AASHTO - American Association of
State Highway and Transportation Officials - AASHTO is the national
organization of the state transportation departments. Of relevance is the set of standards promulgated by AASHTO for
the design of roadways and bridges.
ATMS - Advanced Traffic Management
System - See ITS.
AIP - Airport Improvement Program -
The program of capital projects for the region's airports. CDRPC is the responsible agency.
Alternatives Analysis - Alternatives analysis are detailed studies and
assessment of the various transportation options available for the purpose of
selecting one for implementation.
Ideally, all feasible alternatives will be investigated. An Alternatives Analysis is required if
funds are sought from the Federal Transit Administration for capital-intensive
major transportation projects.
Alternative Fuel - An alternative fuel is a liquid or gaseous
non-petroleum fuel. The term usually
refers to alcohol fuels, mineral fuels, natural gas, and hydrogen.
ADA - Americans with Disabilities
Act - Significant civil rights legislation passed in 1990 that prohibits
discrimination against individuals with disabilities. With certain statutory exceptions, public and private entities
providing fixed route or demand responsive transportation services must provide
service comparable to what is available for the public to individuals with
disabilities.
AADT - Annual Average Daily
Traffic - The estimate of typical daily traffic on a road segment for all
days of the week, Sunday through Saturday, over the period of one year.
Appropriation - Appropriation legislation allocates budgeted
funds from general revenues to programs that have been previously authorized by
other legislation. The amount of money
appropriated may be less that the amount authorized.
Apportionment - At the federal level, approval by the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for an agency to spend funds appropriated by
Congress. The public reporting of the
OMB approved apportionment, detailing the amount of transit formula funding
available to each urbanized area or designated recipient, is done by the
Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and is commonly referred to as "the
apportionment".
Area Sources - Area sources of air pollutants are small
sources that are too small, too numerous to be included as stationary sources
of pollution (see definition below).
However, collectively they contribute significantly to air pollution. Examples include dry cleaners, lawn mowers,
and barbecues.
Authorization - Authorization legislation at the federal level
creates programs including formulas and guidelines for awarding funds. Authorizing legislation may set an upper
limit on program spending or may be open ended, as in ... "such sums as
may be necessary". General revenue
funds to be spent under an authorization must be appropriated by separate
legislation.
CAAA - See listing under FCAA.
Capital Costs - Non-recurring or infrequently recurring costs
of long-term assets, such as land, guideways, stations, buildings, and
vehicles. The costs often include
related expenses, for example, depreciation and property taxes.
CDRPC - Capital District Regional
Planning Commission - The comprehensive planning agency for the four-county
Capital District, encompassing Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Schenectady
counties. Primary work areas include
forecasting, airport planning, and analysis of Census data.
CDTA - Capital District
Transportation Authority - CDTA is the public transit authority organized
under the laws of New York State for the four-county Capital District. Created in 1970, CDTA operates fixed route
bus service and STAR paratransit service.
CDTC - Capital District
Transportation Committee - CDTC is the regional transportation planning and
financing agency for the four-county Capital District. CDTC was created in 1965. It is the designated metropolitan planning
organization for the region.
Class I Bike Path - A travelway completely separate from the
roadway and shoulder which is designated for cycling by means of signs and
sometimes striping and other identifying markings. The travelway may be either within or outside (i.e. an
independent bikeway) the highway right-of-way.
Class II Bike Lane - A Class II bike lane is a restricted
travelway, or part of the roadway or shoulder, designated for cycling along a
specific portion of the roadway or shoulder (i.e. comprising a lane for
cycling) by means of signs and striping and sometimes other identifying
markings. A physical barrier may or may
not be employed to separate cycling from motorized traffic.
Class III Shared Roadway - A travelway, part of a roadway, which is
designated for cycling by means of signing and sometime other identifying
markings. No physical separation of
cycling and motorized traffic is provided.
