Capital Improvements Program - Glossary of Terms

Glossary

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

View Environmental Acronyms

The glossary includes terms that will help you understand the technical language often used in a capital improvements program. Glossary terms are listed alphabetically under each alphabet letter, and include a brief description and an acronym, as applicable.

Search for terms by clicking on the starting letter for the desired term. Use the scroll bar to advance through the list of terms for each letter.

A list of environmental acronyms commonly found in technical reports is also provided by following the link above.

A

Annexation: A change in existing community boundaries resulting from the incorporation of additional land.

Appropriated Expenditure: In the Fiscal Year Budget, an amount set aside for a specific acquisition or purpose.

Appropriation: Is the legal authority to expend up to a certain amount of funds during a budget period. For the City the adopted budget is the source of appropriations.

Air Resources Board (ARB): State agency that oversees air quality regulations and creates guidelines for compliance with the California Clean Air Act.

Air Quality Non-Attainment: Identifies non-attainment status for CO, Ozone and PM10 within the subject air basin.

Air Quality Management District (AQMD): Is a regional agency, which adopts and enforces regulations to achieve and maintain state and federal air quality standards.

Appraisal: The process through which conclusions of property value are obtained; also refers to the report that sets forth the process of estimation and conclusion of value.

B

Budget Year: The fiscal year for which a budget is being considered.

Budget Document: A detail financial plan of estimated revenues and expenditures for a fiscal year.

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C

Capacity Enhancements: Are new facilities projects and operational improvements, which add through lanes.

Central Business District (CBD): Is the downtown core area of a city, generally an area of high land valuation, traffic flow, and concentration of retail business offices, theaters, hotels, and service businesses.

California Department of Transportation (Caltrans): State agency that builds and maintains state highways and administers transportation programs within the state.

California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA): Is a statute that requires all jurisdictions in the State of California to evaluate the extent of environmental degradation posed by proposed development or project.

A 1970 law, which requires those state agencies, regulate planning and development activity, with major consideration for environmental protection. The basic purposes of CEQA are to:

Inform governmental decision-makers and the public about the potential significant environmental effects of a proposed planning or development activity,
Identify ways environmental damage can be avoided or significantly reduced (mitigation),
Prevent significant, avoidable environmental damage by requiring changes in projects through the use of alternative measures when those measures are feasible, and,
(Overriding consideration) Disclose to the public the reasons why a governmental agency approved a project in the manner the agency chose if significant environmental effects are involved.

California Transportation Commission (CTC): A nine-member board appointed by the governor and confirmed by the legislature that reviews Regional Transportation Plans (RTPs) and Regional Transportation Improvement Programs (RTIPs) and forwards some transportation projects from these programs into the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). This qualifies the projects for state funding.

California Public Utility Commission (CPUC): Regulates privately owned telecommunications, electric, natural gas, water, railroad, rail transit, and passenger transportation companies. The CPUC is responsible for assuring California utility customers have safe, reliable utility service at reasonable rates, protecting utility customers from fraud, and promoting the health of California's economy.

Categorical Exclusion: A category of project actions, which a federal agency identifies in its National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) procedures that do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the environment.

Capital Improvements: Are permanent additions to the City's assets, including the design, construction or purchase of land, buildings or facilities or major renovations of the same. They can be new improvements or existing infrastructure whose operation has been extended or enhanced as result of the project.

Capital Improvement Program (CIP): Is a long-range plan of proposed Capital Improvement Projects with single and multiple-year capital expenditures. The CIP is updated annually. Appropriations for each approved project are presented in the annual budget, with some projects spanning multiple fiscal years.

Capital Reinvestment Fund: General fund moneys expended on capital projects.

Circulation Mitigation: Developer impact fees for traffic and street improvements.

Clean Water Act: Legislation that provides statutory authority for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program; Public law 92-500; 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq. Also known as the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.

