LIST OF COMMON TERMS AND ACRONYMS
COMMON TERMS AND ACRONYMS
ADA- Americans with Disabilities Act
ADT- Average Daily Traffic
AOG- Association of Governments is a voluntary association of local governments formed under the authority of the Utah Interlocal Cooperation Act. Utah's seven associations were formally established in the early 1970's to provide a common forum to identify, discuss, study, and resolve area-wide problems.
Appropriate/Appropriation- A budgetary term that refers to an act by a governing body to provide budgeted funds to programs that have been previously authorized by other legislation. The amount of funding appropriated may be less than what was authorized.
AQMP- Air Quality Management Plan
B2W- Bike to Work
Bike Share- A bicycle-sharing system, public bicycle scheme, or public bike share scheme is a service in which bicycles are made available for shared use to individuals on a short term basis for a price or for free. One example in Salt Lake City is GREENbike.
Bikeway- A facility designated for use by bicyclists. There are three types of bicycle facilities:
Bike Path or Bike Trail (Class I Bikeway) — Provides a completely separated right-of-way designated for the exclusive use of bicyclists and pedestrians with cross-flows by motorists minimized.
Bike Lane (Class II Bikeway) — Provides a striped and/or signed right-of-way for use by bicycles, but with occasional adjacent vehicle parking and cross-flows by pedestrians and/or motorists permitted.
Bike Route (Class III Bikeway) — Direct or scenic routes highlighted for bicyclists by using signs or permanent markings. Routes may be shared with pedestrians and/or motorists.
Bear River Association of Governments (BRAG)- Bear River Association of Governments is an Association of Governments (AOG) representing areas in Northern Utah. Their goal is to serve as a multi-purpose organization, utilizing their combined total resources to provide a more effective means for planning and development of the physical, economic, and human resources of the region. Their website has maps and planning initiatives throughout Northern Utah. See AOG.
Buffered Bike/Pedestrian Facility- A bicycle or pedestrian facility that has additional space between the motor vehicle travel lane and the bicycle and pedestrian facility. A buffered facility offers a more comfortable biking or walking environment.
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)- A broad term that — through improvements to infrastructure, vehicles, and scheduling —attempts to use buses to provide a service that is of a higher quality than an ordinary bus line. Learn more about Bus Rapid Transit on Utah Transit Authority (UTA) webpage.
COG- Council of Governments
Collector Streets- Streets that collect traffic from local streets, channeling it to arterials, freeways, or local destinations such as schools or shops.
Commute- The trip to and from a frequently visited location, usually work or school.
Complete Streets- Streets designed and operated to enable safe access for all users. Pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and bus riders of all ages and abilities are able to safely move along and across a complete street. Learn more about complete streets on the U.S. Department of Transportation webpage.
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)- A clean-burning alternative fuel for vehicles.
Congestion- Congestion is usually defined as travel time or delay in excess of what is normally experienced under free-flow traffic conditions. Congestion is typically accompanied by lower speeds, stop-and-go travel conditions, or queuing, such as behind on-ramp meters or heavily-used intersections.
Corridor- A major transportation route which can consist of one or more highways, arterial streets, transit lines, rail lines, and/or bikeways.
Demand-Responsive Transport (DRT)- Individualized transportation services requested by passengers, and/or where routes are developed around a group of requests, which may change on a daily basis. Oftentimes provided to people unable to use fixed-route buses and instead, for example, travel by advance reservation on paratransit vehicles.
Electric-Bike- An electric bicycle (or e-bike) is like a regular bicycle except that it has an electric motor to help people pedal more efficiently and get more power when needed. You can pedal normally and get assistance from the motor to help you:
Climb up steep or long hills
Continue riding against a headwind
Provide a boost in power when you are too tired to pedal anymore
Or help you bike with friends and family if you would normally struggle with pedaling.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)- The Environmental Protection Agency is a federal agency established to develop and enforce regulations that implement environmental laws enacted by Congress. These laws serve to protect human health and safeguard the natural environment.
Expenditure- In transportation terms, this is any allowable expense associated with a project or program.
Expressway- A divided highway for high-speed traffic with at least partial control of access. In some areas, expressways are divided arterial roads with limitations on the frequency of driveways and intersecting cross-streets. In other areas, access to expressways is limited only to grade-separated interchanges, making them the full equivalent of freeways.
Extinguishable Message Sign (EMS)- Signs along roadways that provide advisory messages or direct motorists to Highway Advisory Radio broadcasting current information about traffic conditions.