Clearance or Clearance Limit - The limiting dimensions of height and width
for cars in order that they may safely clear all bridges, tunnels, station
platforms and other structures as well as equipment on adjacent tracks. Clearance on existing facilities (both rail
and highway) is a major freight movement issue as the size and height of
vehicles for goods movement increases.
Commute - Regular travel between home and a fixed
location, usually a job. The term is
often applied only to travel in the direction of the main flow of traffic, to
distinguish it from "reverse commute".
Conformity - Conformity is a determination made by MPOs and
the US DOT that transportation plans and programs in nonattainment areas meet
the "purpose" of the SIP (see definition below), which is to reduce
pollutant emissions to meet air quality standards.
CMAQ - Congestion Mitigation and
Air Quality Program - A funding program created in the ISTEA for projects
and activities that reduce congestion and improve air quality in regions that
do not meet federal air quality standards.
Such regions are defined as "non-attainment".
Congestion - the level at which transportation system
performance is no longer acceptable to the traveling public due to traffic
interference. The level of acceptable
system performance may vary by type of transportation facility, geographic
location, public tolerance, and/or time of day.
CMS - Congestion Management System
- A CMS process provides information on transportation system performance
to decision-makers. This information is
used to select and implement cost-effective strategies to manage the
transportation system to alleviate traffic congestion and enhance mobility.
CHIPS - Consolidated Highway
Improvement Program - CHIPS is a state-funding program for local road
improvements.
Constant Dollars - Current dollars, that is, the value of the
dollar for the year selected as a base, adjusted for projected inflation. Constant dollars are used to remove the
distortion caused by inflation in making comparisons. The adjusted values are termed constant measurement year dollars,
for example, constant 1994 dollars.
Cooperation - Defined in regulation as "Actions taken are
subject to the concurrence of the identified parties."
Coordination - Coordination is defined in regulation as
"The comparison of the transportation plans, programs, and schedules of
one agency with related plans, programs and schedules of other agencies or
entities with legal standing, and the subsequent adjustment of plans, programs
and schedules to maintain consistency and reduce or resolve possible omissions,
duplications, or conflicts."
Consultation - Defined in regulation as "One party confers
with another identified party and, prior to taking action(s), considers that
parties views."
Corridor - A corridor is any major transportation route that
includes parallel limited access highways, major arterials, or transit
lines. With regard to traffic incident
management, a corridor may include more distant transportation routes that can
serve as viable alternatives to each other in the event of accidents.
Disability - In the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA),
the term disability is defined to include any physical or mental impairment
that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a record of such
an impairment, or being regarded as having such an impairment. Major life activities include caring for
one's self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking,
breathing, learning, and working.
Persons with cognitive disabilities and those with contagious or
noncontagious disease (including tuberculosis and HIV disease) are specifically
included in this definition.
Discretionary Funds - Discretionary funds may be spent according to
the discretion of a designated person, agency, or authority.
Earmarking - The practice of Congress to define in statute
the funding that is to be provided for specific projects.
Emissions Budget - The part of the SIP (see definition below)
that identifies the allowable emissions levels, mandated by the NAAQS for
certain pollutants emitted from mobile, stationary, and area sources. The emissions levels are used for meeting
emission reduction milestones, attainment, or maintenance demonstrations.
Emissions Inventory - A complete list of sources and amounts of
pollutant emissions within a specific area and time interval. Part of the SIP (see below).
Enhancements - TEA-21 defines transportation enhancement
activities for the purpose of funding under the Surface Transportation Program
as "the provision of facilities for pedestrians and bicycles, acquisition
of scenic easements and scenic or historic sites, scenic or historic highway
programs, landscaping and other scenic beautification, historic preservation, rehabilitation
and operation of historic transportation buildings, structures, facilities and
canals, preservation of abandoned railway corridors including the conversion
and use thereof for pedestrian or bicycle trails, control and removal of
outdoor advertising, archaeological planning and research, and mitigation of
water pollution due to highway runoff."