Condemnation: A judicial or administrative proceeding to exercise the power of eminent domain, through which a government agency takes private property for public use and compensates the owner.

Congestion Management System (CMS): Is required by ISTEA to be implemented by states to improve transportation planning.

Congestion Management Program (CMP): Is an integrated approach to programming transportation improvements. This approach requires detailed consideration of the complex relationships among transportation, land use and air quality.

Community Development Agency: Is responsible for maintaining the City's infrastructure system, utilities and community facilities, as well as providing the necessary improvements in order to accommodate long-term growth.

Community Facility District (CFD): Special taxes levied on property owners for capital improvements in their community.

Council of Governments (COG): Is a voluntary consortium of local government representatives, from contiguous communities, meeting on a regular basis, and formed to cooperate on common planning and solve common development problems of their area. COGs can function as the RTPAs and MPOs in urbanized areas.

Concept: Is a strategy for future improvements that will reduce congestion or maintain the existing level of service on a specific route.

Concurrency: A requirement that development and the extension of infrastructure occurs at the same time. Used to prevent sprawling development in areas that do not have infrastructure in place, and to ease the financial burden on the localities that build it.

Congestion: Is defined by Caltrans as, reduced speeds of less than 35 mile per hour for longer than 15 minutes.

Congestion Management Plan: The monitoring and mitigation of increased congestion on regional routes and transit systems

Corridor: A major transportation route which can consist of one or more highways, arterial streets, transit lines, rail lines and/or bikeways.

California Transportation Commission (CTC): Is a body established by Assembly Bill 402 (AB 402) and appointed by the Governor to advise and assist the Secretary of the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency and the Legislature in formulating and evaluating state policies and plans for transportation.

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D

Dedicated Funds: Federal, state or local funds which can be used only for specific purposes or by specific agencies.

Discretionary Funds: Federal, state and local funds which can be used for a variety of purposes is determined by local needs and priorities.

Demand Capacity Ratio (D/C): Is the relationship between the demand for vehicle trips on a facility, versus the number of vehicle trips that can be accommodated on that facility.

Demonstration Funds (DEMO): Federal transportation acts sometime target specific projects in various states in addition to general programs for federal support. This funding category includes "demonstration" funding provided under the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA), as well as "high priority project" funding provided under TEA-21. These projects, for "demonstration" or "high priority project" funding often have special rules applying to their use.

Department of Transportation (DOT): A federal agency that implements the nation's overall transportation policy.

Development: means the following activities: (1) the division of a parcel of land into two or more parcels; (2) the construction, reconstruction, conversion, structural alteration, relocation, enlargement, or demolition of a structure, excavation, landfill, or deposition; and (3) any use, or change in the use, of any structure, or land, or extension of use of land.

District System Management Plan (DSMP): Is a part of the system planning process and refers to a long-range plan for management of transportation systems in its jurisdiction.

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E

Easement: A right to use the land of another for a specific purpose, sometimes referred to as a ``deed restriction''. Easements may be purchased from the property owner or donated by the owner to an agency. The holder of an easement agrees to perform periodic inspections and to take the legal action, if necessary, to ensure that easement provisions are met.

Economic Development: Investment of resources to create financial self-sufficiency and prosperity in a community, including the industrial, commercial, and service sectors.

Encroachment: A structure or part of a structure that occupies the property of another.

Encumbrance: Funds designated out of an appropriation to be spent on a specific purpose. The function of an encumbrance is to guarantee dollars will be available to pay bills when due.

Environmental Assessment (EA): An environmental analysis prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to determine whether a federal action would significantly affect the environment and thus require a more detailed environmental impact statement.

Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS): An analysis of the environmental impacts of proposed land development and transportation projects; it's an EIR when conducted in response to CEQA , and an EIS when conducted for federally funded or approved projects per NEPA. A draft EIR or draft EIS (DEIR or DEIS -- often they're prepared simultaneously) is circulated to the public and agencies with approval authority for comment. Like a pollywog whose next stage in life is a frog, a DEIR or DEIS grows up to be a certified FEIR or FEIS that contains responses to public comments and ways to mitigate adverse impacts.

