |
| Eligible Transit Capital Cost |
| | Any costs related to the purchase of tangible property. Property includes tangible assets with an expected service life of more than one year at the time of their installation/purchase. Examples would include, but not be limited to: the acquisition of buses for fleet and service expansions; bus maintenance and administrative facilities; transfer facilities; intermodal terminals and park and ride facilities; acquisition of replacement vehicles; passenger amenities, such as passenger shelters and bus stop signs; and miscellaneous equipment such as mobile radio units, supervisory vehicles, fare boxes, computers, and shop and garage equipment. (search site) |
| Eligible Transit Operating Costs |
| | The total costs of administration, management, and operations directly incident to the provision of public bus transit services, but excluding the depreciation or amortization of capital assets. (search site) |
| Emergency Contingency Vehicles |
| | Revenue vehicles placed in an inactive contingency fleet
for energy or other local emergencies after the revenue
vehicles have reached the end of their normal minimum
useful life. The vehicles must be properly stored and
maintained, and FTA must approve the Emergency
Contingency Plan. Substantial changes to the plan (10%
change in fleet) require re-approval by FTA. (search site) |
| Employee Work Hours |
| | Employee labor hours, not including fringe benefit hours
such as sick leave, holidays and vacations. Work hours
include only labor hours for employees of the transit
agency, both full time and part time, permanent and
temporary. (search site) |
| Enhancement Funds |
| | Enhancement funds can be for pedestrians and bicycle facilities; acquisition of scenic easements and scenic or historic sites; historic preservation; rehabilitation and operation of historic transportation buildings, structures or facilities; preservation of abandoned railway corridors including the conversion and use for pedestrian or bicycle trails; control and removal of outdoor' advertising; archaeological planning and research; and mitigation of water pollution due to highway runoff, and roadway improvements such as landscaping, lighting, bus stops, and bus loading areas next to roadways. HART's "Trees for Transit" project was funded with enhancement funds. The City of Tampa and Hillsborough County sidewalk programs are funded from this source. The FDOT administers these programs for the federal government. (search site) |
| Enhancement Funds |
| | Enhancement funds can be for pedestrians and bicycle facilities; acquisition of scenic easements and scenic or historic sites; historic preservation; rehabilitation and operation of historic transportation buildings, structures or facilities; preservation of abandoned railway corridors including the conversion and use for pedestrian or bicycle trails; control and removal of outdoor' advertising; archaeological planning and research; and mitigation of water pollution due to highway runoff, and roadway improvements such as landscaping, lighting, bus stops, and bus loading areas next to roadways. HART's "Trees for Transit" project was funded with enhancement funds. The City of Tampa and Hillsborough County sidewalk programs are funded from this source. The FDOT administers these programs for the federal government. HART is not using enhancement funds this year. (search site) |
| Environmental Assessment (EA) |
| | A document that assesses an action that is not a categorical exclusion and does not clearly require the preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS), or where the Federal Highway Administration believes an environmental assessment would assist in determining the need for an EIS. (search site) |
| Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) |
| | An environmental document that is required when an action that will significantly affect the environment. (search site) |
| Environmental Justice |
| | FTA has integrated Title VI and Environmental Justice considerations into FTA's general grant program. In FY 1999, FTA developed joint FTA/FHWA policy emphasizing environmental justice considerations in the metropolitan planning review process. An example of this is the Office of Civil Rights' work with the FTA Office of Planning to ensure that recipients of FTA funds incorporate Title VI requirements into the planning process for transit projects and activities. Title VI requirements include: The Environmental Justice Executive Order 12898, Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations (EO 12898) addresses fair treatment of all people regardless of race, color, ethnicity or income with respect to the benefits and burdens of environmentally related programs, policies and activities. (search site) |
| Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
| | A Federal agency charged with protecting the natural resources on the nation. (search site) |
| ESA |
| | Emergency STP Amendment (search site) |
| Exclusive Right-of-Way |
| | Roadway or other right-of-way reserved at all times for transit use and/or other high occupancy vehicles. The restriction must be sufficiently enforced so that 95 percent of vehicles using the right-of-way are authorized to use it. (search site) |
| Expressway |
| | An expressway is a divided highway facility usually having two or more lanes for the exclusive use of traffic in each direction and partial control of access (as opposed to a freeway which has full control of access). (search site) |
| Extraboard |
| | These are contingent or extra operators who stand by to fill in for absent operators or pick up pieces of blocks that cannot be assembled into minimum run times. Impact: Operator costs are the single largest cost factor in scheduling. (search site) |
F
|
| Facilities |
| | Facility and facility related projects include purchase,
construction, rehabilitation or installation of maintenance
facilities (including design and engineering, demolition,
land acquisition and relocation); crime prevention and
security equipment; service and support equipment;
operational support (computer hardware and software, bus
diagnostic equipment and other activities that enhance
system operations and efficiency while reducing operating
costs); transit malls, transfer facilities, intermodal
terminals, shelters, passenger stations, depots, terminals,
high occupancy vehicle (HOV) facilities, transit ways and
park and ride facilities; track, line equipment and
structures, signals and communications; and power
equipment and substations. (search site) |
| FAR |
| | Federal Acquisition Regulations (search site) |
| Feasibility Study |
| | A study about a project's feasibility which is summarized in a document. The study addresses issues including the project's benefits, costs, effectiveness, alternatives considered, analysis of alternative selection, environmental effects, public opinions, and other factors. The feasibility study for major projects involving Federal funds was replaced under the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act by the Major Investment Study. (search site) |
| Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) |
| | The federal agency responsible for the administration of federal highway funds. FHWA does not have a direct role or responsibilities in the development of urban transportation plans or their development. However, their role is administration of federal funds and in the issuance of policy and procedure timetables for implementation of federal legislative directives is immense. (search site) |
| Federal Transit Administration (FTA) |
| | The FTA was formerly as the Urban Mass Transportation Administration. It operates under the authority of the Federal Transit Act. The FTA was established as a component of the US Department of Transportation.
(search site) |
| FEIS |
| | Final Environmental Impact Statement. Take as much as 18 to 24 months to complete. New Construction or extension of rail lines are examples of construction that must have environmental impact statements. (search site) |
| FHWA |
| | Federal Highway Administration (search site) |
| Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) |
| | An environmental document that is prepared following the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), which includes the results of the public involvement process and agency input on the DEIS. This document summarizes the substantive comments on social, economic, environmental, and engineering issues made as a result of the public involvement process, and documents compliance with requirements of all applicable environmental laws, Executive Orders, and other related requirements. (search site) |
| Fiscal Year (FY) |
| | Any yearly accounting period, regardless of its relationship to a calendar year. The fiscal year for the Federal Government begins on October 1 of each year and ends on September 30 of the following year. (Prior to fiscal year 1977, the federal fiscal year began on July 1 and ended on June 30.) (search site) |
| Fixed Guide way |
| | Any transit service that uses exclusive or controlled rights-of-way or rails, entirely or in part. This includes heavy rail, commuter rail, light rail, trolleybus, aerial tramway, inclined plane, cable car, automated guide way transit, ferryboats, and that portion of motor bus service operating on exclusive or controlled rights-of-way and high occupancy vehicle lanes. (search site) |
| Fixed Guideway |
| | Fixed guideway refers to any transit service that uses exclusive or controlled rights-of-way or rails, entirely or in part. The category includes heavy rail, commuter rail, light rail, trolleybus, aerial tramway, inclined plane, cable car, automated guideway transit, ferryboats, and that portion of motor bus service operating on exclusive or controlled rights-of-way and high occupancy vehicle lanes. (search site) |
| Fixed Price |
| | Buying X product or service at a given price. (search site) |
| Fixed route |
| | As compared with a demand route such as paratransit, fixed routes are service that operates on an established schedule with predetermined stops and itineraries. Most buses and trains are operated on a fixed-route basis.
(search site) |
| FLAMMABLE LIQUID |
| | A liquid that has a flash point of 60.5°C (141°F) or lower. (search site) |
| FLASH POINT |
| | Lowest temperature at which a liquid or solid gives off vapor in such a concentration that, when the vapor combines with air near the surface of the liquid or solid, a flammable mixture is formed. Hence, the lower the flash point, the more flammable the material. (search site) |
| Flexible Operational Capability |
| | allows the direction lanes to change to accommodate uneven traffic flow. For example, during an evacuation, 7 northbound lanes can be created for evacuees and 1 southbound lane for emergency vehicles.
(search site) |
| FMO |
| | Financial Management Oversight (search site) |
| FONSI |
| | Funding of No Significant Impact. From a class III environmental assessment. There can be impacts, but no significant ones. (search site) |
| Freeway |
| | A divided highway facility having two or more lanes for the exclusive use of traffic in each direction and full control of access. The freeway is the only type of highway intended to provide complete "uninterrupted" flow. (search site) |
| Front End Funding |
| | Funding disbursement method whereby a local grant recipient incurs eligible expenses to which state block grant funds are first applied and the required local share is applied only after state funds have been drawn down. (search site) |
| Frontage road |
| | An arterial type roadway that parallels a major transportation facility such as a freeway. It serves to collect and distribute traffic along the major facility without impeding flow along the freeway. Frontage roads are also referred to by the public as "access," "feeder," and "service" roads.
