Abbreviations
A
AADT - Annual Average Daily Traffic
AARP - American Association of Retired Persons
AASHTO - American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials: A nonprofit, nonpartisan association representing highway and transportation departments in the 50 states.
ACEC - American Council of Engineering Companies
ADA - American with Disabilities Act: Federal law enacted in 1990 that established that persons with disabilities have the same rights as other citizens to access services and facilities available to the public. In transportation terms, the ADA seeks to ensure that all Americans can meet their basic mobility needs.
ADT - Average Daily Traffic
AEV - All-Electric Vehicle: An automobile that runs on electricity only and is propelled by an electric motor powered by rechargeable batteries.
AICP - American Institute of Certified Partners: A professional certification for planners requiring passing a test offered by the American Planning Association, meeting standards for education/experience in the field and completing continuing education.
ASCE - American Society of Civil Engineers: A professional association for civil engineers.
APA - American Planning Association: Nonprofit professional organization representing the field of city and regional planning.
APA-NJ - American Planning Association, New Jersey Chapter
APTA - American Public Transportation Association: An organization that represents the bus, rapid transit and commuter rail systems industry and works to improve the accessibility and availability of public transportation.
ARTBA - American Road & Transportation Builders Association: A construction-related advocacy association which works to increase and protect funding for investment in transportation infrastructure.
B
BID - Business Improvement District: An area within which businesses pay an additional tax (or levy) in order to fund projects within the district's boundaries.
BMP - Best Management Practice
BMS - Bridge Management System: A set of tools for analyzing data on the condition of bridges, predicting deterioration, and formulating optimum and cost-effective actions for preservation and maintenance.
BRT - Bus Rapid Transit: A flexible, rubber-tired form of rapid transit using semi-dedicated or dedicated routes, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) elements and specially branded vehicles to provide similar services as light rail systems with reduced capital costs.
C
CAAA - Clean Air Act Amendments: Federal law that requires states to set budgets and timetables for reducing air pollution. The law requires Metropolitan Planning Organizations to give priority funding to transportation projects which reduce vehicle emissions through travel pattern changes, travel mode options, and/or traffic flow improvements.
CAFRA - Coastal Area Facility Review Act: A state permitting program that determines what can be built along environmentally sensitive coastal areas.
CAIT - Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation: Located at Rutgers University, one of five National University Transportation Centers funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to conduct transportation research and training. Click here to see scheduled trainings.
CBD - Central Business District: The commercial and business center of a city, typically with a concentration of retail and office buildings.
CD - Concept Development: The phase of project development in which a transportation need is studied to more precisely define the problems involved and the best strategies to address them, often resulting in a preliminary preferred alternative (PPA) and the identification of the environmental document.
CDBG - Community Development Block Grant: A program that provides annual grants on a formula basis to towns and states to address a wide range of community development needs.
CE - Categorical Exclusion: An environmental finding for transportation projects that have minimal environmental impacts and require the least documentation under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
CEDS - Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy: A planning process in which the public sector, businesses, community groups and others establish a strategic blueprint for economic development. It is a requirement for obtaining assistance from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA).
CFR - Code of Federal Regulations: A compilation of all regulations issued by the federal government’s agencies and departments. Published annually.
CMAQ - Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality: A program that funds transportation projects or programs that will contribute to attainment of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), with a focus on reducing ozone and carbon monoxide.
CMP - Congestion Management Process: A federally mandated systematic approach to identifying and addressing congestion. It includes data collection, monitoring and measuring of transportation system performance and identifying alternative actions and strategies for particular locations.
CMS - Congestion Management System
COG - Council of Governments: Regional planning bodies in many areas of the country, composed of local officials.
CPC - Capital Program Committee: A New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) committee, with participation by representatives of the state’s Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), that reviews the technical merits of proposed capital projects and approves recommendations for project advancement as presented by the Capital Programming Steering Committee. The Deputy Commissioner chairs the Committee.
CR - County Route (or Country Road): A roadway designated and/or maintained by a county.
