Glossary

Glossary of Transportation Planning Acronyms and Terms

Jump = to glossary=20 term:
ABAG =
Article XIX=20 Restriction
BAAQMD =
BATA =
Bay Area=20 Partnership
Caltrans= =20
Capital=20 Funds
Census = Data=20
CMAs=20
CMAQ=20
Committed=20 Revenues
Conformity= =20
CTC=20
Environ= mental=20 Justice
Equity=20 Analysis
FHWA =
Financial=20 Constraint
Flexible=20 Funding
FTA =
FY =
HIP =
HOV = Lane
Intermodal= =20
Lifeline=20 Network
LIFT =
MPO =
MTC =
MTS =
Ozone = Attainment=20 Strategy
Paratrans= it=20
Performan= ce=20 Measures
Potential = New=20 Revenues
Program=20
Propositi= on=20 42
RACC =
RTEP =
Resolution= =20 3434
Return = to=20 Source
RTIP =
RTP =
SAFE =
Sales = Tax=20 Authority
Self-Help=20 Counties
Smart = Growth=20
SOV=20
STA=20
STIP=20
STP=20
System=20 Management
TCM =
TCRP =
TDA =
TEA =
TEA = 21
Title = VI=20
TIP=20
TLC=20
TOD=20
Transp= ortation=20 2030 Plan
Travel = Demand=20 Model
Tribal = Government=20
Consultation
Uncommitt= ed=20 Revenues
U.S. = DOT=20
Value=20 Pricing
VMT

The transportation arena has a language all its own. Just as = getting=20 from point =91a=92 to point =91b=92 in the San Francisco Bay Area = is often easier=20 said than done, navigating your way through the complex web of=20 transportation terminology can likewise be a challenge. While MTC = strives=20 to use plain language, acronyms and jargon invariably will creep = into many=20 discussions about transportation. For this we apologize and offer = the=20 following glossary of transportation planning acronyms and = terms.

ABAG

Association of Bay Area Governments
A = voluntary=20 association of counties and cities in the nine-county San = Francisco Bay=20 Area. ABAG provides demographic, financial, administrative, = training and=20 conference services to local governments and businesses. A member = sits on=20 MTC.

Article XIX Restriction

A provision in the California Constitution that limits the use = of state=20 gasoline tax revenues to projects related to roadway (including = bicycle=20 and pedestrian projects) or fixed guideway (rail or trolley coach) = improvements.

BAAQMD

Bay Area Air Quality Management District =
(Also=20 known as the Air District, since the acronym seems to take longer = to say=20 than the full name.) Regulates industry and employers to keep air=20 pollution in check and sponsors programs to clean the air. In a = joint=20 effort known as the Regional Agency Coordinating Committee (RACC), = the Air=20 District works with MTC and the Association of Bay Area = Governments on=20 issues that affect transportation, land use and air quality.

BATA

Bay Area Toll Authority
BATA, acting as a = separate=20 legal entity of MTC, administers the base $1 toll from the Bay = Area=92s=20 seven state-owned toll bridges (as opposed to the second dollar, a = surcharge to cover seismic retrofit costs, which is administered = by=20 Caltrans). The state Legislature created BATA in 1998 to take over = this=20 responsibility from the California Transportation Commission = (CTC).

Bay Area Partnership

Often referred to simply as =93The Partnership,=94 this is a = confederation=20 of the top staff of various transportation agencies in the region, = including MTC, public transit operators, county congestion = management=20 agencies (CMAs), city and county public works departments, ports, = Caltrans=20 and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) as well as = environmental=20 protection agencies. The Partnership works by consensus to improve = the=20 overall efficiency and operation of the Bay Area=92s = transportation network,=20 including developing strategies for financing transportation=20 improvements.

Caltrans

California Department of Transportation =
The state=20 agency that maintains and operates California=92s highway = system.

Capital Funds

Moneys to cover one-time costs for construction of new projects = =97 such=20 as roads, bridges, bicycle/pedestrian paths, transit lines and = transit=20 facilities =97 to expand the capacity of the transportation = system, or to=20 cover the purchase of buses and rail cars.