(search site) |
| FTA Capital Program |
| | Financial assistance from Section 5309 of the Federal
Transit Act. This program provides capital assistance for 3
primary activities: new and replacement buses and
facilities; modernization of existing fixed guideway
systems; and new fixed guideway systems. (search site) |
| FTA Clean Fuels Formula Program Funds |
| | Financial assistance from Section 5308 of the Federal
Transit Act. This program promotes the use of clean fuel
vehicles (i.e., powered by alternative fuels, batteries, fuel
cells, etc). (search site) |
| FTA Elderly and Persons with Disabilities Formula Program |
| | Financial assistance from Section 5310 of the Federal
Transit Act. This program assists state and local
governments and private non-profit groups in meeting the
transportation needs of the elderly and persons with
disabilities. (search site) |
| FTA Metropolitan Planning Funds |
| | Financial assistance from Section 5303 of the Federal
Transit Act. This program supports the cooperative,
continuous and comprehensive planning program for
making transportation investment decisions in
metropolitan areas. (search site) |
| FTA Non-Urbanized Area Formula Program Funds |
| | Financial assistance from Section 5311 of the Federal
Transit Act. This program provides funds to states to
support public transportation in areas of less than 50,000
population. (search site) |
| FTA Other Funds |
| | The financial assistance from FTA programs other than
Section 5307 Urbanized Area Formula Program and
Section 5309 Capital Program. These funds include
Section 5303 Metropolitan Planning Funds, Section 5308
Clean Fuels Formula Program, Section 5310 Elderly and
Persons with Disabilities Formula Program, Section 5311
Non-Urbanized Area Formula Program, and Section 5312
Research, Development, Demonstration and Training
Projects, and Section 5313 State Planning and Research,
and the Interstate Transfer Program. (search site) |
| FTA Recipient ID |
| | Four digit number assigned to a transit agency for the FTA
electronic grant making system—TEAM (Transportation
Electronic Award and Management). (search site) |
| FTA Research, Development, Demonstration and Training Projects |
| | Financial assistance from Section 5312 of the Federal
Transit Act. This program promotes research,
development and demonstration projects to improve or
help mass transportation meet total urban transportation
needs; and also projects that use innovative techniques in
managing and providing mass transportation; and
provides training fellowships in managerial, technical and
professional positions in the mass transportation field. (search site) |
| Full Funding Grant Agreement |
| | Authorized by 49 U.S.C. 5309(e) and are the designated means of providing Section 5309 New Starts funding for a project in the amount of $25 million or more. AN FFGA establishes the terms and conditions for Federal financial participation in a New Starts project, defines that project in detail, obligates a grantee to complete the scope of work under that grant agreement, sets the maximum amount of section 5309 New Starts funds that will be made available for that project, covers the period of time for completion of the project, and ensures a grantee’s efficient management of the project in accordance with all applicable Federal statutes, regulations, and policy. (search site) |
G
|
| GEC |
| | General Engineering Consultants (search site) |
| GPC |
| | General Planning Consultants (search site) |
| Grade |
| | The slope (ratio of change in elevation to change in distance) of a roadway typically given in percent. For example, a 2% grade represents 2-feet of elevation change over a 100-foot distance. (search site) |
| Grade Separation |
| | A vertical separation between intersecting roads or railroad tracks. One facility travels over the other via an overpass or other structure. (search site) |
| Grant Amendment |
| | A change in the scope of a grant or the Federal participation. A grant amendment requires a revised grant agreement and budget, and may require obligation of additional funds, reduction of the amount of funds obligated or deobligation and obligation of funds.
The following are considered scope changes for planning, capital and operating grants.
1. A transfer of funds within an approved budget for planning grants that cumulatively exceeds 30 percent of the budget approved most recently by FTA. This would include changes totaling 30 percent or more at the state (cumulative) level for metropolitan planning (5303) grants as well as the state level for statewide planning (5313(b)).
2. A change that exceeds the greater of two units or 20 percent of the units to be purchased or constructed under an approved grant scope.
3. A change to add a project scope, if not previously included as a contingency project in the budget, or to add or delete a project scope which changes the grant scope.
4. Any other changes that alter the scope of a grant. (search site) |
| GRH |
| | Guaranteed Ride Home (search site) |
H
|
| Headway |
| | The time interval between trains or buses. Headway is set by agency policy, to be able to both meet demand and control cost. Usually the headway attempts to permit every waiting passenger to board the first vehicle traveling in the desired direction.
Example: Train headways in metropolitan Washington DC are 3 minutes; buses vary according to the route.
In the Sacramento Regional Transit system, bus headways are 15 to 60 minutes, depending on the route. (search site) |
| Heavy Rail |
| | High-speed, passenger rail cars operating singly or in trains of two or more cars on fixed rails in separate rights-of-way from which all other vehicular and foot traffic are excluded. Also known as "rapid rail," "subway," "elevated (railway)," or "metropolitan railway (metro)." (search site) |
| Heavy Rail Car |
| | Rail car with motive capability, driven by electric power taken from overhead lines or third rails, configured for passenger traffic and usually operated on exclusive right-of-way. (search site) |
| High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) |
| | Vehicles that can carry two or more persons. Examples of high occupancy vehicles are a bus, vanpool and carpool. These vehicles sometimes have exclusive traffic lanes called "HOV lanes," "busways," "transitways" or "commuter lanes." (APTA) (search site) |
| High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lane |
| | High Occupancy Vehicle Lane. Exclusive road or traffic lane limited to buses, vanpools, carpools, emergency vehicles, and in some cases, single occupant motorcycles. HOV lanes typically have higher operating speeds and lower traffic volumes than adjacent general purpose lanes. HOV lanes have proven to be successful in major metropolitan areas across the US; however, their full effectiveness is usually not realized until about one to two years after implementation. (search site) |
| High Speed Rail |
| | A rail service having the characteristics of intercity rail service which operates primarily on a dedicated guideway or track not used, for the most part, by freight, including, but not limited to, trains on welded rail, magnetically levitated (MAGLEV) vehicles on a special guideway, or other advanced technology vehicles, designed to travel at speeds in excess of those possible on other types of railroads. High Speed Rail has exclusive right of way and serves densely traveled corridors at speeds of 124 miles per hour and greater. (search site) |
| High-floor Vehicle |
| | A vehicle which has a floor high enough to require boarding either from steps in the doorway, from an on-vehicle wheelchair lift, or from a high-level platform at least 18 inches above ground or rail level. (APTA) (search site) |
| Highway Advisory Radio (HAR) |
| | A radio station which broadcasts highway conditions and traffic information. (search site) |
| HOT ZONE |
| | Area immediately surrounding a dangerous goods incident which extends far enough to prevent adverse effects from released dangerous goods to personnel outside the zone. This zone is also referred to as exclusion zone, red zone or restricted zone in other documents. (EPA Standard Operating Safety Guidelines, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120, NFPA 472) (search site) |
| Hourly Volume (HV) |
| | The volume of traffic (given in units of vehicle per hour) that traverses across a segment of a roadway in one hour. The HV may be determined from traffic counts or may be a projected calculation. Refer to Design Hour Volume. (search site) |
I
|
| IDIQ |
| | Indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity, solicitation based on best estimate of quantity, results in a fixed unit price for estimated quantity with a minimum quantity guaranteed. (search site) |
| IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES |
| | These are common devices used by terrorists. Most bombs assembled by terrorists and other disgruntled or mentally ill individuals are improvised. The raw material required for the explosives is stolen or misappropriated from military or commercial blasting supplies or is made from fertilizer and other readily available household ingredients. Examples: pipe bomb, car bomb. (search site) |
| Incident |
| | An incident may be any of the following: traffic accident, stalled vehicle, load spillage, or other action that effects one or more lanes of traffic. An "accident" typically involves a collision of a moving vehicle with another vehicle, person, or object. (search site) |
| Inclined Plane |
| | Special tramway type of vehicles operating up and down slopes on rails via a cable mechanism so that passenger seats remain horizontal while the undercarriage (truck) is angled parallel to the slope. (search site) |
| Inclined Plane Vehicle |
| | Special type of passenger vehicle operating up and down slopes on rails via a cable mechanism. (search site) |
| Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) |
| | ITS replaces the term Intelligent Vehicle Highway System. ITS is a surveillance system designed to monitor traffic flows on major freeways and to inform motorists or problem areas. Some ITS technology includes changeable message signs, cameras, and video detectors. ITS applications include: the integration of traffic control and transportation management systems; traffic signals which adapt to traffic and change control each cycle; highway advisory radio systems; changeable message signs (CMS); vehicle detectors; closed-circuit television; Global Positioning Systems and route guidance (currently used in some trucks, buses, and rental cars). An ITS may enable drivers to operate their vehicles more safely and with greater knowledge about existing traffic conditions. (search site) |
| Intelligent Vehicle Highway Systems (IVHS) |
| | See Intelligent Transportation System. (search site) |
| Intermodal |
| | A mode is a particular form of transportation such as automobile, transit, ferry, bicycle, or walking. Intermodal refers specifically to the connections between modes. (search site) |
| Intermodal Grants |
| | Aviation, ports and transit are eligible to compete for funding in the FDOT grant category. These grants are approved in FDOT central office rather than at the district level because competition is statewide. (search site) |
| Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) |
| | A Transportation Bill passed by Congress in 1991 that provides six year authorizations for development of a National Intermodal Transportation System which consists of all forms of transportation in a unified, interconnected manner. It increased the percentage of federal match funding available for the majority of Texas transportation projects. ISTEA was designed to move goods and people more efficiently by developing an integrated transportation infrastructure system for the United States. ISTEA is this country's first serious effort to promote intermodalism, the idea that all systems and structures for moving people and goods must function as an integrated and cohesive transportation network which includes rail and mass transit as well as highways. Under ISTEA, the statewide planning process must incorporate some new goals: to reduce congestion and improve air quality; to consider national and international commerce; to consider energy conservation; to create an integrated system of several modes; and to concentrate on the most efficient way to move goods and people, not just people. The three major components of ISTEA are the National Highway System, the Surface Transportation Program, and the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program. (search site) |