EAP - Environmental Action Plan
- New York State's Environmental Action Plan describes the process to be used
by the NYSDOT in developing Federal Highway Administration federal-aid
transportation projects for which NYSDOT has either an implementation or
funding responsibility. The EAP ensures
full consideration of social, economic, and environmental factors to make transportation
decisions and that are made in the best overall public interest.
EA - Environmental Assessment -
An environmental study under the NEPA (see definition below) to determine
whether an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is required.
EIS - Environmental Impact
Statement - A project specific document, required by NEPA, that examines
the social, environmental, and economic impacts of a major proposal. Specific findings are required to be made by
responsible agencies regarding these impacts, their mitigation, and the
examination of alternatives to the proposed project.
EPA - Environmental Protection
Agency - The federal agency charged with protecting the environment.
Excess Delay - A
measure developed by the CDTC of the amount of time spent in congested traffic
in excess of the time that would have been spent without congestion. For example, if it would normally take
someone twenty minutes to commute from work to home without congestion, but the
trip takes thirty minutes because of congestion, then 10 minutes of excess
delay was experienced. This excess
delay is added up for all travelers to obtain the system-wide estimates shown
in this report.
Expressway - Expressways are divided arterial highway for
through traffic. An expressway has full
or partial control of access and generally has grade separations at major
intersections.
Federal Action - Federal actions are defined in regulation as
"Any activity engaged in by a department, agency, or instrumentality of
the Federal government, or any activity that a department, agency or instrumentality
of the Federal government supports in any way, provides financial assistance
for, license, permits, or approves."
This definition is particularly significant in the implementation of the
Federal Clean Air Act (FCAA), which applies to all projects that require
"federal action".
Federal-aid Highways - Those highway eligible for assistance under
Title 23 of the United States Code (a.k.a. TEA-21), except those functionally
classified as local or rural minor collectors.
FCAA - Federal Clean Air Act Amendments
of 1990 - The FCAA is also known as the CAAA. Landmark legislation passed by Congress that renews the Federal
Clean Air Act and makes significant program changes. For the transportation sector, significant changes include a
definition of conformity for the formulation of regulations, and requirements
for the use and development of clean fuels and vehicles.
FHWA - Federal Highway
Administration - The federal agency responsible for the approval of
transportation projects that affect the defined federal highway system. Administratively, it is under US DOT and is
the sister agency of FTA (see below).
FTA - Federal Transit
Administration - The federal department of mass transportation, which is
under US DOT (formerly called the Urban Mass Transportation Administration or
UMTA). FTA is the sister agency of
FHWA.
FTA Section 5309 (formerly Section
3) Funds - Discretionary and
formula transit capital funds provided by the federal government through
FTA. There are funding categories for
New Rail Starts and Extensions (earmarked by Congress), Fixed guideway
(formula-based), and Bus and Bus Facilities (discretionary). The minimum local match is 20%. Projects that meet the mandates of the ADA
or the FCAA are funded on a 90% federal - 10% local basis.
FTA Section 5310 Funds (formerly Sections 16 and 16(b)(2)) - Capital
funds apportioned to states by the federal government through FTA to non-profit
providers of transportation for the elderly and disabled. This program is administered annually in the
Capital District by NYSDOT.
FTA Section 8 Funds - Federal transit funds, provided through FTA,
for metropolitan transportation planning and technical studies.
FTA Section 5307 (formerly Section
9) Program Capital Funds -
Formula capital funds, provided through FTA, for capital purchases (buses,
support building, etc..) only. Section
5307 is the largest source of capital funding for CDTA.
FTA Section 5307 (9) Operating
Funds - Transit operating funds,
provided through FTA, to support annual operating costs. Section 5307 funds are distributed by
formula, based on congressional appropriations.
FTA Section 5307 (formerly Section
9) Planning Funds - Federal
transit funds, provided through FTA, for metropolitan transportation planning
and technical studies.