Farebox Recovery Ratio- The proportion of public transit operating expenses covered by passenger fares. The ratio divides the farebox revenue (cash, tickets, and passes) by the total operating expenses.
Five County Association of Governments (FCAOG)- The Five County Association of Governments encompasses over 11 million acres of land in southwestern Utah. The association serves 37 municipalities (incorporated cities and towns), five county-wide school districts, and the county jurisdictions of Beaver, Garfield, Iron, Kane, and Washington. The Five County Association of Governments’ staff excels in facilitating the development and delivery of programs assigned by local officials to assure southwestern Utah remains a premier region in which to live, work, and recreate. See AOG.
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)- The Federal Highway Administration is an agency responsible for the approval of transportation projects related to the roadway system.
Federal Transit Administration (FTA)- The Federal Transit Administration is an agency responsible for administering federal transit funds and assisting in the planning and establishment of mass transportation systems.
Fixed Route- A fixed route is a bus transit route in which a vehicle operates on a regular, fixed schedule along a specific route with vehicles stopping to pick up and deliver passengers at specific locations.
Fixed Route Service- Services provided on a regular, fixed-schedule basis along a specific route.
Flex Hours- Work hours which allow an employee to work a non-standard work schedule and commute during non-peak hours. Common examples include the 4/10, where an individual works four 10-hour days per week, or the 9/80, where an individual works longer hours each day with one day off every other week.
Freeway- A divided arterial highway designed for the unimpeded flow of large traffic volumes. Access to a freeway is controlled and intersection grade separations are required.
Front Runner- UTA's commuter rail system with trains which run from Ogden to Provo along an 89-mile corridor and serve a total of 16 stations in Weber, Davis, Salt Lake, and Utah Counties.
Gas Tax- The tax applied to each gallon of fuel sold.
Geographic Information System (GIS)- Mapping software that links information about where things are with information about what things are like. GIS allows users to examine relationships between features distributed unevenly over space, seeking patterns that may not be apparent without using advanced techniques of query, selection, analysis, and display.
Grade Crossing- A crossing or intersection of highways, railroad tracks, other guideways, pedestrian walkways, or combinations of these at the same level or grade.
GREENbike- GREENbike is Salt Lake City's nonprofit bike share program. See Bike Share.
High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV)- High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes (or Diamond Lanes) are a lane on a multi-lane highway designated for use, primarily in peak periods, only by vehicles with more than one (or sometimes two) occupants – such as carpools, vanpools, shuttles, and buses.
Highway- A general term which includes roads, streets, parkways, and all their appurtenances. In this toolkit, “highway” typically refers only to roads on the State Route System (e.g. Highway 17).
High Speed Rail (HSR)- Railroad passenger service that, as defined by California state law, operates at maximum speeds of more than 200 miles per hour. Because of the speed, high speed rails normally operate on intercity (longer) routes.
Infill Development- Development of land within an established urbanized area.
Intelligent Transportation System (ITS)- A general classification of transportation technologies, management tools, and services made possible through advances in computer and communication technologies. Examples include real-time information about traffic incidents, dynamic curve warning signs, and the guidance of vehicles through remotely controlled equipment.
Inter-modal- Using or addressing interconnections between various transportation facilities or modes.
Jobs/Housing Balance- The interrelationship between the location and type of housing versus the location and type of jobs in a region. This interrelationship has implications for transportation demand.
Light Rail- A passenger transportation system of self-propelled vehicles that operate over steel rails located in the street, on an aerial structure, or on a separated right-of-way.
Local Streets- Streets that provide direct access to adjacent residential areas, on which through traffic is generally discouraged.
Low Emission Vehicles- Vehicles using alternative fuel sources which emit little or no tailpipe exhaust. For example, vehicles utilizing electric, hybrid electric, or fuel cells.
Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRP) - Any one of the five plans developed by the Utah Department of Transportation and Utah's four MPOs that forecast the state's transportation needs for the next 20-plus years. Also known as the Regional Transportation Plans or RTPs.
Mountainland Association of Governments (MAG)- The Mountainland Association of Governments serves the communities in Utah, Wasatch, and Summit counties. They thrive on seeing the communities in their area grow and succeed. Their emphasis areas include Informed Aging, Community & Economic Development, and Planning for Growth. See AOG.
Mass Transit- A common carrier service provided for transporting passengers on established routes, with fixed schedules and published rates of fares. Examples include buses and rail.
Mitigation- A project or program intended to offset impacts of a transportation project on an existing natural resource such as a stream, wetland, and/or endangered species.
Mixed Flow Lane- Travel lanes shared by autos, trucks, buses, and motorcycles (as compared to restricted lanes, such as HOV lanes). See HOV.