| Intermodal Transportation |
| | Transportation of persons and goods that involves the interchange between transportation modes such as surface routes, airways, and waterways. Intermodal transportation for surface transportation of people and goods includes the interchange between modes such as automobiles, mass transit such as buses, railway including commuter rail and can include Park And Ride lots or other mode interchange facilities. Intermodal transportation enables people and goods to be consolidated into larger groups that can be transported at lower costs. In addition to reducing costs, it enables greater logistic flexibility than can also reduce congestion and travel time. (search site) |
| Intermodalism |
| | A holistic view of transportation in which individual modes work together or within their own niches to provide the user with the best choices of service, and in which the consequences on all modes of policies for a single mode are considered. This view has been called balanced, integrated, or comprehensive transportation. Intermodalism includes the provision of connections between different modes, such as highways to bus feeder services to rail transit. (search site) |
| ISTEA - Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act |
| | Federal transportation legislation in effect 1991-1997. ISTEA emphasized diversity of modes and preservation of existing systems. TEA 21 carried forward many ISTEA provisions. (search site) |
| ISTEA (Iced Tea) |
| | Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act. Emphasising preserving existing systems, balancing modes, and allowing some categories of federal highway funding to be transferred (flexed) to the Federal Transit Administration for transit purposes. (search site) |
| ITS |
| | Intelligent Transportation Systems (search site) |
J
|
| JARC |
| | Jobs Access and Reverse Commute (Congressional Earmark). This application must be supported by a locally coordinated plan. The MPO produces it. (search site) |
| JPA – Joint Participation Agreement |
| | A contract between the Department of Transportation and a local sponsor of a transportation project, defining a project and the Department’s participation (Form No. 725-030-06). (search site) |
K
|
| K-Factor |
| | A factor which represents the proportion of Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT) expected to occur in the design hour. The K-factor is also known as the design hour factor and is normally expressed in design problems as DHV = AADT x K, where the DHV is the total two-way Design Hour Volume, and K is estimated from the ratio of the 30th Hourly Volume to the AADT from a similar site. (search site) |
| Kiss and Ride Facility |
| | A part of a park and ride facility where commuters who are passengers in non-transit vehicles are dropped off to board a mass transportation vehicle. (APTA) (search site) |
L
|
| Level Of Service (LOS) |
| | A qualitative measure describing operational conditions within a traffic stream and motorists' perceptions of those conditions. For example, LOS A represents free flow, almost complete freedom to maneuver within the traffic stream. LOS F represents forced flow, more vehicles are attempting to use the freeway than can be served resulting in stop and go traffic. (search site) |
| Light Rail |
| | Lightweight passenger rail cars operating singly (or in short, usually two-car, trains) on fixed rails in right-of-way that is not separated from other traffic for much of the way. Light rail vehicles are driven electrically with power being drawn from an overhead electric line via a trolley or a pantograph. Also known as "streetcar," "tramway," or "trolley car." (search site) |
| Light Rail Vehicle |
| | Rail car with motive capability, usually driven by electric power taken from overhead lines, configured for passenger traffic and usually operating on non-exclusive right-of-way. Also known as "streetcar," "tramway," or "trolley car." (search site) |
| Linked trips |
| | A passenger's journey from origin to destination, regardless of the number of transfers. Fielding states linked trips should be used for comparisons between modes and areas. (search site) |
| LNG |
| | Liquid Natural Gas (search site) |
| LNOP |
| | Letter of No Prejudice. This approval allows an applicant to incur costs on a future project using non-Federal resources with the understanding that the costs incurred after the LONP is issued may be reimbursable as eligible expenses or for credit toward the local match should the FTA approve the project at a later date. Grantees must still have an environmental finding, must be included in the TIP/STIP/SIP, and comply with all other Federal rules. FTA is not required to approve a project simply because the LONP has been issued. LONPs are applicable to projects not covered by automatic pre-award authority.
Source: http://www.fta.dot.gov/library/policy/9030.1C/chp3.htm (search site) |
| Local Revenue Sources |
| | The sum of money received from local government entities to assist in paying transit operation costs, including tax funds, and revenue earned from fare box receipts, charter service, contract service, express service, advertising, and non-transportation activities.
HART receives grants from the City of Tampa and Hillsborough County for specific services, which they designate. Currently, they help fund Sunday Service, downtown circulation services and County circulators. They have from time to time provided funds for the planning program. The City of Tampa currently provides some rail planning funds to HART.
There was a three-year interlocal agreement in place whereby the City of Tampa, Hillsborough County and FDOT agreed to fund the shortfall in HART's budget so that HART can avoid service cuts due to inadequate funding. The period was set based on the projected date and cash flow from a referendum. That referendum was not scheduled, but the assistance may stop this coming fiscal year. A request has been made to both the City and County. (search site) |
| Local Tax Revenue |
| | Local tax revenues are those revenues that are made available for operating expenses and are derived from local taxes, whether the taxes are collected by the public transit provider directly or not. Specifically those revenues properly coded to revenue object classes 408 and 409 in the National Transit Data Base (Section 5335) Report are local tax revenues. (search site) |
| Low-floor Vehicle |
| | A vehicle which has a level floor without steps in the boarding area and at least the front part of the vehicle, allowing step-on boarding from the ground, from a low-level platform less than 18 inches above ground or rail level, or from an on-vehicle wheelchair ramp. (APTA) (search site) |
| LRT |
| | Light Rail Transit (search site) |
M
|
| Major Investment Study (MIS) |
| | A study and resulting document which replaced Feasibility Studies under the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) for major improvement projects involving significant Federal funds. A MIS includes the study of factors that may justify a proposed project such as it's cost effectiveness and overall effectiveness and incorporation of intermodal transportation. Measures Of Effectiveness are defined and calculated as part of the MIS. The MIS also requires consideration of other transportation modes as well as broader public and agency input. (search site) |
| Major Transportation Investment |
| | A complex highway or transit improvement that is expected to have a significant effect on capacity, traffic, level of service, or mode share at the corridor or sub-area scale. Examples include freeway or transit system expansions. The purpose is to examine alternative transportation solutions from a multimodal perspective to arrive at the preferred design concept and scope that then becomes part of an adopted MPO plan. (Source Hart board meeting May 23, 1996.) (search site) |
| Measures Of Effectiveness (MOE) |
| | MOE include: average vehicle speed, vehicle stops, delays, vehicle-hours of travel, vehicle-miles of travel, fuel consumption and pollutant emissions. MOE provide insight into the effects on the traffic stream of the applied improvement strategy. (search site) |
| Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) |
| | An association of local agencies established for mutual benefit and to help coordinate planning and development activities within a metropolitan region. Establishment of the MPO is required by law in urban areas of over 50,000 population if federal funds are to be used. The MPO consists of two groups. 1) The Policy board is comprised of officials representing the counties, cities, and state agency. 2) The technical advisory group consists of professional planners and engineers who are usually employees of the same agencies. The MPO is not a level of government. However, the MPO has "effective control" over transportation improvements within the area since a project must be a part of the MPO's adopted plan in order to receive federal funding. (search site) |
| Metropolitan Railway |
| | Another name for "Heavy Rail." (search site) |
| Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) |
| | The Metropolitan Transportation Commission is the agency that plans, funds, and coordinates transportation in the San Francisco Bay Area. Agencies such as the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) included under the MTC umbrella must submit plans for new projects to MTC for inclusion in a Regional Transportation Plan before being funded. MTC is the Bay Area’s MPO, or Metropolitan Planning Organization. (search site) |
| Miles of Track |
| | The number of tracks per one-mile segment of right-of-way. Miles of track are measured without regard to whether or not rail traffic can flow in only one direction on the track. All track is counted, including yard track. (search site) |
| MIS |
| | Major Investment Study – called for where the need for a major transportation investment is identified and federal funds are potentially involved. (source Hart board meeting May 23, 1996) (search site) |
| Mode |
| | A transit system category characterized by specific right-of-way, technological and operational features. (search site) |
| Modes |
| | In transit this term means the various types of transit service. Fixed route modes reported in the National Transit Database (NTD) are bus, heavy rail, light rail, and commuter rail. Demand service, or paratransit, is a separate mode. (search site) |
| Monorail |
| | Guided transit vehicles operating on or suspended from a single rail, beam or tube. Monorail vehicles usually operate in trains. (APTA) (search site) |
| MPO |
| | Metropolitan Planning Organization (Federal Mandate of Local Organization) (search site) |
| MPR |
| | Milestone Progress Report (search site) |
| MS/P |
| | Milestone/Progress Report (search site) |
| Multimodal |
| | Refers to the availability of multiple transportation options – so a multimodal focus means finding the most efficient mode of people and goods from place to place – truck, bus automobile, ferry, airplane, bicycle, train, or on foot. (search site) |
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| National Highway System (NHS) |
| | The NHS is one of the three major components of the 1991 Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act. A major new Federal-aid system was established in the NHS. It includes the Interstate System, other routes identified as having strategic defense characteristics, routes providing access to major ports, airports, public transportation and intermodal transportation facilities and, of particular significance to local governments, and many principal urban and rural arterials which provide regional service. (search site) |
| National Transit Database (NTD) |
| | Term that signifies provisions of the Urban Mass Transportation Act as amended in 1974. Requires a uniform system of accounts and records as well as a uniform system for reporting. (Gordon Fielding: Managing Transit Strategically, 1987, p. 63. Jossey-Bass.) (search site) |
| National Transportation System (NTS) |
| | An intermodal system consisting of all forms of transportation in a unified, interconnected manner to reduce energy consumptions and air pollution while promoting economic development and supporting the Nation's preeminent position in international commerce. The NTS includes the National Highway System, public transportation and access to ports and airports.