FTA Section 5311 (formerly Section
18) Funds - Transit formula
funds provided by FTA to rural areas that can be used for either capital or
operating expenses.
FONSI - Finding of No Significant
Impact - A FONSI is a document that describes the reasons that a project
will not have a significant effect on the environment. Projects with approved FONSIs do not require
the preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS) under NEPA.
FY - Fiscal Year - Federal
fiscal years, used in federally mandated documents like the TIP, go from
October 1 to September 31. New York
State fiscal years, used in documents like the State Budget, go from April 1 to
March 31. CDTC operates on an April 1
to March 31 fiscal year.
Fixed Guideway - Light rail, commuter rail, automated guideway,
or express buses on exclusive right-of-way are all examples of fixed guideway
transit. The common characteristic that
is shared is the stable ("fixed") nature of the right-of-way provided
for the passage of the transit vehicle.
The term "fixed guideway" is used to convey the generic
concept, as opposed to any predisposition to a specific technology.
Formula Funding - Funds that are distributed on a formula basis
to a region or agency. Oftentimes data
from the latest census is used in the calculation of funding levels.
Freeway - A
divided highway for through traffic that has full access control and grade
separations at all intersections is called a freeway.
Functional Classification - The grouping of streets and highways into
classes, or systems according to the character of service that they
provide. Facilities are divided
according to the degree to which they provide access to places vs. mobility
between places. The recognition that
individual roads do not serve travel independently, and that most travel
involves movement through a network of roads, is basic to functional
classification.
GEIS - Generic Environmental
Impact Statement - A SEQR (see definition below) document that examines the
environmental impacts of a program of actions.
A GEIS is done when an entire area, such as the Albany Airport, is
rapidly developing and area-wide policies are called for.
GIS - Geographic Information
System - GIS is a computerized system of compiling, presenting, and
analyzing geographic based data. Map
images of the road network can be overlaid with land use zoning information,
environmental concerns, census data, and other useful information. CDTC is developing a GIS to aid in the
transportation planning process.
GOP - Goal Oriented Program -
NYSDOT's internal capital program for state facilities and fund sources. The program is based on the achievement of
performance based goals for the state transportation system.
HOV - High Occupancy Vehicle -
An HOV is any passenger vehicle that meets or exceeds a certain predetermined
number of passengers. Sometimes this
type of vehicle is called a multiple occupant vehicle (MOV). For designation of dedicated freeway lanes,
a responsible jurisdiction may define an HOV as two or more occupants, with federal
approval. A definition of three or more
requires no additional federal approvals.
HBRR - Highway Bridge Repair and
Replacement - A federal funding
program for the repair, rehabilitation, and replacement of bridges. Administered by NYSDOT, both state-owned and
local bridges are eligible for this capital program.
HPMS - Highway Performance
Monitoring System - The system used by FHWA to provide information to
Congress, the States, and the public on the extent and physical condition of
the nation's highway system, its use, performance, and needs. The system includes an inventory of the
nation's highways including traffic volumes.
(H)SMS - Highway Safety Management
System - Systematic processes to ensure that all opportunities to improve
highway safety (defined as the reduction of traffic accidents, and deaths,
injuries, and property damage on public roads) are identified, considered, and
implemented where appropriate.
IAP - Industrial Access Program -
The IAP is a state-funding program for transportation projects to improve
transportation access to industrial facilities. Projects must directly help to retain or attract jobs. The IAP is administered by NYSDOT.
I/M or I & M - Inspection and
Maintenance Program - An emissions testing and inspection program
implemented by states in nonattainment areas to ensure that the emissions
control devices on vehicles are properly maintained.
ITS - Intelligent Transportation
System - A technology-intensive approach to traffic and transportation
management and operations designed to improve the performance of the existing
network of roads. Components include
signal coordination and timing, incident management, travel advisory radio,
transit improvements, and other operational strategies to improve efficiency.