CSHSIP - Comprehensive Strategic Highway Safety Improvement Plan
D
DBE - Disadvantaged-Owned Business Enterprise: Programs to ensure that businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals can compete fairly for government-funded projects and programs.
DCA - New Jersey Department of Community Affairs: A state agency that provides assistance and guidance to local governments, community development organizations, businesses and individuals relating to fire and building safety, housing production, planning and development, and local government management and finance.
DEIS - Draft Environmental Impact Statement: See EIS definition.
DMS - Drainage Management System: A system administered by the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) used to evaluate and track roadway drainage problems and develop plans to address them.
DMU - Diesel Multiple Unit: A railroad passenger vehicle that is powered by a built-in diesel engine.
DOD - Degrees of Disadvantage (Environmental Justice)
DRJTBC - Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission: A quasi-public body created by New Jersey and Pennsylvania that maintains 20 bridges crossing the Delaware River through toll revenues.
DVRPC - Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission: A bi-state Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Philadelphia area, including the New Jersey counties of Mercer, Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester.
E
EA - Environmental Assessment: A report that identifies the environmental impacts of project alternatives as a requirement of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The EA can lead to a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) or indicate that further study through an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is required.
EDC - Everyday Counts: In conjunction with the [Federal Highway Administration](http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/innovation/everydaycounts/), EDC is a State-based model that identifies and rapidly deploys proven, yet underutilized innovations to shorten the project delivery process, enhance roadway safety, reduce traffic congestion, and integrate automation.
EIS - Environmental Impact Statement: An investigative report issued to comply with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) that quantifies the environmental impacts of major proposed transportation projects. Also: Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS).
EJ - Environmental Justice: In transportation planning, the principle that the benefits and burdens of transportation projects be equitably shared among all segments of the population. Regulations draw specific attention to low-income and minority persons; elderly and mobility impaired persons are sometimes considered in this context.
EPA - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Federal regulatory agency that leads the nation’s environmental science, research, education and assessment efforts.
ESBE - Emerging Small Business Enterprise Program
EV - Electric Vehicle: Automobiles that run on electric power but may rely on assistance from additional sources like gasoline. Also see AEV.
F
FA - Feasibility Assessment: Formerly the second phase of work in the NJTPA’s Study & Development (S&D) Program. It has become part of the Concept Development (CD) phase.
FARS - Fatality Analysis Reporting System
FAST Act - Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act: The federal funding and authorization law that governs U.S. federal surface transportation investments from fiscal year 2016 to fiscal year 2020.
FAUS - Federal Aid Urban System: Federal roadway designation prior to 1991 that included urban arterial and collector routes. Previously used in the New Jersey Department of Transportation’s (NJDOT’s) Local Aid funding formula.
FEMA - Federal Emergency Management Agency: A federal agency whose primary purpose is to coordinate the response to disasters that overwhelm the resources of local and state authorities.
FFY - Federal Fiscal Year (October 1 to September 30)
FHWA - Federal Highway Administration: The agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) that administers federal funding for highways and bridges. Along with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), FHWA oversees the planning process administered by metropolitan planning organizations.
FONSI - Finding of No Significant Impact: A determination of an Environmental Assessment (EA) indicating that a potential project will have no significant environmental impact.
FRA - Federal Railroad Administration: The agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) that issues and enforces rail safety regulations, administers railroad assistance programs, and conducts research and development in support of improved railroad safety and national rail transportation policy.
FTA - Federal Transit Administration: The agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) that administers federal funding for public transit. Along with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the FTA oversees the planning process administered by Metropolitan Planning Organizations.
FY - Fiscal Year: The New Jersey state fiscal year is July 1 through June 30. The federal fiscal year is October 1 through September 30.
G
GARVEE - Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle: Any bond or other form of debt repayable, either exclusively or primarily, with future federal highway funds.
GHG - Greenhouse Gas: Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere. Some GHGs, such as carbon dioxide, occur naturally, while others, such as fluorinated gases, are created and emitted solely through human activities.