Eminent Domain: The right of a government or municipal quasi-public body to acquire property for public use through a court action called condemnation, in which the court decides that the use is a public use and determines the compensation to be paid to the owner.

Easement by Necessity: An easement allowed by law as necessary for the full enjoyment of a parcel of real estate; for example, a right of ingress and egress over a grantor's land.

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F

Freeway Capacity: Is the maximum sustained 15 minute rate of flow that can be accommodated by a uniform freeway segment under prevailing traffic and roadway conditions in a specified direction.

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA): The federal agency responsible for the approval of transportation projects that affect the federal highway system. Administratively, FHWA is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP): Also referred to as the TIP. This is a short-range action plan to the long range RTP. It identifies specifically what projects will be funded within the next 3 - 7 years.

Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI): A document prepared by a federal agency showing why a proposed action would not have a significant impact on the environment and thus would not require preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). An FONSI is based on the results of an environmental assessment

Fiscal Impact Analysis: The analysis of the estimated taxes that a development project would generate in comparison to the cost of providing municipal services demanded by that project.

Fiscal Year: The 12-month operating period of the government. For the City this period begins July 1st and ends June 30th.

Flood Control: The specific regulations and practices that reduce or prevent the damage caused by storm water runoff

Functional Classification: Guided by federal legislation, refers to a process by which streets and highways are grouped into classes or systems, according to the character of the service that is provided, i.e., Principal Arterials, Minor Arterial Roads, Collector Roads, Local Roads.

Fund: A set of internal accounts that records revenue, expenditures, and obligations related to a specific purpose.

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G

Growth Management: The conscious public decision to restrain, accommodate or induce development in any geographic setting and at any governmental level. Growth management systems provide a means for governments to establish comprehensive goals and objectives designed to address the problems of growth through an integrated system of administrative, financial and regulatory programs.

H

Highway Capacity Manual (HCM): Revised in 1994 by the Transportation Research Board of the National Research Council, the HCM presents various methodologies for analyzing the operation (see Level of Service) of transportation systems as freeways, arterial, transit, and pedestrian facilities.

High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV): Are a lane of freeway reserved for the use of vehicles with more than a preset number of occupants; such vehicles often include buses, taxis and carpools.

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I

Initial Study: The preliminary analysis that the lead agency prepares in order to determine whether to prepare a negative declaration or an EIR and, if necessary, to identify the impacts to be analyzed in the EIR (CEQA) When the agency determines that an EIR is unnecessary, the study serves the purpose of providing documentation of the factual basis for concluding that a negative declaration will suffice.

Impact Fees: Costs imposed on new development to fund public facility improvements required by new development and ease fiscal burdens on localities.

Infrastructure: Those capital facilities and land assets under public ownership, or operated or maintained for public benefit, that are necessary to support development and redevelopment and to protect the public health, safety, and welfare. Infrastructure systems may include, but are not limited to transportation, energy, telecommunications, farmland retention, water supply, wastewater disposal, storm water management, shore protection, open space and recreation, solid waste disposal, public health care, public education, higher education, arts, historic resources, public safety, justice, public administration, and public housing.

Intelligent Transportation System (ITS): Applications of information technology to enhance transportation system management, e.g., real-time information about traffic incidents, routing alternatives and/or the guidance of vehicles through remotely controlled equipment.

Interregional Road System (IRRS): is a series of Interregional state highway routes, outside the urbanized areas, that provide access to, and links between, the state's economic centers, major recreational areas, and urban and rural regions.

Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA): Federal legislation which provided for major restructuring of the federal funding program. Re-authorized as the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21).