Census Data

Information used by transportation planners to make projections = about=20 future Bay Area travel patterns, housing needs and the like. = Required by=20 the U.S. Constitution, the U.S. Census is a complete enumeration = of the=20 population conducted every 10 years by the U.S. Census Bureau (the = last=20 one was completed in 2000).

CMAs

Congestion Management Agencies
Countywide = agencies=20 responsible for preparing and implementing a county=92s Congestion = Management Program. CMAs came into existence as a result of state=20 legislation and voter approval of Prop. 111 in 1990. Subsequent=20 legislation made them optional. Most Bay Area counties still have = them.=20 Many CMAs double as a county=92s sales tax authority.

CMAQ

Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement=20 Program
A federal source of funding for projects and=20 activities that reduce congestion and improve air quality, both in = regions=20 not yet attaining federal air quality standards and those engaged = in=20 efforts to preserve their attainment status.

Committed Revenues

Revenues that are dedicated by law, ballot measure or prior MTC = programming actions to specific transportation investments. = Committed=20 revenues comprise the vast majority of all funds identified in the = long-term regional transportation plan. (Also see =93Uncommitt= ed=20 Revenues.=94)

Conformity

A process in which transportation plans and spending programs = are=20 reviewed to ensure they are consistent with federal clean air=20 requirements; transportation projects collectively must not worsen = air=20 quality.

CTC

California Transportation Commission
A = state-level=20 commission, consisting of nine members appointed by the governor, = that=20 establishes priorities and allocates funds for highway, passenger = rail and=20 transit investments throughout California. The CTC adopts the = State=20 Transportation Improvement Program, or STIP, and implements state=20 transportation policy.

Environmental Justice

This term stems from a Presidential Executive Order to promote = equity=20 for disadvantaged communities and promote the inclusion of racial = and=20 ethnic populations and low-income communities in decision-making. = Local=20 and regional transportation agencies must ensure that services and = benefits, as well as burdens, are fairly distributed to avoid=20 discrimination.

Equity Analysis

Consistent with federal requirements for environmental justice, = MTC=20 conducts an equity analysis covering the 25-year regional = transportation=20 plan to determine how the benefits and burdens of the plan=92s = investment=20 strategy affect minority and low-income communities.

FHWA

Federal Highway Administration
U.S. = Department of=20 Transportation agency responsible for administering the federal = highway=20 aid program to individual states, and helping to plan, develop and = coordinate construction of federally funded highway projects. FHWA = also=20 governs the safety of hazardous cargo on the nation=92s = highways.

Financial Constraint

A federal requirement that long-range transportation plans = include only=20 projects that have a reasonable expectation of being funded, based = upon=20 anticipated revenues. In other words, long-range transportation = plans=20 cannot be pie-in-the-sky wish lists of projects. They must reflect = realistic assumptions about revenues that will likely be available = during=20 the 25 years covered in the plan.

Flexible Funding

Unlike funding that flows only to highways or only to transit = by a=20 rigid formula, this is money that can be invested in a range of=20 transportation projects. Examples of flexible funding categories = include=20 the Surface Transportation Program (STP) and the Congestion = Mitigation and=20 Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) program.

FTA

Federal Transit Administration
U.S. = Department of=20 Transportation agency that provides financial and planning = assistance to=20 help plan, build and operate rail, bus and paratransit systems. = The agency=20 also assists in the development of local and regional traffic = reduction=20 programs.

FY

Fiscal Year
Annual schedule for keeping = financial=20 records and for budgeting transportation funds. California=92s = fiscal year=20 runs from July 1 through June 30, while the federal fiscal year = runs from=20 Oct. 1 through Sept. 30.

HIP

Housing Incentive Program
A program = initiated by=20 MTC to provide seed money to municipalities and their development = partners=20 to encourage the development of compact residential communities = near=20 public transit hubs.

HOV Lane

High-Occupancy-Vehicle Lane
The technical = term for=20 a carpool lane, commuter lane or diamond lane.

Intermodal

The term =93mode=94 is used to refer to a means of = transportation, such as=20 automobile, bus, train, ship, bicycle and walking. Intermodal = refers=20 specifically to the connections between modes.