GIS - Geographic Information System: A computer system that can spatially manage, analyze, and present geographic data. With it, electronic and printed maps can be generated.
GPS - Global Positioning System
H
HAZMAT - Hazardous Material
HCM - Highway Capacity Manual
HFCS - Highway Functional Classification System
HOT - High-Occupancy Toll Lanes: Under some road pricing systems, motorists in single occupant vehicles can pay a premium toll to travel in these lanes, which otherwise are reserved for high occupancy vehicle lanes (see HOV lanes).
HOV - High-Occupancy Vehicle Lanes: Highway lanes designated for high occupancy vehicles such as buses and carpools.
HPMS - Highway Performance Monitoring System
HSIP - Highway Safety Improvement Program: Federal-aid program that utilizes a data-driven, strategic approach to improving highway safety on all public roads with a focus on performance.
HUD - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: A federal agency whose mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes.
I
IM - Incident Management
ISTEA - Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act: A 1991 congressional act that inaugurated a new approach to transportation planning that emphasizes the interdependence and connections among major components of the national transportation system (superseded by TEA-21 in 1998, SAFETEA-LU in 2005, and MAP-21 in 2012).
ITE - Institute of Transportation Engineers: An international educational and scientific association of transportation professionals who are responsible for meeting mobility and safety needs.
ITS - Intelligent Transportation Systems: Technology to better manage roadway and transit systems, enhance safety and reduce accidents, inform the public about travel conditions, and more effectively handle toll collection, safety inspection, maintenance, licensing and vehicle registration.
ITSNJ - Intelligent Transportation Society of New Jersey: A nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the deployment of transportation technologies throughout New Jersey.
IVHS - Intelligent Vehicle Highway System
J
K
L
LCD - Local Concept Development
LCPD - Local Capital Project Delivery Program: A competitive program which provides funding to NJTPA subregions to conduct Concept Development (CD) and Preliminary Engineering (PE) on proposed transportation projects, preparing them for eventual construction.
LEED - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design: An internationally recognized certification program for the design, construction and operation of “green” buildings, which minimize energy use and environmental impacts. The program is run by the US Green Building Council. Professionals can take an exam to become certified in green building principles.
LOS - Level of Service: A traffic engineering measure of vehicular flow and congestion that uses the letters A through F. An A represents freely flowing traffic while F indicates severe congestion.
LPA - Local Public Agencies
LPA - Locally Preferred Alternative: As required by Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regulations, local and regional decision makers select a locally preferred alternative after mode and alignment options for a proposed transit investment are analyzed.
LPN - Linking Planning and NEPA
LRP - Long Range Plan
LRT - Light Rail Transit
LRTP - Long Range Transportation Plan
LTAP - Local Technical Assistance Program: Provides safety and maintenance training for municipal staff and employees. Click here to see the schedule of upcoming training and events.
M
MAP-21 - Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century: A funding and authorization bill to govern United States federal surface transportation investment enacted in July 2012 and extended until May 2015.
MAP Forum - Metropolitan Area Planning Forum: An organization of the five Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) in the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut metropolitan region formed to coordinate transportation planning and address issues affecting the entire region.
MOA - Memorandum of Agreement: An official agreement designed to ensure consistency in the administration of programs or projects.
MOU - Memorandum of Understanding: An official agreement establishing the principles that will guide the implementation of programs or projects.
MPA - Metropolitan Planning Area: An MPO’s mandated planning area, encompassing the existing urbanized area and areas expected to be urbanized within 20 years.
MPO - Metropolitan Planning Organization: Under federal legislation, MPOs plan all federally funded transportation investments and serve as a forum where local officials, public transportation providers and state agency representatives can come together and cooperatively plan to meet a region’s current and future transportation needs.
MUTCD - Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices: The federal standard for signs, signals and pavement markings in the U.S.
N
NACO - National Association of Counties: An organization representing the interests of the nation's county governments.
NARC - National Association of Regional Councils: A nonprofit membership organization representing the interests of regional councils and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) nationwide.
