Federal legislation which mandates changes in building codes, transportation, and hiring practices to prevent discrimination against persons with disabilities.
Any road, street, or path that is designated to accommodate bicycle travel. Bikeways do not have to be separated facilities and may be shared with other travel modes.
A transportation facility’s ability to accommodate a moving stream of people or vehicles in a given time period.
Occurs when the number of vehicles on a roadway exceeds the desired level of service threshold volumes for that roadway.
Non-recurring or infrequently recurring costs of long-term assets, such as land, guideways, stations, buildings, and vehicles.
Functional classification of streets which distribute trips from arterials and channel trips to arterials. Additionally, these roadways provide access and circulation within residential neighborhoods.
In nonattainment areas, the process of assessing the compliance of transportation plans and projects with air quality standards defined by the Clean Air Act.
The volume of traffic at which transportation facility performance is no longer operating at an acceptable level of service.
A federal funding program which provides funds for projects and activities which specifically reduce congestion and improve air quality.
A unit of time measure reflecting driver discomfort, frustration, additional fuel consumption, and increased travel time.
Various scenic, historic and environmental activities eligible for project funding under the Surface Transportation Program (STP) element of Federal Transportation funding resources.
Consists of roads which are eligible for either NHS (National Highway System) or STP (Surface Transportation Program) funding.
Division of the U.S. Department of Transportation which administers the funds for highway planning and capital programs.
Division of the U.S. Department of Transportation which administers the funds for transit planning and capital/operating programs.
Roadway conditions in which vehicles are almost completely unimpeded in their ability to maneuver within the traffic stream.
The grouping of streets and highways into classes, or systems, according to the character of service they are intended to provide. Basic to this process is the recognition that roads do not function independently, but rather as a system-wide network of roads.
Vehicles carrying a specified minimum number of persons, usually three or more. Freeways may have lanes designated for HOV use by car-poolers, vanpools and buses.
Electronic, computer and communications technology applied to surface transportation to increase safety, reduce congestion, enhance mobility, minimize environmental impact, increase energy efficiency and promote economic productivity for a healthier economy.
A transportation system connecting or including different modes of transportation.
The most recent legislation passed by the U.S. Congress that authorizes Federal funding through 1997 for highway and transit purposes. The Act reinforces MPO responsibilities and provides more flexibility in transportation planning and programming decision making.
The manner in which land or the structures on the land are used (i.e., commercial, residential, industrial, etc.).
The quality of flow in the moving stream of people or vehicles. Typically, ranges from LOS A (free flow traffic) to LOS F (stop-and-go unacceptable conditions).
Functional classification for streets which are not on a higher functional classification system and provide the lowest level of mobility with through traffic movement being discouraged.
A 15 to 20 year forecast plan which 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.
A previously designated nonattainment area in which air quality conformity analyses and determinations for long range plans and TIPs must continue for 20 years.
As a subset of the regional transportation system planning process, a more detailed planning procedure to inform decision-makers of the impacts and consequences of various transportation options on a corridor or subarea basis. The preferred strategy will be included as a refinement of the regional transportation system plan.
A high type highway or transit improvement of substantial cost that is expected to have a significant effect on capacity, traffic flow, level of service or mode share of the transportation corridor or subarea scale. A MIS is required for such investments.
The region in which the MPO carries out its transportation planning responsibilities and is designated as such by the MPO and the Governor in accordance with ISTEA regulations. The NFTC's metropolitan boundary encompasses the entire Erie-Niagara region.
The agency designated by the Governor to administer the federally required transportation decision-making process in urbanized areas with over 50,000 population. The designated planning area for the NFTC is comprised of Erie and Niagara Counties. Core responsibilities include the Long Range Plan, the Transportation Improvement Program and the MPO forum for that decision-making.
Functional classification for those facilities which augment the Principal Arterial System and serve trips of moderate length. Minor Arterials put a greater emphasis on land access and less importance on mobility.
A set of innovative strategies to maximize the people-moving capability of the transportation system, while at the same time, reducing the number of vehicles on that system.
A particular form of travel, for example, walking or traveling by automobile, transit or bicycle.
The process by which the number of trips that will be made by two or more modes of transportation is surveyed or estimated.
Federal standards developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that set allowable concentration for various pollutants including carbon monoxide, transportation hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter.
A 155,000 mile interconnected system of roads, including 5,119 miles in New York State, authorized through ISTEA. Comprised of Interstate highways and roads designated as most important to interstate travel, national defense, intermodal connections, and international crossings. Congressional approval of the NHS system was formalized by the National Highway System Act of 1995.
Any geographic region that has been designated as nonattainment due to a transportation related pollutant(s) that violates the national ambient air quality standard. The Clean Air Act requires that these areas perform air quality analyses and determinations to ensure conformity. (The Erie-Niagara Region has been in marginal nonattainment for ozone, but redesignation to a Maintenance Area is expected.)
The period during which the maximum amount of travel occurs. It may be specified as the morning (a.m.) or evening (p.m.) peak.
A trip made by a person from a single origin to a single destination.
Functional classification for high volume roadways which carry the major portion of daily trips to centers of activity in the metropolitan area. Principal Arterials put a greater emphasis of mobility over access to land and include fully and partially controlled access facilities stratified into three categories, Intestates, Expressways and Streets.
The designation of funds for transportation projects which when approved are included in the transportation improvement program (TIP).
The process of considering and designating candidate projects for inclusion in the TIP.
The advancement of programmed projects in the TIP, for commitment of specific Federal funds for those projects usually in the first ("annual element") or second ("budget element") years of a multi-year program.
Land corridors needed for the construction of highways, transit facilities, railroads, etc.
A capital funding program
Any change to a previously-approved TIP. May include the addition/deletion of significant right-of-way acquisition, significant capacity, new intermodal facilities, transit facilities upgrading, projects otherwise affecting travel patterns. Also less significant changes such as minor infrastructure projects and the replacement of transit equipment.
The smallest geographically designated area for analysis of transportation activity.
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.
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.
A schematic representation of the roadway or transit system via a series of links and nodes in a computer database.
The technical process of estimating the number of future users by mode of a system and their particular travel times and routes.
The process of allocating highway and transit trips among the different facilities included in a network.
Programs and policies to reduce peak demand for transportation and to maximize efficient use of the transportation system. Such strategies may include HOV lanes, ride sharing and vanpooling, and congestion pricing.
The process of estimating the travel between traffic analysis zones.
The process of estimating trips that will be produced and/or attracted to a geographic unit based on the population and employment characteristics of that unit.
A description of the transportation planning work tasks and their funding sources for a period that usually covers twelve (12) month time span.
An area with a population of 50,000 or more designated by the U.S. Census Bureau.
The amount of vehicle travel on a designated set of roadways multiplied by the total mileage of those roadways.