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
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| 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
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| 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. |