NBIS - National Bridge Inspection Standards: Federal program requiring inspection of all publicly owned highway bridges longer than 20 feet.
NCHRP - National Cooperative Highway Research Program: An objective national highway research program using modern scientific techniques.
NEPA - National Environmental Policy Act: A federal law that established a national policy promoting the enhancement of the environment. It aims to help public officials and citizens understand the environmental consequences of major projects and actions. It requires planners and engineers to consider alternatives and mitigation steps for major construction projects.
NGV - Natural Gas Vehicle
NHPP - National Highway Performance Program (MAP-21 Federal Funding Program)
NHS - National Highway System: The national system consisting of interstate highways and other key links such as major state highways.
NHTSA - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: An agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) that promotes and oversees motor vehicle and highway safety.
NJAC - New Jersey Association of Counties: Advocacy group for the state’s 21 county governments.
NJ DCA - New Jersey Department of Community Affairs: A State agency created to provide administrative guidance, financial support and technical assistance to local governments, community development organizations, businesses and individuals to improve the quality of life in New Jersey.
NJDEP - New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection: State agency that leads the state’s environmental science, regulatory, research, education and assessment efforts.
NJDHTS - New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety: The mission of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety is the Safe Passage of all roadway users in New Jersey as we move toward zero fatalities. To achieve our mission, the Division promotes statewide traffic safety programs through education, engineering and enforcement activities.
NJDOT - New Jersey Department of Transportation: State agency responsible for maintenance, construction, and operation of state and interstate highways.
NJGF - New Jersey Geospatial Forum: The New Jersey Geospatial Forum (NJGF) is open to the public, encouraging the participation of individuals interested in New Jersey's geospatial industry. The Forum is a group of individuals from many different sectors sharing a common interest in geospatial technologies.
NJGIN - New Jersey Geographic Information Systems: The New Jersey Geographic Information Network (NJGIN) was founded by the NJ Office of Information Technology, Office of GIS in 2001 to facilitate the sharing of geospatial content in the NJ GIS community. The network consists of a loose federation of data stewards across the state that openly share their valuable spatial data.
NJI - New Jersey Institute of Technology: A public technology and science university located in Newark. NJIT is the host agency of the NJTPA.
NJOGIS - New Jersey Office of Geographic Information Systems: The mission of the NJ Office of GIS is to promote the use of GIS technology among state agencies and to provide statewide leadership in the development of New Jersey's spatial data infrastructure.
NJOPA - New Jersey Office for Planning Advocacy: Formed as the Office of State Planning in 1986 to staff the State Planning Commission in developing and implementing the State Development and Redevelopment Plan, the office also pursues other activities to improve intergovernmental coordination and cooperation as defined by the State Planning Act.
NJLM - New Jersey League of Municipalities: Advocacy group for the state’s 565 municipalities.
NJT - New Jersey Transit or NJ TRANSIT: The state agency responsible for maintenance, construction, and operation of public transit facilities.
NJTA - New Jersey Turnpike Authority: The agency that maintains, operates, and plans the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway.
NJTPA - North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority: The federally authorized Metropolitan Planning Organization for the 13-county northern New Jersey region.
NJTRO - New Jersey Transit Rail Operation
NOFA - Notice of Funding Availability: Announcements of grants or aid available through government programs.
NPS - National Park Service: A bureau within the U.S. Department of the Interior that takes care of National Parks. Also maintains the National Register of Historic Places.
NS - Norfolk Southern: Norfolk, Va.-based transportation company which includes the Norfolk Southern Railway (21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia), serving every major container port in the eastern United States.
O
O3 - Ozone (O3): Ozone is a gas that has a faint blue color. It is an unstable gas that is soluble in water. It is commonly known due to the fact that it covers the earth in a protective layer, which is helpful for reducing the infiltration of ultraviolet rays in to our atmosphere. On the ground, ozone can be formed by a mixture nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons. Being exposed to ozone for a longer period of time can result in permanent damage to the lungs.