Interregional Transportation Strategic Plan (ITSP): describes and communicates the framework in which the state will carry out its responsibilities for the Interregional Improvement Program (IIP). It also identifies how Caltrans will work with regional agencies to consult and seek consensus on the relative priority of improvements. The plan is evaluated in terms of its progress in carrying out its objectives, strategies and actions and updated accordingly on a biennial basis.

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J

There are no terms at this time.

K

There are no terms at this time.

L

Land Use Planning: Generic term used to describe zoning results such as environmental impact, allowable development uses, historic/cultural preservation, etc.

Local and Regional Level of Service Standards: Identifies the level of service standards set by local and regional jurisdictions in general plans and congestion management programs.

Lead Agency: The agency or agencies that have taken the primary responsibility for preparing the environmental impact statement.

Legal Description: A method of describing a particular parcel of land in such a way that it uniquely describes the particular parcel and no other. A legal description may be a simple reference to a lot as shown on a subdivision plat, or be described by metes and bounds. To be adequate, it should be sufficient to locate the property without oral testimony.

Level of Service (LOS): Is a qualitative measure describing operational conditions within a traffic stream; generally described in terms of such factors as speed and travel time, freedom to maneuver, traffic interruptions, comfort and convenience, and safety. LOS A represents free flow and LOS F represents gridlock.

Long Range Transportation Plan: A 15 to 20 year forecast plan that must consider a wide range of social, environmental, energy and economic factors. The plan addresses overall regional goals and how transportation can best meet those goals within financial limits.

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M

Master Plan: A plan prepared to specify and coordinate the provision of one or more infrastructure systems and related services.

Market Value: What a willing seller could reasonably expect to receive if he/she were to sell the property on the open market to a willing buyer.

Measure I: approved in November 1989, Measure I authorizing the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority to impose a one-half of one percent retail transactions and use tax applicable in the incorporated and unincorporated territory of the County of San Bernardino for a period not to exceed twenty years.

Mitigated Negative Declaration: Under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), if an initial study reveals substantial evidence that significant environmental effects might occur, the project proponent can modify the project so as to eliminate all such possible significant impacts or reduce them to a level of insignificance.

Model, Mode Choice: is a model used to forecast the proportion of total person trips on each of the available transportation modes.

Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO): A federally required planning body responsible for the transportation planning and project selection in its region. The Governor designates an MPO in every urbanized area with a population of over 50,000 people. Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) is the MPO for San Bernardino County.

Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program (MTIP): A listing of highway and transit projects that the region hopes to fund; compiled by Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) every two years from priority lists submitted by local jurisdictions. The California Transportation Commission (CTC) must either approve or reject the MTIP list in its entirety. Once the CTC approves an MTIP, it is combined with those from other regions to comprise 75 percent of the funds in the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP).

Municipal Bonds: Interest bearing obligations issued by state or local governments to finance operating or capital costs. The principal characteristic that has traditionally set municipal bonds apart from other capital market securities is the exemption of interest income from Federal income tax.

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N

Natural Diversity Information: Identifies special status of habitats and species found within 300 meters of centerline of the existing highway facility.

National Highway System (NHS): Consists of 155,00 miles (plus or minus 15 percent) of the major roads in the U.S. Included will be all Interstate routes, a large percentage of urban and rural principal arterials, the defense strategic highway network, and strategic highway connectors.

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES): Two-phased surface water quality program authorized by Congress as part of the 1987 Clean Water Act.

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA): Federal legislation that requires consideration of environmental consequences of a project before the project can begin. If a study indicates that there are undesirable environmental consequences of a proposed project, they requires either that consideration be given to "mitigating" measures built into the project that would lessen the environmental damage, or that alternatives (different ways of accomplishing the project goals) be considered that would be less damaging to the environment. NEPA applies to any major federal, state, county, city, or industrial projects that require a Federal permit or receive funding from a Federal agency

Negative Declaration: Under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), a Negative Declaration is prepared when, after completing an initial study, a lead agency determines that a project "would not have a significant effect on the environment"

Non-Attainment Area: An air basin that does not meet existing state or federal air quality standards.