(search site) |
| NEPA |
| | National Environmental Policy Act. Must be completed before state or local funds are spent on implementing activities such as final design, construction, and acquisition for a project that is expected to be subsequently funded with FTA funds. Depending on which class the project is included under in FTA environmental regulations (23 C.F.R. part 771), the grantee may not advance the project beyond planning and preliminary engineering before FTA has approved either a categorical exclusion (refer to 23 C.F.R. part 771.117(d), a finding of no significant impact, or a final environmental impact statement. Project must be included in TIP and STIP before the project can be advanced with non-Federal funds.
Source: http://www.fta.dot.gov/library/policy/9030.1C/chp3.htm (search site) |
| NERVE AGENTS |
| | Substances that interfere with the central nervous system. Exposure is primarily through contact with the liquid (via skin and eyes) and secondarily through inhalation of the vapor. Tabun (GA), Sarin (GB), Soman (GD) and VX are nerve agents. Symptoms: Pinpoint pupils, extreme headache, severe tightness in the chest, dyspnea, runny nose, coughing, salivation, unresponsiveness, seizures. (search site) |
| NNTA |
| | New North Transportation Alliance (search site) |
| Non-attainment areas |
| | These are geographical areas, defined by the Environmental Protection Agency, whose air quality does not meet Federal air quality standards designed to protect public health. (search site) |
| North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) |
| | A formal agreement, or treaty, between Canada, Mexico, and the United States of America to promote means for improved and increased free trade between the three countries. The affect of NAFTA on transportation was to increase the need to upgrade existing, and build new, transportation facilities between and within the countries.
(search site) |
| Notice Of Intent (NOI) |
| | A notice that is prepared to inform the public that an Environmental Impact Statement will be prepared for a project. (search site) |
| NTD – National Transit Data Base (Section 5335)
Section 5309 funding. |
| | A report submitted by a public transit provider to the Federal Transit Administration in Accordance with the uniform System of Accounts and Reports prescribed by Section 5335 of the Federal Transit Act. This report is one basis for the allocation of block grant funds, and the uniform accounts therein are used to validate the lawful use of funds.
Terms:
DR – Demand Response ADA
LR – Light Rail
MB – Bus
PM – Passenger Miles
UPT – Unlinked Passenger Trips
VOMS – Vehicles Operated in Maximum Service
VP – Van Pool
VRH – Vehicle Revenue Hours
VRM – Vehicle Revenue Miles (search site) |
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| Obligating |
| | Putting allocated funds under contract. This usually has to be done within a fixed time (say, 3 years) or the allocation is lost. (search site) |
| Obligation Limitation |
| | A restriction on the amount of budgetary resources that can be obligated or committed for a specific purpose. (search site) |
| Obligations |
| | Amounts of orders placed, contracts awarded, service received, and similar transactions during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period. (search site) |
| Operating Funds |
| | Unlike capital funds, operating monies fund day-to-day costs of running transportation systems. Transit examples: fuel, salaries, and repair parts. (search site) |
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| Paratransit |
| | TEA-21 expanded the definition of an eligible capital project to include the operating cost of providing ADA complementary paratransit service, under certain limitations. The 80/20 Federal/local funding ratio is applicable for such projects. ADA complementary paratransit service means service provided complementary to existing fixed-route service.
Under the new provision, a capital project now includes “…the provision of nonfixed route paratransit transportation in accordance with Section 223 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12143), but only for grant recipients that are in compliance with the applicable requirements of that Act, including both fixed route and demand responsive service, and only for amounts not to exceed 10 percent of such recipient’s annual formula apportionment under section 5307 and 5311.”
With this change, transit systems may use up to 10 percent of their annual formula apportionment to pay for ADA paratransit operating costs.
Source: http://www.fta.dot.gov/library/policy/9030.1C/chp3.htm (search site) |
| Park and Pool (P&P) |
| | Similar to Park and Ride, excepts motorists leave their individual vehicles and complete their trip in a car pool or HOV other than a mass transit vehicle. (search site) |
| PARK AND RIDE FACILITY |
| | A parking garage and/or pavement used for parking passengers' automobiles, either free or for a fee, while they use transit agency facilities. Park-and-ride facilities are generally established as collector sites for rail or bus service. Park-and-ride facilities may also serve as collector sites for vanpools and carpools, and as transit centers. These facilities have been very successful in Texas.
(search site) |
| Passenger load standards |
| | Passenger load standards are decided by agency policy and answer the question: By what number should passengers exceed seats? Usually these volumes are expressed as a percentage of seats or as passengers per seat.
Example: A train car has a capacity of 73. Actual peak period loading is 1.92 passengers per seat, or 140 passengers per car. Because this translates to crowded conditions, the agency might set a standard to lower the peak load standard, say to 105 passengers, or 1.44 per seat.
Example: A bus has 55 seats; a 120% peak load standard means that there are 66 passengers on board.
Impact on ridership: Those using the system by choice might opt to drive if transit vehicles are overcrowded. Reducing load standard normally means increasing the number of rail cars or buses. (search site) |
| PCAR |
| | Preliminary Contamination Assessment Report. (Source board meeting 9/26/1996). (search site) |
| PD&E |
| | Project Development and Environmental (search site) |
| Peak demand |
| | Peak demand is determined by taking actual counts of ridership at maximum load points on any line or route; demand is measured in the peak travel direction.
Example: Average Washington DC Metrorail peak demand across the system was 111,000 passengers in 1996 and 1997. (search site) |
| Peak Hour Factor (PHF) |
| | The PHF is a ratio of the total hourly traffic volume to the maximum 15-minute traffic rate within the hour. PHF represents the flow variation within an hour. Observations consistently show the flow rate found in the peak 15-minute period within an hour is not sustained throughout the entire hour. PHFs for multilane highways range from 0.76 to 0.99. (search site) |
| Peak Hour Traffic (PHT) |
| | Higher traffic volumes occur in the evening and in the morning because of work-related trips. The evening peak is typically the highest since non-work related trips are also made in this period. The percentage of Average Daily Traffic (ADT) which occurs in the evening peak hour commonly ranges between 7% and 12%. (search site) |
| Person Trip |
| | A trip by one or more persons in any mode of transportation. Each person is considered as making one person trip. For example, four persons traveling together in one auto make four person trips. (search site) |
| PIH |
| | Poison Inhalation Hazard. Term used to describe gases and volatile liquids that are toxic when inhaled. (Same as TIH) (search site) |
| Planning Study assisted with capital funds administered by the FHWA |
| | A planning study assisted with capital funds administered by the FHWA (for example, funds under the Surface Transportation Program(STP), Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ), or National Highway Systems (NHS) programs), must be programmed both in the Unified Planning Work Program and the TIP.