O&D - Origin and Destination: Key travel information considered by studies and modeling of trips.
OHSP - Office of Homeland Security and Prepardeness: State agency responsible for overseeing New Jersey’s counterterrorism efforts and statewide emergency response coordination.
P
P3 - Public Private Partnership (also called "3P")
PANYNJ - Port Authority of New York and New Jersey: The bi-state agency responsible for overseeing port operations, major airports, and for operating the Hudson River crossings, including the PATH rail system, tunnels and bridges.
PATCO - Port Authority Transit Corporation: A 13-station Hi-Speedline that operates between Philadelphia and Lindenwold, New Jersey. Operated by the Delaware River Port Authority.
PATH - Port Authority Trans-Hudson: A 13-station rail line connecting Essex and Hudson counties to Manhattan.
PD - Preliminary Design: Formerly the final phase of work in the Study & Development (S&D) Program. It has become part of the Preliminary Engineering (PE) phase.
PDWP - Project Development Work Program: This program is now known as the Study & Development Program (see S&D).
PE - Preliminary Engineering: The phase of project development in which the preferred alternative identified in Concept Development (CD) is further developed and refined to a level of detail necessary to secure the approval of the environmental document, also known as the NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) document.
PE - Professional Engineer: The license awarded to engineers who must meet education and experience requirements, pass exams administered by the state and complete continuing education.
PM2.5 - Particulate Matter: Particulate matter in the air, including dust, dirt, soot, smoke, and liquid droplets, of 2.5 micrometers or less; a regulated pollutant.
PMS - A set of tools or methods for assessing the condition of roadway pavements and selecting strategies for pavement maintenance and preservation.
PMT - Person Miles Traveled: A measure of an overall amount of travel, the product of how many people are traveling and how far they go.
PP - Professional Planner: The license awarded to planners who have completed an exam on planning law and practices and met standards for education/experience in the field.
PPC - Project Prioritization Committee: A standing committee of the NJTPA. It oversees development of the four-year, fiscally constrained Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), and other capital programming activities. Meets every other month.
PPP - Public-Private Partnership: A project or program funded and operated through a partnership of government and one or more private sector companies (also called “P3” or “3P”).
PPTF - Public Participation Task Force (of DVRPC)
PUD - Planned Unit Development
PWP - Planning Work Program
Q
R
RFP - Request for Proposals: An invitation—often issued as part of a competitive bidding process—for consultants, suppliers, vendors, etc. to submit a proposal on a specific service or commodity.
RFQ - Request for Qualifications
RIMIS - Regional Integrated Multimodal Information Sharing Project
RMS - Roadway Management System
ROD - Record of Decision: The official record resulting from an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
ROW - Right of Way: Property on which a transportation project is built. Also regularly used to refer to the phase of work during which such property is acquired.
RPO - Rural Planning Organization
RPSD - Regional Plan for Sustainable Development: A U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-funded plan developed to help integrate plans, regulations, investments, and incentive programs at all levels of government to improve economic and environmental conditions in a region. In northern New Jersey, it is developed by Together North Jersey (TNJ).
RSA - Road Safety Audit
RSOA - Road Safety and Operations Audit
RSTF - Regional Safety Task Force
RTAC - Regional Transportation Advisory Committee: A group of planners and engineers from NJTPA member counties, cities and partner agencies that meets every other month to review regional issues related to transportation planning. Members of the RTAC also serve as advisers to members of the Board of Trustees.
RTC - Regional Technical Committee (of DVRPC): The Regional Technical Committee (RTC) serves as an advisory unit to DVRPC reporting to the DVRPC Board, in reference to: (1) the Transportation Planning consisting of a long-range element and a short-range element; (2) the Transportation Improvement Program; (3) the Transportation Planning Work Program consisting of the DVRPC Work Program; and (4) all other transportation planning as directed by the Board.
RTP - Regional Transportation Plan: The federally mandated long-range transportation plan for the region. It sets out a vision for development of the transportation system over the next 20 to 25 years and serves as an investment guide for the region. Updated every four years.