IVHS - Intelligent Vehicle and
Highway System - ISTEA established the IVHS Program to enhance the
capacity, efficiency, and safety of the federal-aid highway system and to serve
as an alternative to additional physical capacity. Automated highways and vehicles are one component of this
approach. IVHS is defined to mean the
development of application of electronics, communications or information
processing (including advanced traffic management systems, commercial vehicle
operations, advanced traveler information systems, commercial and advanced
vehicle control systems, advanced public transportation systems, satellite
vehicle tracking systems, and advanced vehicle communications systems) used
singly or in combination to improve the efficiency and safety of surface
transportation systems.
Intermodal Facility - Intermodal facilities connect different modes
of transportation. Intermodal
transportation facilities serve intrastate, interstate, and international
movement of goods and people. Examples
include a light rail system that serves an airport or a rail terminal at a
shipping port.
IMS - Intermodal Management System
- A systematic process that collects and analyzes data on intermodal
facilities, connections, choices, coordination, and cooperation. It provides information to decision-makers
to select cost-effective strategies for the movement of both goods and people.
ISTEA - Intermodal Surface
Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 - ISTEA legislation was passed by
Congress in December 1991 and provided for a major restructuring of the highway
program. Key components of the Act
include:
·
a greatly increased
flexibility in the programming of projects,
·
a level playing
field between highway and transit projects with a consistent 80/20 matching
ratio,
·
ties to the Federal
Clean Air Act and Americans with Disabilities Acts, and
·
an emphasis on
maintenance of the existing system and operational improvements.
Interstate Maintenance - TEA-21 establishes a funding category for
maintenance of the Interstate system that specifically limits the use of these
funds to maintenance of the existing system.
Eligible activities include reconstruction of bridges, interchanges and
overcrossings along existing Interstate routes, including the acquisition of
right-of-way where necessary and preventative maintenance. Project selection by NYSDOT; included in
CDTC TIP.
Life Cycle Cost Analysis - Procedure for evaluating projects or
investments by evaluating future costs over the expected useful life of the
facility.
LOS - Level of Service - LOS
is a measure of congestion that compares actual or projected traffic volume
with the maximum capacity of the intersection or road in question. LOS A indicates a free flow of traffic; LOS
C is moderate congestion; LOS F is very congested, with a failure of the system
to operate. LOS concepts can also be
applied to other transportation services as an indication of the quality and
quantity of transportation service provided.
Maintenance - Maintenance activities are non-construction
activities that preserve the function of the existing transportation system.
Maintenance Area - Defined in law (the FCAA) as "Any
geographic region of the United State that the EPA has designated (under
Section 175A of the FCAA) for a transportation related pollutant(s) for which a
national ambient air quality standard exists." This designation is used after nonattainment areas reach
attainment.
Major Activity Center - A major activity center is a geographical area
characterized by a large transient population and heavy traffic volumes and
densities; for example, central business district, major air terminal, large
university, large shopping center, industrial park, or sports arena.
Major Metropolitan Transportation
Investment - USDOT regulations
define a major metropolitan transportation investment as a ... "project
that involves new construction or extension of controlled access principal
arterials, or the capacity expansion of a controlled access principal arterial
by at least one lane (or an equivalent increase in capacity through access
control or technological improvement) or construction or extension of a busway,
high occupancy vehicle (HOV) facility, or fixed guideway transit facility, or
adding lanes to a busway or adding tracks to fixed guideway transit facility,
or a substantial increase in service on a fixed guideway." This definition is significant for the kinds
of projects subject to analysis by the MPO in its planning process. While TEA-21 deletes the ISTEA requirement
for a standalone “Major Investment Study” prior to decisions regarding the
scope and nature of such projects, CDTC will continue to consider the need for
an analysis comparable to an MIS on a case-by-case basis.
Metropolitan Planning Area - The area, established by the MPO (see below) and
the Governor in accordance with TEA-21 regulations, in which the federally
mandated metropolitan planning process must be carried out. This is the four-county Capital District,
with the exception of the portion of northern Saratoga County in the Glens
Falls urbanized area.