Lifeline Transportation Network

An MTC initiative to enhance low-income residents=92 access to = key=20 destinations such as job centers, government buildings and medical = facilities during both peak commute periods and off-peak hours. = While most=20 of the Lifeline network identified by MTC is already served by = existing=20 transit routes, some low-income communities and/or destinations = are not=20 served by transit or lack service at specific times of day. MTC is = working=20 with transit operators and potential funding partners to fill = these gaps=20 in the network.

LIFT

Low-Income Flexible Transportation
An MTC = program=20 that provides financial assistance for services to help low-income = residents get to and from work and other locations. Examples of = eligible=20 LIFT projects include new and expanded public transit services,=20 transportation to child care centers, development of child care = facilities=20 at transit hubs, rideshare activities and =93guaranteed ride = home=94=20 programs.

MPO

Metropolitan Planning Organization
A = federally=20 required planning body responsible for the transportation planning = and=20 project selection in its region; the governor designates an MPO in = every=20 urbanized area with a population of over 50,000. MTC is the Bay = Area=92s=20 MPO.

MTC

Metropolitan Transportation Commission
The = transportation planning, financing and coordinating agency for the = nine=20 counties of the San Francisco Bay Area.

MTS

Metropolitan Transportation System
A = defined=20 network of streets and roads, highways, mass transit routes, = bikeways,=20 transfer points, airports and seaports considered essential to = regional=20 mobility.

Ozone Attainment Strategy

This plan details the strategy by which the Bay Area will = comply with=20 federal ozone =97 or =93smog=94 =97 standards. The Ozone = Attainment Strategy is=20 prepared by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, the = Association=20 of Bay Area Governments and MTC, then submitted for review and = approval by=20 the California Air Resources Board and the U.S. Environmental = Protection=20 Agency. The plan also provides a transportation =93emissions = budget=94 that=20 identifies allowable levels of pollution from motor vehicles = traveling in=20 the Bay Area. (Also see =93Conformity= .=94)

Paratransit

Door-to-door bus, van and taxi services used to transport = elderly and=20 disabled riders. Sometimes referred to as dial-a-ride service, = since trips=20 are made according to demand instead of along a fixed route or = according=20 to a fixed schedule.

Performance Measures

Indicators of how well the transportation system or specific=20 transportation projects will improve transportation = conditions.

Potential New Revenues

Funds that may be available for transportation investment in = the future=20 if proposed new revenue sources are approved. Current legislative=20 proposals include a $1 increase in the base toll on state-owned = bridges=20 and indexing the federal gasoline tax to inflation. These = potential=20 revenues are not included in the financially constrained portion = of the=20 long-term transportation plan.

Program

(1) verb, to assign funds to a project that has been approved = by MTC,=20 the state or another agency and (2) noun, a system of funding for=20 implementing transportation projects or policies, such as through = the=20 State Transportation Improvement Program. (Also see =93STIP.=94)

Proposition 42

A state constitutional amendment passed by California voters in = March=20 2002 that permanently dedicates 100 percent of the state sales tax = on=20 gasoline for transportation investments, although the Legislature = is able=20 to suspend these provisions in times of fiscal crisis.

RACC

Regional Agency Coordinating Committee
A=20 nine-member committee =97 composed of three representatives each = from MTC,=20 the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and the Association = of Bay=20 Area Governments =97 that coordinates activities of the three = agencies on=20 issues that affect transportation, land use and air quality.

RTEP

Regional Transit Expansion Program
An = identified=20 list of high-priority rail and express/rapid bus improvements to = serve the=20 Bay Area=92s most congested corridors. The program was adopted in = December=20 2001 pursuant to MTC Resolution 3434 to establish clear priorities = for the=20 investment of transit expansion funds over the next decade.

Resolution 3434

See Regional Transit Expansion Program.

Return to Source

A requirement with some funding programs (such as TDA) that the = money=20 flow back to the county where it originated from tax revenues, = regardless=20 of need.