S
S&D - Study & Development Program: The program for planning projects through various stages of project development, including Concept Development (CD), and Preliminary Engineering (PE), normally required before projects can be included in the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Formerly known as the Project Development Work Program (PDWP).
SAFETEA-LU - Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users: Enacted in 2005 and extended by Congress a number of times, SAFETEA-LU was the nation’s principal transportation funding law before it was replaced in 2012 by MAP-21.
SBE - Small Business Enterprise
SCIS - State Capital Investment Strategy: Statewide transportation investment recommendations in various program categories based upon goals, objectives, and performance measures.
SDRP - State Development and Redevelopment Plan: A plan intended to control suburban sprawl by influencing the intensities and locations of development and redevelopment. Required under a 1986 act of the state legislature.
SHSP - Strategic Highway Safety Plan
SID - Special Improvement District
SIP - State Implementation Plan: Description of the programs a state will use to carry out its responsibilities under the Clean Air Act to reduce air pollution in areas that do not meet National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).
SIT - Safety Impact Team
SJTA - South Jersey Transportation Authority: The agency that maintains and operates Atlantic City International Airport and the Atlantic City Expressway.
SJTPO - South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization: The Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) serving Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, and Salem counties in South Jersey.
SOV - Single-Occupancy Vehicle: Refers to motor vehicles occupied by the driver only (excludes motorcycles).
SPR - State Planning & Research: A federal funding category that provides funds for planning and research projects and programs administered by the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT).
SRHPP - Supportive Regional Highway Planning Program: Pass-through of highway funds to member governments
SRTS - Safe Routes to School: A funding program for education and infrastructure to create safe, convenient, and fun opportunities for children to bicycle and walk to and from schools, for grades K-8.
SRTT - Safe Routes to Transit
STB - Surface Transportation Board: The STB is a federal agency that adjudicates disputes and regulates federal interstate surface transportation, including trucking, rail freight, ocean shipping, interstate buses, and other modes.
STIP - State Transportation Improvement Program: The state’s fiscally constrained agenda of transportation improvement projects that is made up of the Transportation Improvement Programs (TIPS) approved by the state’s three Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), DVRPC, NJTPA, and SJTPO.
STP - Subregional Transportation Planning: The program of planning tasks carried out by the NJTPA’s 15 subregions (13 counties and two cities).
STP - Surface Transportation Program: Provides flexible funding that may be used by the state and localities for projects on any federal-aid highway, including the National Highway System (NHS), bridge projects on any public road, transit capital projects, and intracity and intercity bus terminals and facilities. Referred to as STP-NJ in NJTPA planning and programming documents.
STPP - Surface Transportation Policy Project: Federal Committee to review new starts applications.
STU - Surface Transportation Program Funds Allocated to Urban Areas
T
TA - Transportation Alternatives
TAP - Transportation Alternatives Program: Provides federal funding for projects and programs for enhancing pedestrian and bicycle mobility, access to transit, community improvement, environmental mitigation, recreational trails and other transportation alternatives.
TAC - Technical Advisory Committee: A committee formed to provide feedback, guidance, and technical input regarding a project, program, or product. May include partner organizations and agencies, stakeholders, and representatives of other relevant groups.
T&I - Transportation and Infrastructure Committee: The committee of the House of Representatives with jurisdiction over all modes of transportation, including aviation, maritime and waterborne transportation, roads, bridges, mass transit, and railroads.
TCDI - Transportation Community Development Initiative: Grant funding program administered by the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission for local governments in Camden, Burlington, Gloucester, and Mercer Counties to conduct planning studies.
TCM - Transportation Control Measures: Projects or programs that will reduce transportation-related emissions by reducing vehicle use or improving traffic flow. In the context of transportation conformity, TCMs refer to actions that are specifically identified and committed to in a State Implementation Plan (SIP).
TCSP - Transportation Community Systems Preservation
TDM - Transportation Demand Management: Actions to reduce transportation demand, such as telecommuting, ridesharing, transit service improvements, commuter incentives, access management, and parking management.