MPO - Metropolitan Planning
Organization - A MPO is a federally required transportation planning body
responsible for the Regional
Transportation Plan (RTP) and the Transportation
Improvement Program (TIP) in its region.
The adoption of these documents is a prerequisite for the receipt of
federal transit and highway funding.
CDTC is the MPO for the four-county Capital District, encompassing
Albany, Schenectady, Rensselaer, and Saratoga counties (with the exception of
the Glens Falls urban area in northern Saratoga).
MTS - Metropolitan Transportation
System - An integrated, multimodal transportation system consisting of the
major highways, arterials and transit routes used to move people and goods
around a region.
Mobile Sources - Mobile sources of air pollutants include motor
vehicles, aircraft, seagoing vessels, and other transportation modes. The mobile source related pollutants of
greatest concern are carbon monoxide, transportation hydrocarbons (HC),
nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter (PM-10). Mobile sources are subject to a different
set of regulations than are stationary and area sources of air pollutants.
Mode - A mode
is a particular form of travel, for example, walking, traveling by automobile,
traveling by bus, traveling by train.
NAAQS - National Ambient Air
Quality Standards - The standards set by EPA for various pollutants known
to cause health related problems, including ozone and its precursors (nitrous
oxides and hydrocarbons), carbon monoxide, lead, sulfur dioxide, and
particulate matter (PM-10).
NEPA - National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 - Federal legislation (42 USC 4321 et seq.) that requires an analysis of the environmental impact of
all federal actions.
NHS - National Highway System
- ISTEA established a 155,000-mile NHS to provide an interconnected system of
principal arterial routes to serve major travel destinations and population
centers, international border crossings, as well as ports, airports, public
transportation facilities, and other intermodal transportation facilities. The NHS must also meet national defense
requirements and serve interstate and interregional travel. Designation of the actual routes in the
system is a cooperative process whereby the states (NYSDOT) propose the NHS to
the U.S. Secretary of Transportation.
Congressional approval by November 1995 is required. Eligible projects of NHS funding include new
construction, reconstruction, and rehabilitation of highways, operational
improvements, mass transit projects in a NHS corridor, safety improvement,
transportation planning, traffic management and control, parking facilities,
carpool projects, and bicycle and pedestrian projects. In areas that do not meet federal clean air
standards, up to 100% of NHS funding is transferable to the STP upon request of
the state.
NYSDEC - New York State Department
of Environmental Conservation - The state environmental protection agency
responsible for air quality planning matters, particularly the adoption of the
SIP (see definition below).
NYSDOT - New York State Department
of Transportation: NYSDOT is the state transportation agency that is the
owner/operator of the state highway system.
NYSDOT also distributes state funds to transit operators. NYSDOT is organized into a Main Office,
which deals with statewide issues, and regional offices. CDTC is entirely within Region 1 of NYSDOT.
NYSTA - New York State Thruway
Authority - The Thruway Authority is the state agency responsible for the
operations, maintenance, and improvement of the New York State Thruway. The Thruway Authority was recently expanded
to encompass the barge canal system and to undertake economic development
projects in selected areas of the state.
Nonattainment Area - A nonattainment area is defined in law (the
FCAA) as "Any geographic region of the United States that the EPA has
designated as nonattainment for a transportation related pollutant(s) for which
a national ambient air quality standard exists." There are levels of non-attainment: marginal, moderate, major,
and severe. The Capital District is
designated as a marginal non-attainment area for ozone, and is in attainment
for all other pollutants.
Obligation - Obligation is an action by an administrative
agency approving the spending of money for a specific purpose to a specific
grant recipient.
OA - Obligational Authority -
The authority granted by USDOT for the states to obligate appropriated federal
funds. OA is generally less than
appropriated amounts, with the difference used to offset the apparent federal
deficit on paper. OA provides
Congressional control over program spending levels at the federal level.