RTIP

Regional Transportation Improvement Program =
A=20 listing of highway, local road, transit and bicycle projects that = the=20 region hopes to fund; compiled by MTC every two years from = priority lists=20 submitted by local jurisdictions. The California Transportation = Commission=20 (CTC) must either approve or reject the RTIP in its entirety. Once = the CTC=20 approves an RTIP, it is combined with those from other regions to = comprise=20 75 percent of the funds in the State Transportation Improvement = Program or=20 STIP. (Also see =93STIP.=94)

RTP

Regional Transportation Plan
A master plan = to=20 guide the region=92s transportation investments for a 25-year = period.=20 Updated every three years, it is based on projections of growth in = population and jobs and the ensuing travel demand. Required by = state and=20 federal law, it includes programs to better maintain, operate and = expand=20 transportation. The Bay Area=92s 2005 update of its long-range=20 transportation plan, now under way, is known as Transportation = 2030.

SAFE

Service Authority for Freeways and Expressways =
As=20 the region=92s SAFE, MTC, in partnership with the California = Highway Patrol=20 and the California Department of Transportation, oversees the = installation=20 and operation of call boxes along Bay Area freeways and highways, = and=20 administers a roving tow truck service to quickly clear incidents = from the=20 region=92s most congested roadways. State legislation in 1987 = created the=20 MTC SAFE, which is funded in part through a $1 surcharge on motor = vehicle=20 registrations.

Sales Tax Authority

An agency that administers a voter-approved county = transportation sales=20 tax program; in most Bay Area counties, the congestion management = agency=20 (CMA) also serves as the sales tax authority.

Self-Help Counties

A term used to describe counties that have taken the initiative = to=20 supplement available state and federal funds by enacting local=20 voter-approved funding mechanisms =97 such as half-cent sales = taxes =97 to pay=20 for transportation improvements. In the Bay Area, five counties = have=20 passed such measures: Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San = Mateo and=20 Santa Clara.

Smart Growth

A set of policies and programs designed to protect, preserve = and=20 economically stimulate established communities, while protecting = valuable=20 natural and cultural resources and limiting sprawl.

SOV

Single-Occupant Vehicle
A vehicle with one = occupant, the driver, who is sometimes referred to as a =93drive=20 alone.=94

STA

State Transit Assistance
Provides funding = for mass=20 transit operations and capital projects.

STIP

State Transportation Improvement Program =
What the=20 California Transportation Commission (CTC) ends up with after = combining=20 various RTIPs, as well as a list of specific projects proposed by=20 Caltrans. Covering a five-year span and updated every two years, = the STIP=20 determines when and if transportation projects will be funded by = the=20 state. Projects included in the STIP must be consistent with the=20 long-range transportation plan.

STP

Surface Transportation Program
One of the = key=20 funding programs in TEA 21. STP moneys are =93flexible,=94 meaning = they can be=20 spent on mass transit, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, as well = as on=20 roads and highways.

System Management

A coordinated series of programs involving MTC and partner = agencies=20 such as the California Highway Patrol and Caltrans to make the = region=92s=20 existing transportation system work more efficiently. These = efforts=20 include congestion relief initiatives such as the roving Freeway = Service=20 Patrol tow trucks, and traveler information programs such as the = toll-free=20 511 phone service and the http://www.511.org/ Web = page.

TCM

Transportation Control Measure
A strategy = to=20 reduce driving or smooth traffic flows in order to cut auto = emissions and=20 resulting air pollution. Required by the Clean Air Act, TCMs for = the Bay=20 Area are developed by MTC. Examples of TCMs include carpool lanes, = roving=20 tow truck patrols to clear stalls and accidents from congested = roadways,=20 new or increased transit service, and ridesharing services to get = people=20 into carpools and vanpools.

TCRP

Traffic Congestion Relief Program
A = five-year=20 state transportation investment plan passed by the California = Legislature=20 and signed into law by Governor Gray Davis in 2000. The plan = originally=20 called for $6.8 billion of spending (with $1.7 billion to the Bay = Area)=20 from fiscal 2000=9601 to 2005=9606, but subsequent refinancing = agreements=20 postponed the funding until fiscal 2002=9603 to 2007=9608.

