- A -

Americans with Disability Act

Federal legislation which mandates changes in building codes, transportation, and hiring practices to prevent discrimination against persons with disabilities.

- B -

Bikeway

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.

- C -

Capacity

A transportation facility’s ability to accommodate a moving stream of people or vehicles in a given time period.

Capacity Deficiency

Occurs when the number of vehicles on a roadway exceeds the desired level of service threshold volumes for that roadway.

Capital Costs

Non-recurring or infrequently recurring costs of long-term assets, such as land, guideways, stations, buildings, and vehicles.

Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (CAAA)

Collectors

Functional classification of streets which distribute trips from arterials and channel trips to arterials. Additionally, these roadways provide access and circulation within residential neighborhoods.

Conformity

In nonattainment areas, the process of assessing the compliance of transportation plans and projects with air quality standards defined by the Clean Air Act.

Congestion

The volume of traffic at which transportation facility performance is no longer operating at an acceptable level of service.

Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Funds

A federal funding program which provides funds for projects and activities which specifically reduce congestion and improve air quality.

- D -

Delay

A unit of time measure reflecting driver discomfort, frustration, additional fuel consumption, and increased travel time.

- E -

Enhancement Projects

Various scenic, historic and environmental activities eligible for project funding under the Surface Transportation Program (STP) element of Federal Transportation funding resources.

- F -

Federal-Aid System

Consists of roads which are eligible for either NHS (National Highway System) or STP (Surface Transportation Program) funding.

Federal Highway Administratimn (FHWA)

Division of the U.S. Department of Transportation which administers the funds for highway planning and capital programs.

Federal Transit Administration (FTA)

Division of the U.S. Department of Transportation which administers the funds for transit planning and capital/operating programs.

Free Flow

Roadway conditions in which vehicles are almost completely unimpeded in their ability to maneuver within the traffic stream.

Functional Classification

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.

- G -

(empty)

- H -

High Occupancy Vehicles (HOV)

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.

- I -

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)

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.

Intermodal

A transportation system connecting or including different modes of transportation.

Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA)

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.

- J -

(empty)

- K -

(empty)

- L -

Land Use

The manner in which land or the structures on the land are used (i.e., commercial, residential, industrial, etc.).

Level of Service (LOS)

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).

Local Streets

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.

Long Range Transportation Plan

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.

- M -

Maintenance Area

A previously designated nonattainment area in which air quality conformity analyses and determinations for long range plans and TIPs must continue for 20 years.

Major Investment Study (MIS)

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.

Major Metropolitan Transportation Investment (MMTI)

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.

Metropolitan Planning Area

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.

Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)

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.

Minor Arterials

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.

Mobility Strategies

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.

Mode

A particular form of travel, for example, walking or traveling by automobile, transit or bicycle.

Mode Split

The process by which the number of trips that will be made by two or more modes of transportation is surveyed or estimated.

- N -

National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)

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.

National Highway System (NHS)

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.

Nonattainment Area

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.)

- O -

(empty)

- P -

Peak

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

Person Trip

A trip made by a person from a single origin to a single destination.

Principal Arterials

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.

Programming

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

Project Screening

The process of considering and designating candidate projects for inclusion in the TIP.

Project Selection

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.

- Q -

(empty)

- R -

Right-Of-Way (ROW)

Land corridors needed for the construction of highways, transit facilities, railroads, etc.

- S -

Surface Transportation Program (STP)

A capital funding program

- T -

TIP Amendment

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.

Traffic Analysis Zone (TAZ)

The smallest geographically designated area for analysis of transportation activity.

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.

TransportationImprovement 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 Network

A schematic representation of the roadway or transit system via a series of links and nodes in a computer database.

Travel Forecasting

The technical process of estimating the number of future users by mode of a system and their particular travel times and routes.

Trip Assignment

The process of allocating highway and transit trips among the different facilities included in a network.

Transportation Demand Management

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.

Trip Distribution

The process of estimating the travel between traffic analysis zones.

Trip Generation

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.

- U -

Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP)

A description of the transportation planning work tasks and their funding sources for a period that usually covers twelve (12) month time span.

Urbanized Area

An area with a population of 50,000 or more designated by the U.S. Census Bureau.

- V -

Vehicle Miles of Travel (VMT)

The amount of vehicle travel on a designated set of roadways multiplied by the total mileage of those roadways.

- W -

(empty)

- X -

(empty)

- Y -

(empty)

- Z -

(empty)

Transportation Acronyms

ADA: Americans with Disability Act

AADT: Average Annual Daily Traffic

AWDT: Average Weekday Traffic

CAAA: Clean Air Act Amendments

CMAQ: Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Funds

CMS: Congestion Management System

FHWA: Federal Highway Administration

FTA: Federal Transit Administration

HOV: High Occupancy Vehicle

ISTEA: Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act

ITS: Intelligent Transportation System

LOS: Level of Service

LRP: Long Range Plan

MIS: Major Investment Study

MMTI: Major Metropolitan Transportation Investment

MPO: Metropolitan Planning Organization

NFTA: Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority

NFTC: Niagara Frontier Transportation Committee

NHS: National Highway System

NYSDOT: New York State Department of Transportation

PCC: NFTC Planning and Coordinating Committee

SIP: State Implementation Plan for Air Quality

SOV: Single Occupant Vehicle

STIP: Statewide Transportation Improvement Program

STP: Surface Transportation Program

TAZ: Transportation Analysis Zone

TDM: Transportation Demand Management

TDP: Transit Development Program

TIP: Transportation Improvement Program

TMA: Transportation Management Area

UPWP: Unified Planning Work Program

VMT: Vehicle Miles of Travel