Mode Split or Mode Share- The proportion of total travel in each travel mode.
Mode- Method of travel. For example, private automobile, walking, bicycle, transit, airplane, bus, or train.
MPO- Metropolitan Planning Organization
NIMBY- Not in my backyard. NIMBY usually refers to people who oppose ideas because they don’t want them close to their property.
Open Space- Generally understood as any area of land or water which is not developed for urbanized uses. In municipal “general plans”, open space areas may be designated for the purposes of the preservation or managed production of natural resources, outdoor recreation, and/or the promotion of public health and safety.
Operations- On-going activities necessary to manage and perform services for a system, such as labor costs. For transit, costs include fuel, salaries, and replacement parts.
Paratransit- Term used to describe transportation services which operate on flexible routes and/or provide demand-responsive transport services, and is most frequently used by elderly and/or passengers with disabilities unable to take fixed route transit. Generally vans, small buses, or taxis are used to provide this service.
Park-and-Ride Lot- A facility where individuals can meet to utilize carpools, vanpools, or other modes, and continue traveling together to their destination(s).
Parking Management- Strategies which use parking supply or pricing as an incentive or disincentive to affect the demand for parking. Preferred parking for carpools is an example of a parking management incentive, whereas charging parking fees is an example of a disincentive.
Peak Periods- The hours during which the greatest traffic volumes or highest transit use occur.
Performance Based Planning- An approach that uses performance measures to support investment decisions to help achieve desired outcomes.
Rideshare- Alternatives to driving alone, including carpooling, vanpooling, or taking the bus.
RTP- Regional Transportation Plans
Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS)- Safe Routes to Schools initiatives, such as education, encouragement campaigns, and infrastructure improvements, that make it easier and safer for children to walk and bicycle to school.
Safe Routes to Transit- Strategies to address the challenges of getting to and from a transit stop or station. These include sidewalks and curb cuts to bus stops, pedestrian crosswalks near transit stations, bicycle lanes that connect to transit and bike parking at transit stations, feeder-distributor bus/shuttle routes, car sharing/station cars, and ridesharing.
Six County Association of Governments (SCAOG)- The Six County Association of Governments was organized to provide services — available through state and federal programs in Central Utah — to the citizens of Juab, Millard, Piute, Sanpete, Sevier, and Wayne counties. See AOG.
Southeastern Utah Association of Local Governments (SEUALG)- The Southeastern Utah Association of Local Governments exists to plan and prepare with federal, state and local governments in order to strengthen the role of southeastern Utah local officials. This allows for a more effective execution of state and federal programs at the regional level to implement economic development, strategize and educate low-income individuals and seniors, stabilize housing, and educate individuals for economic stability. See AOG.
Sustainability- Sustainability is defined as balancing economic, environmental, and equity interests. Sustainability creates and maintains the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony, thereby fulfilling the social, economic, and other requirements of present and future generations.
TIF Active Transportation Projects- Paved pedestrian or paved non-motorized transportation projects.
TIF Transportation Investment Fund- Capital projects funded for transportation by Utah State Legislature.
Transit- Travel by bus, rail, or other vehicle, either publicly or privately owned, that provides general or specialized service on a regular or continuing basis.
TTIF First and Last Mile Projects- Pedestrian or non-motorized transportation projects that provide connection to a public transit system.
Transit Transportation Investment Fund (TTIF)- A fund within the Transportation Investment Fund (TIF).
Uintah Basin Association of Governments (UBAOG)- The Uintah Basin Association of Governments was organized to provide services including Regional Transportation Planning efforts to the citizens in Daggett, Duchesne, and Uintah counties. Their goal is, through a strong central organization, to unify the tri-county area for economic and social development by representing local governments and utilizing combined resources to enhance the quality of life for the citizenry.
UDOT- Utah Department of Transportation.
Utah League of Cities and Towns (ULCT)- The Utah League of Cities and Towns advocates municipal interests in the state of Utah. ULCT is a non-partisan, inter-local, government cooperative. The League now represents 245 incorporated municipalities in the state.
Urbanized Area- An area with a population of 50,000 or more as designated by the U.S. Census.
Utility or Utilitarian Cycling- When cycling is used as a means of transportation and not just for recreation or leisure.
Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC)- The Wasatch Front Regional Council is an Association of Governments building consensus and enhancing quality of life by developing and implementing visions and plans for a well-functioning multi-modal transportation system, livable communities, a strong economy, and a healthy environment. See AOG.
YIMBY- Yes in my backyard.
Special thanks to Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission for some of their definitions!