TDA

Transportation Development Act
State law = enacted=20 in 1971. TDA funds are generated from a tax of one-quarter of one = percent=20 on all retail sales in each county; used for transit, special = transit for=20 disabled persons, and bicycle and pedestrian purposes. TDA moneys = are=20 collected by the state and allocated in the Bay Area by MTC to = fund=20 transit operations and programs. In non-urban areas, TDA funds may = be used=20 for streets and roads under certain conditions.

TEA

Transportation Enhancement Activities
A = TEA 21=20 funding category. Ten percent of STP moneys must be set aside for = projects=20 that enhance the compatibility of transportation facilities with = their=20 surroundings. Examples of TEA projects include bicycle and = pedestrian=20 paths, restoration of rail depots or other historic transportation = facilities, acquisition of scenic or open space lands next to = travel=20 corridors, and murals or other public art projects.

TEA 21

Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century =
Passed by Congress in May 1998, this federal transportation=20 legislation retains and expands many of the programs created in = 1991 under=20 the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA). = Reauthorizes=20 federal surface transportation programs for six years = (1998=962003) and=20 significantly increases overall funding for transportation.

Title VI

Refers to Title VI of the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, and = requires that transportation planning and programming be = nondiscriminatory=20 on the basis of race, color and national origin. Integral to Title = VI is=20 the concept of environmental justice. (Also see =93Environ= mental=20 Justice.=94)

TIP

Transportation Improvement Program
A = short-term=20 (covering three years) program of transportation projects that = will be=20 funded with all federal funds expected to flow to the region; the = projects=20 contained in the TIP are drawn from, and consistent with, the = long-range=20 transportation plan.

TLC

Transportation for Livable Communities =
Program=20 created by MTC in 1998 to fund small-scale, community- and=20 transit-oriented projects that improve neighborhood = vitality.

TOD

Transit-Oriented Development
A type of = development=20 that links land use and transit facilities to support the transit = system=20 and help reduce sprawl, traffic congestion and air pollution. It = includes=20 housing, along with complementary public uses (jobs, retail and = services),=20 located at a strategic point along a regional transit system, such = as a=20 rail hub.

Transportation 2030 Plan

The long-range transportation planning effort now under way in = the=20 nine-county Bay Area to guide transportation policy and investment = decisions through the year 2030.

Travel Demand Model

Used by transportation planners for simulating current travel=20 conditions and for forecasting future travel patterns and = conditions.=20 Models help planners and policy-makers analyze the effectiveness = and=20 efficiency of alternative transportation investments in terms of = mobility,=20 accessibility, and environmental and equity impacts.

Tribal Government Consultation

A formal process between MPOs and federally recognized Indian = tribes,=20 which are recognized as sovereign nations, that calls for=20 government-to-government consultation regarding transportation = planning=20 and programming efforts.

Uncommitted Revenues

Anticipated transportation revenues available for new = investments after=20 accounting for revenue committed by law, ballot measure or MTC = programming=20 actions. These revenues account for about 10 percent of all = revenues=20 forecasted to be available over the 25-year period of the regional = transportation plan, and are the major focus of the update = process. (Also=20 see =93Committed=20 Revenues.=94)

U.S. DOT

United States Department of Transportation =
The=20 federal cabinet-level agency with responsibility for highways, = mass=20 transit, aviation and ports; it is headed by the Secretary of=20 Transportation. The DOT includes the Federal Highway = Administration and=20 the Federal Transit Administration, among others. There also are = state=20 DOTs (known in California as Caltrans).

Value Pricing

The concept of assessing higher prices for using certain = transportation=20 facilities during the most congested times of the day, in the same = way=20 that airlines offer off-peak discounts and hotel rooms cost more = during=20 prime tourist seasons. Also known as congestion pricing and = peak-period=20 pricing, examples of this concept include higher bridge tolls = during peak=20 periods or charging single-occupant vehicles that want to use = carpool=20 lanes.

VMT

Vehicle Miles Traveled

One vehicle (whether a car carrying one passenger or a bus = carrying 30=20 people) traveling one mile constitutes a vehicle mile. VMT is one = measure=20 of the use of Bay Area freeways and roads.