Source: http://www.fta.dot.gov/library/policy/9030.1C/chp3.htm (search site) |
| Platform time |
| | Time the operator spends on the vehicle. Includes pull-out, deadhead, revenue hours, and pull-in hours. (search site) |
| PMO |
| | Project Management Oversight 49 CFR, Section 5327 (search site) |
| PMP |
| | Project Management Plan (search site) |
| POG |
| | Project Oversight Group (search site) |
| Policy-driven service |
| | Ridership may not be high enough to produce an acceptable headway but policy has dictated that service should be provided to the route. Night and weekend service are examples; new routes are another. Service levels are not determined by demand levels but by policy decisions. (search site) |
| POP |
| | Planning of Projects (Program of Projects)
-formula grant from FTA, has a lot of line items. Called this until a GL number is assigned. Section 5307 (search site) |
| Pre-award authority |
| | By Congressional legislation, in some instances a grantee can recoup project-related costs incurred prior to execution of a grant contract. Formula funded Programs (Section 5307 Urbanized Area Program and Section 5309 Fixed Guide way Modernization Program) can be granted pre-award authority, but the grantee must still have an environmental finding, and the project must be included in the TIP/STIP/SIP. The grantee must also be in compliance with all other Federal Funding rules. (search site) |
| Programming |
| | Linking projects with funding, committing dollars to projects under a schedule. (search site) |
| Project Income |
| | Revenues earned by the public transit agency such as those for advertisements, charter, and fare box. (search site) |
| PROTECTIVE CLOTHING |
| | Includes both respiratory and physical protection. One cannot assign a level of protection to clothing or respiratory devices separately. These levels were accepted and defined by response organizations such as U.S. Coast Guard, NIOSH, and U.S. EPA. Level A: SCBA plus totally encapsulating chemical resistant clothing (permeation resistant). (search site) |
| Public Transit |
| | The transporting of people by conveyances or systems of conveyances, traveling on land or water, local or regional in nature, and available for use by the public. Public transit systems may be either government owned or privately owned. Public transit includes those forms of transportation commonly known as “paratransit” characterized by their non-scheduled, non-fixed route nature. (search site) |
| Public Transit Block Grant Program Sections 5307 & 5311 |
| | Enacted by the Florida Legislature to provide a stable source of funding for public transit. Funds are to be awarded to those public transit providers eligible to receive funding from the Federal Transit Administration’s Sections 5307 and 5311 programs and to Community Transportation Coordinators. The Department of Transportation will distribute 85% of the funds to Section 5307 providers and to Section 5311 providers who are not Community Transportation Coordinators via this procedure. The Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged will distribute 15% of the funds to Community Transportation Coordinators according to their own procedures.
The block grant funds may be used for eligible capital and operating costs of public transit providers. Funds may also be used for transit service development and transit corridor projects. Projects shall be consistent with applicable approved local government comprehensive plans. State participation is limited to 50% of the non-federal share of capital projects. Up to 50% of eligible operating costs can be paid with program funds, or an amount equal to the total revenue, excluding fare box, charter, advertising revenue and federal funds, received by the provider for operating costs, whichever amount is less.
Local tax revenues made available for operating costs shall not be supplanted by block grant funds.
Any facility or project funded by “Section 5307” monies must ensure that elderly persons and persons with disabilities or an individual presenting a Medicare card will be charged during non-peak hours not more than 50 percent of the peak hour fare. (search site) |
| Public Transit Operating Revenues |
| | The total revenues received during the year to defray operation and administrative costs. These revenues include: project income, such as advertising and charter revenue; fare box; and local funds, including tax revenues. (search site) |
| Public Transit Provider |
| | A public agency providing public transit service, including rail authorities created in Chapter 343, F.S. (search site) |
| Public Transit Service Development Project |
| | A project to test a new or innovative technique or measure to improve or expand public transit services as defined in the Public Transit Service Development Program Procedure, No. 725-030-005. (search site) |
| PYROPHORIC |
| | A material which ignites spontaneously upon exposure to air (or oxygen). (search site) |
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| Race Neutral |
| | Race-neutral DBE participation occurs when a DBE wins a contract or subcontract that did not have contract specific goals, or when the DBE status was not considered in making the award. Race-neutral does not mean that no efforts are made to facilitate DBE participation.
(i.e., measures intended to help all small businesses, not just DBEs), such as outreach and technical assistance, to the greatest extent possible to achieve their DBE goals. Info Source: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d01586.pdf (search site) |
| RADIATION AUTHORITY |
| | The Radiation Authority is either a Federal, state/provincial agency or state/province designated official. The responsibilities of this authority include evaluating radiological hazard conditions during normal operations and during emergencies. (search site) |
| RADIOACTIVITY |
| | The property of some substances to emit invisible and potentially harmful radiation. (search site) |
| Record Of Decision (ROD) |
| | The final approval of an Environmental Impact Statement issued by the Federal Highway Administration.
(search site) |
| Requisition |
| | Initiation of a procurement or purchase. Provides documentation of funding authorization, statement of work, and specifications. (search site) |
| Revenue miles or hours |
| | Total miles traveled by a vehicle while in revenue service: Excludes pull-in, pull-out, and deadhead time; therefore, this indicator measures time or miles a vehicle is available to pick up passengers. (search site) |
| RFP |
| | Request for Proposal (search site) |
| RFQ |
| | Request for Quote (search site) |
| Right Of Way (ROW) |
| | The land (usually a strip) acquired for or devoted to transportation purposes. For example, highway ROW and railroad ROW. (search site) |
| ROD |
| | Record of Decision. Provides a concise public record of the decision on a proposed action for which an EA was prepared. A ROD identifies the alternatives considered in reaching the decision, the environmentally preferable alternative(s). The ROD also identifies whether all practicable means of avoiding or minimizing environmental harm have been adopted and, if not, why they were not. (search site) |
| ROW |
| | Right of Way (search site) |
| RTAP |
| | Rural Transit Assistance Program (FTA Scope & Activity Line Item Codes (search site) |
| Runcutting |
| | Runcutting is assigning driver/operators to runs carved out of blocks. Runcutters determine the driver-level schedules after other decisions about headway (time between vehicles) and number of vehicles have been made. The goal of runcutting is to put together runs to maximize platform time for the fewest payroll dollars. Most agencies cut runs several times annually to make route changes. When runs have been cut, drivers bid on them depending on seniority. Every agency has work rules that govern how runcutting can be done. Example: Allowances for checking the vehicle out and in are set in minutes according to work rules. (search site) |
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| SAFETEA-LU |
| | Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users. August 10, 2005 George W. Bush Signed. Authorizes the Federal surface transportation programs for highways, highway safety, and transit for the 5-year period 2005-2009. (search site) |
| SARIN (GB) |
| | A nerve agent in the organophosphate family. Has similar symptoms and is generally "non-persistent" (as is Tabun); is dispersed in an droplet or mist form. GB is also a cholinesterase inhibitor, as are all of the "G" agents. It is treated in a similar manner as Tabun with Atropine and 3-PAMC1. (search site) |
| scheduling |
| | Scheduling assigns buses to routes and drivers to routes. (search site) |
| Section 5303 Planning Program |
| | Federal Money (search site) |
| Section 5307 |
| | These funds provide capital assistance to a designated recipient in urbanized areas. These funds are apportioned by a statutory formula based on population density and transportation data for areas over 200,000. Example: Hillsborough Area Rapid Transit programs these funds for capital projects such as vehicles, parts and equipment, shelters, sidewalk/accessibility at bus stops, transit centers, and planning and marketing studies.
Urbanized Areas with more than one transit agency must determine how to suballocate the funding between transit agencies.
Urbanized Area Formula Program Funds may be used for many capital projects, including buses or rail cars, improvements to fixed facilities, support equipment, and support vehicles. These funds can also be used for projects that are more operating in nature such as associated capital maintenance, preventive maintenance, and capital cost of contracting. They may also be used for transit planning efforts. Since TEA-21, one-percent (1%) of the funds apportioned to an Urbanized Area must be used for Transit Enhancement projects.
For Urbanized Areas with populations of less than 200,000, funds are apportioned to the States and transit agencies in these areas are still eligible to receive this funding as federal operating assistance. Operating assistance for transit agencies in Urbanized Areas that have a population greater than 200,000 was eliminated after 1998.
These funds may also be transferred (flexed) to FHWA and made available for highway projects. (search site) |
| Section 5307 Provider |
| | A public transit provider eligible to receive funds from the Federal Transit Administration’s Section 5307 Program for the purpose of providing public transportation within their service area. Section 5307 funds may be granted to public agencies in urbanized areas of 50,000 populations or more, as designated by the U.S. Bureau of the Census. Such an agency becomes eligible to receive block grant funds when the annual element of its Transportation Improvement Program contains a block grant project.
(Urbanized Area Formula Grant Section 5307, Federal Money)
Formerly known as Section 9 Block Grant
Funds are apportioned to urbanized areas utilizing a formula based on population, population density, and other factors associated with transit service and ridership. Section 5307 is funded from both General Revenues and Trust Funds.