North Fontana Capital Projects: Bond proceeds used to fund improvements in the project area.

Notice of Completion (NOC): The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a notice to the public that a Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) has been completed.

Notice of Determination (NOD): Under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), a Notice of Determination is filed by the lead environmental regulatory agency once it has decided to implement or approve a project for which it has approved a negative declaration

Notice of Intent (NOI): Under National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the first formal step in the environmental impact statement process, consisting of a notice with the following information: a description of the proposed action and alternatives; a description of the agency's proposed scoping process, including scoping meetings; and the name and address of the persons to contact within the lead agency regarding the environmental impact statement.

Notice of Preparation (NOP): The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires this notice to the public that an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) will be prepared for a proposed development. It allows time for members of the community to submit their environmental concerns regarding a proposed development.

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O

Obligation: The Federal government's legal commitment (promise) to pay or reimburse the states or other entities for the Federal share of a project's eligible costs.

Outfall: The point where wastewater or drainage discharges from a sewer pipe, ditch, or other conveyance to a receiving body of water.

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P

Peak: (Peak Period, Rush Hours): Is defined as follows:

The period during which the maximum amount of travel occurs. It may be specified as the morning (a.m.) or afternoon or evening (p.m.) peak.

The period during which the demand for transportation service is the heaviest. (AM Peak period represents 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and PM Peak period represents 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.)

Permitting authority: The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) -authorized state agency or Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regional office that administers the NPDES program, issuing permits, providing compliance assistance, conducting inspections, and enforcing the NDPES program.

Plat Map: A map of a town, section or subdivision indicating the location and boundaries of individual properties.

Programming: The designation of funds for transportation projects which when approved are included in the transportation improvement program (TIP).

Project Study Report (PSR): Is the pre-programming document required before a project may be included in the STIP.

Project Report (PR): Is a conceptual engineering report that describes the work in more detailed than the PSR. It is prepared, along with the environmental document, on projects that require federal or state funding administered through CALTRANS. The report is used to recommend project to the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) for ultimate approval and funding prior to the start of design. The term "Draft Project Report" (Draft PR) refers to a draft version of this report, prepared for public and agency review.

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Q

There are no terms at this time.

R

Right-of-Way (ROW): The right given by one landowner to another to pass over the land actually transferring ownership. ROW is granted by deed or easement, for construction and maintenance according to a designated use. This may include highways, streets, canals, ditches, or other uses.

Record of Decision (ROD): Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)NEPA, a public document that reflects the agency's final decision, rationale behind that decision, and commitments to monitoring and mitigation.

Redevelopment Agency: The governing body created to designate redevelopment project areas, supervise and coordinate planning for a project area, and implement the development program.

Redevelopment Plan: Plan for revitalization and redevelopment of land within the project area in order to eliminate blight and remedy the conditions that caused it.

Regional Surface Transportation Program (STP): A federal funding program established by STEA to fund mass transit, highway, and local streets and roads projects.

Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP): The state required seven-year capital improvement program for transportation projects using state or federal funds. Required to be adopted prior to December 1 of odd numbered years. The RTIP for San Bernardino is adopted by the SANBAG. The RTIP is submitted to the California Transportation Commission for inclusion in the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP).

Regional Transportation Plan (RTP): The state-mandated long-range plan to be developed by the regional transportation planning agencies every few years. The San Bernardino County Association of Governments (SANBAG) prepares and adopts the RTP for San Bernardino County. The RTP must be consistent with local general plans and vice versa.

Regional Transportation Planning Agency (RTPA): RTPAs are designated by the State of California to provide regional transportation planning and make funding decisions, including preparation of the Regional Transportation Plan and the Regional Transportation Improvement Program. The San Bernardino Association of Governments (SANBAG) is the designated RTPA for San Bernardino County.