TDR - Transfer Development Rights
TE - Transportation Enhancements
TEA-21 - Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century: The nation’s principal transportation law from 1998 to 2005. It continued the essential features of ISTEA, including a strong role for local elected officials in making transportation funding decisions through Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs). Replaced by SAFETEA-LU in 2005.
TIFIA - Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act: Legislation that created a program to provide federal credit assistance in the form of direct loans, loan guarantees, and standby lines of credit to finance surface transportation projects of national and regional significance.
TIGER - Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery: A federal competitive grant program for communities to obtain funding for critical road, rail, transit and port projects oriented towards safety, economic competitiveness, state of good repair, livability and environmental sustainability. This program was replaced by BUILD in 2009.
TIM - Traffic Incident Management
TIP - Transportation Improvement Program: A four-year, fiscally constrained agenda of improvement projects drawn from a Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) or Long Range Plan (LRP). To be eligible for federal funds, proposed projects must be approved by the Metropolitan Planning Organization Board for inclusion in the TIP. Updated every two years.
TIS - Transportation Investment Study
TMA - Transportation Management Area (federal designation): By federal designation, an urbanized area with a population over 200,000 (such as northern New Jersey) that is required by United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) to carry out special congestion reduction and transportation planning activities.
TMAs - Transportation Management Associations: Organizations established to work with employers to help provide more effective transportation options. They promote ridesharing and transit use, among other activities.
TMS - Traffic Monitoring System
TND - Traditional Neighborhood Development
TOC - Transit Operations Center
TOD - Transit-Oriented Development: Compact, pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use development near bus and rail stations that serves housing, transportation, and neighborhood goals.
TRB - Transportation Research Board: A division of the National Research Council, which serves as an independent adviser to the federal government and others on scientific and technical questions of national importance.
TRO - Trip Reduction Ordinance
TSM - Transportation System Management: Initiatives designed to create the more efficient use of existing transportation facilities through improved infrastructure management and operation.
TTF - Transportation Trust Fund: The account established by New Jersey state law in 1984 for funding transportation programs and initiatives with revenues from fuel taxes and other sources.
U
UPWP - Unified Planning Work Program: Summarizes the transportation planning activities of the Metropolitan Planning Organizations. Updated annually.
USDOT - U.S. Department of Transportation: Federal agency that develops and coordinates policies pertaining to the national transportation system. It includes the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
USEDA - United States Economic Development Administration
USEPA - United States Environmental Protection Agency: Federal government agency whose mission is to protect human health and the environment.
USGS - United States Geological Survey: Provides science about the natural hazards that threaten lives and livelihoods, the water, energy, minerals, and other natural resources we rely on, the health of our ecosystems and environment, and the impacts of climate and land-use change. USGS scientists develop new methods and tools to enable timely, relevant, and useful information about the Earth and its processes.
V
V/C Ratio - Vehicle to Capacity Ratio: The number of vehicles divided by the capacity of the roadway—a measure that reflects mobility and quality of travel for a roadway segment.
VMS - Variable Message Sign: An electronic traffic sign often used to give travelers information about emergencies, special events, construction, speed limits, etc.
VMT - Vehicle Miles Traveled: A measure of the amount of vehicular travel. One vehicle traveling the distance of one mile equals one VMT.
VOC - Volatile Organic Compounds (Air Quality Emissions)
VTC - Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center: The Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center is a national leader in the research and development of innovative transportation policy. Located within the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University, VTC has the full array of resources from a major research university on transportation issues of regional and national significance. VTC includes the National Transit Institute, which was created by Congress in 1992 to design and deliver training and education programs for the U.S. transit industry.
W
WTS - Women's Transportation Seminar: An international organization dedicated to the professional advancement of women in transportation.
X
XBL - Exclusive Bus Lane: A lane at the Lincoln Tunnel dedicated to bus traffic during the morning rush.
Y
YPCD - Yield to Pedestrian Channelizing Device
YTD - Year-to-Date
Z
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