Several changes became effective to this program in fiscal year 1998 with the passage of TEA-21. One percent of appropriated Section 5307 funds are set-aside to be used for transit enhancement projects that physically or functionally enhance transit service or use. Preventive maintenance, defined as all maintenance costs, became eligible for FTA capital assistance at an 80 percent Federal share. FY 1999 operating assistance is available only to urbanized areas with populations under 200,000. An exception is made for urbanized areas over 200,000 population if the number of total bus revenue vehicle miles operated is under 900,000 or if the number of buses operated does not exceed 15. Up to 10% of an area's apportionment may be used for complementary ADA paratransit service cost.
As in previous years, flexible funds transferred from FHWA had a significant impact on the availability of funds for obligation. In FY 1999, a total of $904.4 million was transferred to the urbanized area formula program. The total flexible funds obligated for this program were $756.2 million, some of which was drawn from the flexible carryover funds. Of the total obligations for capital (planning included), about 24 percent represents flexible funds. The program sources of these obligations are: Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ), $511.5 million (68 percent); and Surface Transportation Program (STP), $242.3 million (32 percent) and FHWA earmarks $2.4 million (0.3 percent). (search site) |
| Section 5309 |
| | Capital Investment Program. There are three components to this program: Bus and Bus-Related Facilities; Fixed Guideway Modernization; and New Starts.
Section 5309 bus funds are assigned by Congress to specific projects, which are competitively evaluated.
Section 5309 fixed guideway modernization funds provide direct capital assistance to transit agencies with fixed guideway systems that have been operational for more than 7 years. A congressionally defined formula establishes 7 allocation tiers using directional route miles and vehicle revenue miles.
Section 5309 new starts funds are for new fixed guideway systems and extensions to existing systems. New starts funds are assigned by Congress based upon the project’s ranking in meeting selected criteria and the project’s political sponsorhip. (search site) |
| Section 5309 |
| | Two subcategories of funding. First for bus programs, second for new start rail projects and fixed guide way systems. (New starts funding was used to complete the mobility study that recommends rail service for Tampa.)
Capital Investment Grants Section 5309, Federal Money
Source: http://www.fta.dot.gov/funding/grants/grants_financing_3558.html
Program Summary Fact Sheet
Appropriation: Is funded under Capital Investment Grants
Description: Grants for fixed guideway modernization projects. A fixed guideway refers to any transit service that uses exclusive or controlled rights-of-way or rails, entirely or in part. The term includes heavy rail, commuter rail, light rail, trolleybus, aerial tramway, inclined plane, cable car, automated guideway transit, ferryboats, that portion of motor bus service operated on exclusive or controlled rights-of-way, and high-occupancy-vehicle (HOV) lanes.
Statutory Reference: 49USC5309
Eligible Recipients: Public bodies and agencies (transit authorities and other state and local public bodies and agencies thereof) including states, municipalities, other political subdivisions of states; public agencies and instrumentalities of one or more states; and certain public corporations, boards, and commissions established under state law.
Eligible Purposes: Capital projects to modernize or improve fixed guideway systems are eligible including purchase and rehabilitation of rolling stock, track, line equipment, structures, signals and communications, power equipment and substations, passenger stations and terminals, security equipment and systems, maintenance facilities and equipment, operational support equipment including computer hardware and software, system extensions, and preventive maintenance.
Allocation of Funding: The formula for allocating funds contains seven tiers. The allocation of funding under the first four tiers is based on data used to apportion the funding in fiscal year 1997. Funding under the last three tiers is apportioned based on the latest available route miles and revenue vehicle miles on segments at least seven years old as reported to the National Transit Database. A threshold level of more than one mile of fixed guideway is required to receive these funds.
Match: 80 percent Federal, 20 percent local
Funding Availability: Year appropriated plus three years (total of four years) (search site) |
| Section 5310 |
| | Elderly and Persons w/Disabilities Section 5310, Federal Money (search site) |
| Section 5311 |
| | Section 5311 provides capital, operating, and administrative assistance for areas under 50,000 in population. The FTA encourages the use of these funds to expand the coverage of transit service into rural and small urban areas currently unserved and to improve levels of service in those areas that currently have only minimal transit service. HART uses these funds in the South County area. There is a subset of this category for creating connections between urban areas. (search site) |
| Section 5311 Provider |
| | An agency receiving funds from the Federal Transit Administration’s Section 5311 Program for the purpose of providing public transportation outside an urbanized area. For the purposes of this procedure, the term Section 5311 Provider does not include any Community Transportation Coordinators.
The FTA encourages the use of these funds to expand the coverage of transit service into rural and small urban areas currently unserved and to improve levels of service in those areas that currently have only minimal transit service.
(provides capital, operating, and admin assistance for areas under 50,000 in population)
(Non-Urbanized Area Section 5311, Federal (may be federal pass thru) Money, FDOT FPN 402250) (search site) |
| Section 5333(b) |
| | Department of Labor Certification. Protects certain rights of mass transit employees affected by grants of Federal funds for the acquisition, improvement, or operation of a transit system. These rights include the preservation of rights, privileges, and benefits under existing collective bargaining agreements, the continuation o f collective bargaining rights, the protection of individual employees against a worsening of their positions related to employment, assurances of employment to employees of acquired mass transportation systems, priority of reemployment, and paid training or retraining. In administering this program, the Department notifies relevant unions, if any, in the area of the proposed project and provides the grant applicant and the affected union(s) and opportunity to develop the terms and conditions of the protections. The Department provides technical and mediation assistance to the parties during the negotiations. These new guidelines replace guidelines which have been in effect since May 1, 1978. The guidelines now eliminate referral of applications when the grant is for routine replacement of equipment and/or facilities of like kind and character. In cases where referral to the unions I appropriate, the referral will include the intended terms of certification. (search site) |
| SIB |
| | State Infrastructure Bank.
Statutory References
SAFETEA-LU Section 1602 and 23 U.S.C. Section 610. (Source FTA Fact Sheet.)
Purpose
To enable States to increase the efficiency of their transportation investment and significantly leverage Federal resources by attracting non-Federal public and private investment. The program provides greater flexibility to the States by allowing other types of project assistance in addition to grant assistance.
Features
SAFETEA-LU establishes a new State Infrastructure Bank (SIB) program under which all States, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands are authorized to enter into cooperative agreements with the Secretary of Transportation to establish financial entities that provide various types of transportation infrastructure credit assistance for fiscal years 2005-2009. The new program is a continuation and expansion of similar programs created by the NHS Act in 1995 and the TEA-21 legislation of 1998
Assistance
SIBs provide various forms of non-grant financial assistance to public or private entities for eligible projects, including below-market rate subordinate loans, bond insurance, guarantees and other forms of credit enhancement. Any debt issued or guaranteed by the SIB must be of investment grade quality. Interstate compacts among 2 or more SIBs are permitted.
Many loans rely on user fees for principal and interest repayment. For transit projects, this could involve fares, advertising revenues, right-of-way leases, or concessions.
Funding
States participating in the new SIB program may capitalize the accounts(s) in their SIB with Federal surface transportation funds for each of fiscal years 2005-2009 as follows:
• Transit account: up to 10 percent of funds made available for capital projects under Urbanized Area Formula Grants, Capital Investment Grants, and Formula Grants for other than Urbanized Areas (Sections 5307, 5309, or 5311 of Title 49). These funds, if deposited into a SIB, shall constitute a capitalization grant for the transit account of the bank.
• Rail account: funds made available for capital projects under subtitle V (Rail Programs) of Title 49, United States Code.
The State must deposit in cash, at a minimum, into the transit account of the bank from non-Federal sources an amount equal to 25% of the amount of the capitalization grant made to the State. The SIB is permitted to leverage their funds by issuing debt.
Eligible Use of Funds
Projects eligible under Title 23, United States Code, capital projects as defined in section 5302 of Title 49, United States Code and any other projects related to surface transportation that the Secretary determines to be appropriate are eligible for assistance from the SIBs. Both the initial credit assistance funded with Federal capitalization grants, including the required non-Federal match, and any assistance funded with loan repayments and other recycled funds are subject to the requirements of Titles 23 and 49, as applicable.
SIBs Authorized by Prior Legislation
States that established SIBs authorized by the NHS Designation Act and TEA-21 may continue to operate those SIBs.