Relocation: The effort to assist and facilitate re-housing of families and single persons, businesses or organizations that are displaced due to redevelopment activities.

Relocation Assistance: Relocation payments help to assist families, individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations that are displaced as a result of redevelopment activities. This includes aid in finding a new location, payments to help cover moving costs, and additional payments for certain other costs.

Runoff: Drainage or flood discharge that leaves an area as surface flow or as pipeline flow.

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S

San Bernardino County Association of Governments (SANBAG): Formed in 1973 as a Council of Governments providing a forum for city and county elected officials to discuss mutual concerns. SANBAG functions as the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) for San Bernardino County.

San Sevaine Flood Control: Fees collected for the purpose of constructing flood control improvements in the San Sevaine area.

Secondary Access: A second means for vehicles to get into or leave a neighborhood or development. Having more than one means of access tends to distribute traffic more evenly, and is considered critical for emergency vehicle access.

Sewer: Any pipe or conduit used to collect and carry away sewage or storm water runoff from the generating source to the treatment plant or receiving stream.

Sewer Capital: Fees collected by the City for Future expansion and capacity increases of the sewer and waste water systems.

Short Range Transit Program (SRTP): Is a five year comprehensive plan required by the Federal Transit Administration for all transit operators receiving federal funds. The plans establish the operator's goals, policies, and objectives, analyze current and past performance, and describe short-term operational and capital improvement plans.

Short Range Transit Program SRTP: Is a five year comprehensive plan required by the Federal Transit Administration for all transit operators receiving federal funds. The plans establish the operator's goals, policies, and objectives, analyze current and past performance, and describe short-term operational and capital improvement plans.

Sierra Corridor Capital Projects: Loan proceeds used to fund improvements in the project area.

Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG): Functions as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for six counties: Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, Ventura and Imperial. The MPO is mandated to research and draw up plans for transportation, growth management, hazardous waste management, and air quality by the federal government.

South West Industrial Park Capital Projects: Bond proceeds used to fund improvements in the project area.

State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP): The statewide Capital Improvement Program adopted biennially by the California Transportation Commission, which includes all major transportation projects funded by state or Federal funds.

Statement of Overriding Considerations: Provides an agency with a means to adopt a project with unmitigated significant environmental impacts. The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires the decision-maker to balance the benefits of a proposed project against its unavoidable environmental risks in determining whether to approve the project. If the benefits of a proposed project outweigh the unavoidable adverse environmental effects, the adverse environmental effects may be considered acceptable.

Storm drain: An opening leading to an underground pipe or open ditch for carrying surface runoff, separate from the sanitary sewer or wastewater system.

Storm Drain Fund: Fees received from developers for storm drain facilities.

Storm water: Precipitation that accumulates in natural and/or constructed storage and storm water systems during and immediately following a storm event.

Storm water pollution prevention plan (SWPPP): A plan to describe a process though which a facility thoroughly evaluates potential pollutant sources at a site and selects and implements appropriate measures designed to prevent or control the discharge of pollutants in storm water runoff.

Street, Arterial: A thoroughfare designed to carry vehicular traffic between neighborhoods and from surrounding areas into and out of the city.

Street, Collector: A street that directs neighborhood vehicular traffic to the arterial street system; it basically serves the surrounding neighborhoods, not the wider community.

Street, Local: A street that provides access to adjacent properties and allows for vehicular traffic circulation within a neighborhood.

Surface runoff: The portion of rainfall that moves over the ground toward a lower elevation and does not infiltrate the soil.

Sustainable Development: Development with the goal of preserving environmental quality, natural resources and livability for present and future generations. Sustainable initiatives work to ensure efficient use of resources.

System Capacity: The ability of natural, infrastructure, social and economic systems to accommodate growth and development without degrading or exceeding the limits of those systems, as determined by a carrying capacity analysis.