States may not spend more than 2% of the Federal funds contributed to a bank on administrative expenses. (search site) |
| SIG |
| | Special Interest Group. (search site) |
| Simpson-Curtin Rule |
| | Every 3% fare increase results in a losing 1% of passengers. (search site) |
| Single-Occupant Vehicle (SOV) |
| | A vehicle having only one occupant (usually the vehicle operator!). (search site) |
| Social, Economic and Environmental (SEE) |
| | The SEE affects of a project are assessed in environmental documents such as a Draft Environmental Impact Statement or Environmental Assessment. (search site) |
| Solicitation |
| | Process that sets forth the terms and conditions for a contract award. (search site) |
| SOMAN (GD) |
| | A nerve agent, a a compound of the organophosphate family, but more difficult to treat than the other "G" agents. Pralidoxime does not work as well with GD, due to the fact that it's reactivation of acetylcholinesterase must be accomplished within moments of exposure to be at all effective. Normally dispersed like the other "G" agents. (search site) |
| Spare ratio |
| | Ratio of spare vehicles to total fleet (search site) |
| Speed |
| | There are several speeds. Design speed; is the maximum safe speed that can be maintained over a specified section of highway when conditions are so favorable that the design features of the highway govern. The design speed of a roadway dictates which geometric design standards are used such as stopping sight distance, radius of curves, and banking (superelevation) of road surfaces. Operating speed; is the speed at which drivers are observed operating their vehicles. Posted speed; is the maximum speed limit posted on a section of roadway using a regulatory sign. TxDOT's Procedure for Establishing Speed Zones states that the posted speed "should be based primarily upon the 85th percentile speed when adequate speed samples can be secured." This method has also been the standard practice nationwide. Speed limits can not be posted in excess of legislatively mandated speed limits. "85th percentile speed" is the speed at or below which 85 percent of drivers are operating their vehicles. (search site) |
| Split run |
| | Split run: 2 or 3 pieces of a block totaling about 8 hours with an unpaid break between pieces, called a swing. (search site) |
| State Block Grant |
| | The FDOT collects revenue in a Transportation Trust Fund and HART is designated as a recipient for public transit of a portion of the fund, which is distributed as an annual block grant that can be used for either operating or capital expenses. These funds are distributed statewide by a formula based on population density, miles of service and total passengers. HART uses the grant for operating, though it could be used for capital projects as well. (search site) |
| State Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP) |
| | The STIP is a state tool, required by federal legislation, for helping to administer federal grant funds. Once the regional Metropolitan Planning Organization has adopted its TIP, that TIP is submitted to the state transportation department for incorporation in the STIP. Projects not included in the TIP cannot be included in the STIP; FTA cannot obligate funds for a project not in the STIP. (search site) |
| State Urban Corridor Grants |
| | These funds must be competed for with other transit properties in District VII, which include Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, Citrus and Hillsborough Counties. The FDOT provides these funds to HART to operate the U.S. 41 Corridor routes and the Express service across Tampa Bay along the Courtney Campbell Causeway. HART has also received funds from this source for express service overland connecting Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties. (search site) |
| Station Criteria |
| | The most important step is to determine what is considered a passenger station. The intent is to capture significant structures in separate rights-of-way (ROW). This usually means a platform area for rail modes and something more than a street stop or street side passenger shelter for non-rail modes.
The following rules apply:
• All rail passenger facilities (except light rail (LR) and cable car (CC)) are stations.
• All light rail (LR) and cable car (CC) passenger facilities in a separate right-of-way (ROW) that have platforms are stations.
• All bus (MB) and trolleybus (TB) passenger facilities in a separate right-of-way (ROW) that have an enclosed structure (building) for passengers for such items as ticketing, information, restrooms, concessions, and telephones are stations.
• Stops on street or in medians for cable car (CC), light rail (LR), bus (MB), and trolleybus (TB) are not stations if at most they have shelters, canopies, lighting, signage or ramps for accessibility requirements, (i.e., no separate, enclosed buildings).
• All transportation, transit or transfer centers, park-and-ride facilities and transit malls, if they have an enclosed structure (building) for passengers for such items as ticketing, information, restrooms, concessions, and telephones are stations.
Multi-Modal Stations
Another consideration is to determine what is considered a multi-modal station. Multi-modal stations serve any of the following:
• Other transit modes whether by your transit agency or another transit agency
• Amtrak (non-transit services)
• Airports
• Intercity bus (non-transit services such as Greyhound and Trailways)
• Water transportation (non-transit services)
Source: NTD 2007 Reporting Manual - Asset Module 2008-6-18 (search site) |
| STIP |
| | The State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) is required by Federal legislation and includes statewide transportation projects. The STIP must be consistent with the MPO's TIP and the Long Range Transportation Plan. The TIP for each MPO shall be incorporated into the STIP. All transit projects must be included in the TIP as well as in the STIP. FTA cannot obligate funds unless the projects are included in the STIP, and (if appropriate) in the UPWP as well. 10% of STP (surface transportation program) funds must be set aside for Transportation Enhancement Activities. Enhancement funds can be for pedestrians, bicycle facilities, scenic easements, historic sites, preservation of abandoned railway corridors, roadway improvements, bus stomps and so on. State Departments of Transportation are usually involved in administering enhancement funds, using an annual statewide solicitation process.
(State Work Program) State Transportation Improvement Program; has legal standing with the Feds. (search site) |
| STP |
| | As related to mass transit projects, STP funds can be used for capital costs for transit projects, public intracity bus terminals, safety improvements, planning activities, parking facilities, car and vanpool projects, and bicycle and pedestrian facilities adjacent to National Highway System routes. HART depends heavily on STP funds, which in fiscal years 1997, 1998 and 1999 funded bus replacements. These projects must also be programmed through the MPO TIP and added in the STIP before funds can be released. The FDOT administers these programs for the federal government. Project selection is made by the MPO. There is flexibility in how the funds are used as long as the category requirements are met. Once prioritized by the MPO, the flexibility goes away. In other words, once a grant comes to HART, HART cannot change its use. HART is currently receiving flexible funds to help with the relocation of the northern terminal and Transportation Plaza. (search site) |
| Straight run |
| | Straight run: Continuous, totaling about 8 hours, or two block pieces with a paid break in between. (search site) |
| Supplant |
| | To take the place of, to supersede. To use block grant program funds in place of local tax revenues made available for an eligible public transit provider for operations in the previous year. Such use would result in the block grant award to the public transit operator being reduced by the amount of supplanted local funds. As provided in Section 341.052(3)(c), F.S., the Secretary of Transportation may waive this provision for public transit providers located in a county recovering from a state of emergency. (search site) |
| SURFACE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM (STP) |
| | This is a funding category under the Federal Aid Highway Program that can be ‘flexed’ to FTA for transit purposes. Any transit project eligible for assistance under the Federal Transit Act may qualify to receive STP funds. Projects could include public intracity bus terminals, safety improvements, planning activities, parking facilities, car and vanpool projects, and bicycle and pedestrian facilities adjacent to National Highway System routes. General STP funds must be prioritized in the MPO Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP).
However, 10% of STP funds must be set aside for Transportation Enhancement Activities. Enhancement funds can be for pedestrians, bicycle facilities, scenic easements, historic sites, preservation of abandoned railway corridors, roadway improvements, bus stops, and so on. State Departments of Transportation are usually involved in administering enhancement funds, using an annual statewide solicitation process. (search site) |
| Surface Transportation Program Category 4C for "Urban Mobility/Rehabilitation" (STP4C) |
| | This funding category is to address transportation needs within the urbanized areas with populations of 200,000 or greater. Restrictions for funding include that the projects are to be selected by the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) in consultation with the Department (TxDOT). These funds can be used on any roadway with a functional classification greater than a local road or a minor collector. Each urbanized area receives an annual allocation based upon population. Federal funds are allocated through the District (TxDOT) to the qualifying MPO (Austin Transportation Study). (search site) |
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| TABUN (GA) |
| | A nerve agent, Tabun is an organophosphate type compound that was developed between WWI & II. It can be easily absorbed through the skin, by means of inhalation, or ingestion. The symptoms of the poisoning are similar , regardless of the route of introduction. (search site) |
| TAPS |
| | Transportation Accessibility Program (search site) |
| TCAC |
| | Transit Consumer Advisory Committee (search site) |
| TDM (Transportation Demand Management) |
| | Low-cost ways to reduce demand by automobiles on the transportation system, such as programs to promote telecommuting, flextime, and ridesharing. (search site) |
| TDP |
| | A transit Development Plan is a locally adopted document which includes an assessment of the need for transit services in the local area, identifies the local transit policies, existing services and proposed service improvements, capital and operating costs of the proposed services, existing and proposed sources of funding and a staged implementation plan. The preparation and content of the TDP complies with the provisions of Rule Chapter 14-73, F.A.C (search site) |
| TEA – 21 |
| | Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century. Supplies funding for both highways and transit. (search site) |
| TEA (Transportation Enhancement Activities) |
| | A TEA 21 (Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century) funding category. Ten percent of STP monies must be set aside for projects that enhance the compatibility of transportation facilities with their surroundings. Examples of TEA projects include bicycle and pedestrian paths, restoration of rail depots or other historic transportation facilities, acquisition of scenic or open space lands next to travel corridors, and murals or other public art projects. (Citizens' Guide to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission) (search site) |
| TEA 21 - Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century |
| | Passed in 1998 by Congress, it expands the programs created in 1991 under ISTEA. See also CMAQ, ISTEA, Surface Transportation Program, and TEA Transportation Enhancement Activities. (search site) |
| TEA 21 (Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century) |
| | Passed by Congress in May 1998, this federal transportation legislation retains and expands many of the programs created in 1991 under ISTEA (Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act, pronounced "Iced Tea").Reauthorizes federal surface transportation programs for six years (1998-2003) and significantly increases overall funding for transportation. (Citizens' Guide to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission) (search site) |
| TEA Transportation Enhancement Activities |
| | A TEA 21 funding category. These projects must enhance the compatibility of transportation facilities with their surroundings - bike and pedestrian paths, acquisition of scenic or open space lands next to travel corridors, murals, public art, etc. (search site) |
| TEAM |
| | Transportation Electronic Award Management Application, FTA grant submission website. http://ftateamweb.fta.dot.gov/fta-flash2b.html
Started by FTA in FY1999. (search site) |
| TEC |
| | Transit Emphasis Corridors – part of BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) (search site) |
| TIF |
| | Transit Infrastructure Funds (search site) |
| TIH TOXIC INHALATION HAZARD. |
| | Term used to describe gases and volatile liquids that are toxic when inhaled. (Same as PIH) (search site) |
| TIP |
| | The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) developed by the Hillsborough MPO prioritizes federal and some state transportation funds. Included in the TIP program are HART's transit projects for which State or Federal funding is required. Identification of a project in the TIP is necessary before FDOT can help fund it. The work programs of the other jurisdictions are included in the TIP, though these jurisdictions do not have the same mandate that FDOT has for adhering to MPO prioritization of the projects.
The result of a continuing, cooperative and comprehensive planning process which delineates transportation improvements recommended for federal and state funding during the program period. The TIP is submitted to the Department per the requirements of Chapter 339, F.S.
(Federal) (should include anticipatory) (search site) |
| TMI |
| | Transportation Management Initiative (search site) |
| TMO |
| | Transportation Management Organization (search site) |
| TOP |
| | Transportation Outreach Program. State Program. For YBOR Station. (search site) |
| Transfer Point |
| | A fixed location where passengers interchange from one route or vehicle to another that has little infrastructure (APTA) (search site) |
| Transit Corridor Project |
| | A project to relieve congestion and improve capacity within a transportation corridor as defined in Procedure No. 725-030-003, Transit Corridor Program. (search site) |
| Transportation Demand Management (TDM) |
| | TDM includes actions or programs which encourage people to travel at alternative times, or with fewer vehicles to reduce congestion. TDM reduces traffic volumes through methods including: ridesharing, park-and-ride operations, staggered work hours, and transit improvements.
(search site) |
| Transportation Improvement Program |
| | The spending plan for federal funding expected to flow to an area from all sources for transportation projects of all types. The regional body prepares a TIP about every two years using input and budgets of local governments and transit operators. (search site) |
| Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) |
| | The TIP is a staged, three- to five-year prioritized program of transportation projects covering a metropolitan planning area which is consistent with the metropolitan transportation plan. The projects are recommended from those in the transportation systems management element and the long-range element of the planning process. This program is required for a locality to receive federal transit and highway grants. The selected projects need to be consistent with the transportation plan. The TIP also contains an annual or biennial element which lists all transportation project activities that will receive federal funding for a given 1 or 2 year period. Regulations require the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and state and transit operators to cooperatively develop the TIP and make project selections within expected funding levels. (search site) |
| Transportation Management Area (TMA) |
| | An urbanized area with a population over 200,000 (as determined by the latest decennial census) or other area when TMA designation is requested by the Governor and the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), and officially designated by the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration. The TMA designation applies to the entire metropolitan planning area served by an MPO within which the TMA is located. (search site) |
| Transportation Strategy |
| | A general approach to solving a transportation problem. Examples of transportation strategies for roadways include: "do nothing" or "no-build," add a travel lane, convert a travel lane to an HOV lane, reconstruct or widen a roadway, or implement Transportation Demand Management and Transportation Systems Management (search site) |
| Transportation System Management (TSM) |
| | Actions or construction that control or improve the movement of cars and trucks on the highway system and buses on the transit system. TSM also includes the coordination of the available transportation systems for more efficient operation.
(search site) |
| Transportation Systems Management (TSM) |
| | Some TSM concepts represent over 80 years of experience and practice by transportation engineers and planners. A typical TSM activity is a low-cost, short-term, high-impact transportation-related improvement. A TSM action is not the construction of a new freeway, but it may be the use of a freeway shoulder as an added traffic lane during peak traffic flow conditions. TSM examples include using traffic signals at freeway on-ramps to meter traffic, improving existing signal timings, and using changeable message signs (ahead traffic condition information), lane control signs, and changeable speed signs. TSM involves making implementable improvements, or additions, to existing transportation facilities. (search site) |
| Trust Fund |
| | A fund credited with receipts which are earmarked by law and held in trust or in a fiduciary capacity by the Government for use in carrying out specific purposes and programs in accordance with an agreement or a statute. (search site) |
| TTP |
| | Tickets, Tokens and Passes (search site) |
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| UCP |
| | Uniform Certification Programs. Provides “one-stop shopping” to applicants for certification, such that an applicant may apply once and their certification is to be honored by all recipients in the state. Can be a state UCP or a regional UCP. Regional UCP is where two or more states form a regional UCP, must have DOT approval. Also UCP’s may enter into Reciprocity agreements with other UCPs. One single DBE directory for the state. (search site) |
| Uniform Financial Accounting and Reporting Elements (FARE) |
| | Uniform Financial Accounting and Reporting Elements (search site) |
| Unlinked Trips |
| | Passenger counting convention that considers each boarding a separate trip, even if the passenger is transferring between vehicles from origin to destination. (search site) |
| UPWP |
| | Unified Planning Work Program
The Unified Planning Work Program UPWP) is developed annually by the Metropolitan Planning Organization. It is the consolidated list of all planning projects in the county that are planned for the next fiscal year to use federal funding. As with the TIP, the UPWP is a required product of the MPO. HART planning projects are developed in conjunction with planning projects of other agencies and are included in the UPWP. (search site) |
| Urbanized Area |
| | Comprises an incorporated place and adjacent densely settled surrounding area that together have a minimum population of 50,000. (search site) |
| UZA |
| | Urbanized Areas. (search site) |
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| Vehicle Mile of Travel (VMT) |
| | A unit to measure vehicle travel made by a private vehicle, such as an automobile, van, pickup truck, or motorcycle. Each mile traveled is counted as one vehicle mile regardless of the number of persons in the vehicle. (search site) |
| Vehicles Per Day (VPD) |
| | This is a measure of traffic volume and is used as the unit for Average Annual Daily Traffic. (search site) |
| Vehicles Per Hour (VPH) |
| | A ratio used in defining the hourly volume. (search site) |
| Volume-to-Capacity ratio (V/C) |
| | The ratio of flow rate to capacity. The V/C may be the actual or projected rate of flow on a designated lane group during a peak 15-minute interval divided by the capacity of the lane group. The V/C ratio is a measure of capacity sufficiency, that is, whether or not the physical geometry provides sufficient capacity for the subject movement. Low V/C ratios depict relatively free flow conditions. High V/C ratios depict more congested conditions. Actual V/C ratios are calculated from vehicle count data (defining volume) and the geometrics of a roadway (determining capacity). V/C ratios are used to broadly define problem areas on a freeway and to make preliminary operational decisions concerning the freeway (e.g., ramp metering rates). In some cases, the V/C ratio is used to define Level of Service. (search site) |
| VX |
| | A nerve agent, VX is an organophosphate-like compound, but comes in an oily liquid form that is persistent for weeks or longer in the environment. It is commonly used to deny access to a given area and thus stop or slow an enemy ground advance. It can be treated by the same methods that are used for the "G" agents, but must be decontaminated in a different manner than the other agents; alcohol, ether, or acetate can be used to wash the oily liquid from the skin. (search site) |
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| WARM ZONE |
| | Area between Hot and Cold zones where personnel and equipment decontamination and hot zone support take place. It includes control points for the access corridor and thus assists in reducing the spread of contamination. Also referred to as the contamination reduction corridor (CRC), contamination reduction zone (CRZ), yellow zone or limited access zone in other documents. (EPA Standard Operating Safety Guidelines, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120, NFPA 472) (search site) |
| WATER-SENSITIVE |
| | Substances which may produce flammable and/or toxic decomposition products upon contact with water. (search site) |
| Weaving Area |
| | A section of a highway where two or more vehicle flows must cross each other's path along a length of the freeway. Weaving areas are usually formed when merge areas are closely followed by diverging areas. They are also formed when a freeway on-ramp is followed by an off-ramp and the two are connected by a continuous auxiliary lane. (search site) |
| Welfare to Work |
| | Welfare to Work – “Wages” Available at least since 2002 for this special category of funds. A tri-county (HART, Pasco County, Pinellas County MPO) application for a "WAGES" grant was submitted to FDOT and the group received partial funding for the proposed project. The funds allow for all three systems to serve the Oldsmar area. HART runs service in Hillsborough and PSTA runs in Pinellas and Pasco. This opens a new area for transit and creates connections across county lines. (search site) |
| Work Program |
| | Issued around Feb/March Time Frame; no status as a Federal Document (search site) |