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T

Tax Allocation Bond: A bond or financial obligation issued by the agency in order to generate funds to implement the redevelopment plan. The bond is repaid with tax increments flowing to the agency as a result of actions of the agency to revitalize the project area.

Tax Increment: The increase in property taxes within the redevelopment project area that result from increases in the project area assessed value that exceeds the base year assessed value.

Traffic Accident Surveillance and Analysis System (TASAS): Is a system that provides a detailed list and/or summary of accidents that have occurred on highways, ramps or intersections in the State Highway System. Accidents can be selected from the system by location, highway characteristics, accident data codes and combinations of the above.

Transportation Concept Report (TCR): Is a Route Concept Report (RCR) analyzes a transportation corridor service area, establishes a twenty-year transportation planning concept and identifies modal transportation options and applications needed to achieve the twenty year concepts.

Traffic Conditions: Are any characteristics of the traffic stream that may affect capacity or operations, including the percentage composition of the traffic stream by vehicle type and driver characteristics (such as the differences between weekday commuters and recreational drivers).

Traffic Forecast: Is a best estimate of the future conditions, demand and resulting volumes. A forecast also identifies whether or not the subject segment of a route is designated as being part of a system. National Highway System (NHS), Interregional Highway System (IRRS), Freeway/Expressway System, Scenic Highway, National Truck Network, Terminal Access Route for the National Truck Network, Strategic Highway Network (STRAHNET), Highways of Regional Significance.

Transportation Corridor: A combination of principal transportation routes involving a linear network of one or more highways of four or more lanes, rail lines, or other primary and secondary access facilities which support a development corridor.

Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21): Also known as "federal reauthorization," legislation passed by Congress that provides funding for the federal transportation program directly to regional agencies to be allocated according to local priorities.

Transportation Enhancement Program (TEP): Federal program which provides capital funds for "non-traditional" transportation projects such as bicycle and pedestrian facilities, historic preservation of transportation facilities, and transportation-related landscaping and scenic beautification.

Transportation Improvement Program (TIP): A capital investment program prepared by the MPO cooperatively with the State and transit operator that prioritizes transportation projects to be implemented with Federal funds over a five year period.

Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA): A new Federal transportation credit program authorized as part of TEA-21 that provides direct Federal loans, lines of credit, and loan guarantees provided through U.S. DOT to large projects of national significance, under criteria developed by Congress.

Transportation System Management (TSM): Is that part of the urban transportation Process undertaken to improve the efficiency of the existing transportation system. The intent is to make better use of the existing transportation system by using short term, low capital transportation improvements that generally cost less and can be implemented more quickly than system development actions.

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U

Urban Transportation Planning System (UTPS): Is a tool for multi-modal transportation planning developed by the Urban Mass Transportation Administration (now the Federal Transit Administration) and the Federal Highway Administration. It is used for both long and short-range Planning, particularly system analysis and covers both computerized and manual planning methods. UTPS consists of computer programs, attendant documentation, user guides and manuals that cover one or more of five analytical categories: highway network analysis, transit network analysis, demand estimation, data capture and manipulation, and sketch planning.

V

Volume/Capacity (V/C): Is defined, as V/C is a ratio of number of vehicles operating to capacity for a traffic facility.

W

Watershed: Land-dividing areas drained by different rivers or river systems that supports a variety of resources, uses, activities, and values.

X

There are no terms at this time.

Y

There are no terms at this time.

Z

Zoning: To mark off land area within a City into zones for the purpose of controlling land use and density, e.g. single family residential, multi-family residential, commercial, and industrial, etc. The state grants authority to cities to regulate land use through zoning. The intent of City's zoning ordinance and map is to: promote the public health, safety, order, convenience, prosperity, and general welfare; conserve and protect the value of property, and encourage appropriate use of land; lessen congestion in the streets; Prevent the overcrowding of land; Avoid undue concentration of populations; and Facilitate the adequate provision of transportation, water, sewage disposal, schools, parks, and other public requirements.

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