Glossary of Acronyms
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Light Rail - A streetcar-type vehicle operated on city streets, semi-exclusive rights-of- United States Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) way, or exclusive rights-of-way. Service may be provided by step-entry vehicles or by The federal cabinet-level agency with responsibility for highways, maritime, motor carrier level boarding. safety, railroad, transit, aviation and ports; it is headed by the Secretary of Transportation. MTA Mobility/Paratransit – A service operated by the Maryland Transit Administration The DOT includes the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administra- for citizens who are unable to use Local Bus, Metro/Subway or Light Rail service. Service tion, among others. is provided within three-quarters (3/4) of a mile of any MTA fixed-route service in Balti- Urbanized Area more City, Baltimore County or Anne Arundel County. mta.maryland.gov/mobility Area that contains a city of 50,000 or more population plus incorporated surrounding areas Rapid Transit - Rail or motorbus transit service operating completely separate from all meeting size or density criteria as defined by the U.S. Census. Glossary of Transportation Planning modes of transportation on an exclusive right-of-way. Value Pricing The concept of assessing higher prices for using certain transportation facilities during the Acronyms & Terms Ridesharing most congested times of the day, in the same way that airlines offer off-peak discounts and A form of transportation, other than public transit, in which more than one person shares hotel rooms cost more during prime tourist seasons. Also known as congestion pricing and the use of the vehicle, such as a van or car, to make a trip. Also known as "carpooling," "bus- peak-period pricing, examples of this concept include higher bridge tolls during peak peri- The transportation arena has a language all its own. pooling" or "vanpooling." Visit metrorideshare.com for local Rideshare program information ods or charging single-occupant vehicles that want to use carpool lanes. Navigating your way through the complex web of trans- portation terminology can be a challenge. So, we’ve put Surface Transportation Program (STP) Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) together this list of acronyms and commonly used words. One of the key funding programs in the federal transportation bill. STP moneys are “flex- One vehicle (whether a car carrying one passenger or a bus carrying 30 people) traveling www.baltometro.org/get-involved/glossary-of-acronyms ible,” meaning they can be spent on mass transit, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, as well as one mile constitutes a vehicle mile. This number is used in transportation models because on roads and highways. reducing VMT can help ease traffic congestion and improve air quality. Sustainability Walkable The traditional definition of sustainability calls for policies and strategies that meet society’s Refers to a single route, or a system of routes, between points that is relatively short, barrier- present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own free, interesting, safe, well-lighted and comfortable, inviting pedestrian travel. Walkable Accessibility needs. Source: US Environmental Protection Agency Communities are areas that incorporate these kinds of principles. The extent to which facilities are barrier free and useable by persons with disabilities, includ- ing wheelchair users. Examples of facilities are sidewalks, buses, trains, etc. Technical Committee (TC) A subcommittee of the BRTB, The TC makes recommendations to the BRTB based on tech- Activity Center nical sufficiency, accuracy and completeness of all plans and programs. This input enables Locations where there are a concentration of residences, business, commercial and other the Board to have a technical viewpoint prior to making decisions. uses that draw a large number of people on a daily basis. Telecommuting/Teleworking QUICKLIST Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) Refers to employees who work at an alternate site, such as at home, usually one or more days Here are a few commonly used phrases and acronyms: Federal civil rights legislation for disabled persons passed in 1990; calls on public transit sys- per week, thereby reducing their commutes. www.TeleworkBaltimore.com BMC – Baltimore Metropolitan Council tems to make their services more fully accessible as well as to underwrite a parallel network of paratransit service. Title VI BPAG – Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Group Refers to Title VI of the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, and requires that transportation BRAC – Base Realignment and Closure Alternative Fuel Vehicles planning and programming be nondiscriminatory on the basis of race, color and national BRTB – Baltimore Regional Transportation Board Low-polluting fuels instead of high-sulfur diesel or gasoline. Examples include methanol, origin. Integral to Title VI is the concept of environmental justice. ethanol, propane or compressed natural gas (CNG), liquid natural gas (LNG), low-sulfur or CFG – Cooperative Forecasting Group "clean" diesel and electricity. Traffic Analysis Zone (TAZ) EPA – Environmental Protection Agency Annual Element Basic unit of geography used to predict travel behavior in the travel demand model. Con- FMTF – Freight Movement Task Force structed using census block information. Transportation projects, included in the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), that ICG – lnteragency Consultation Group are proposed for funding in the coming year. The annual element, as part of a four-year TIP Traffic Count LRTP – Long-range Transportation Plan is submitted to the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) as part of the required A record of the number of vehicles, people aboard vehicles (occupancy) or both that pass a planning process. given checkpoint during a given time period. MDE – Maryland Department of the Environment MDOT – Maryland Department of Transportation Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) Transit Oriented Development (TOD) A system that senses, at intervals, the location of vehicles such as buses or subways. These A type of development that links land use and transit facilities to support the transit system MDP – Maryland Department of Planning MPO – Metropolitan Planning Organization vehicles are equipped with special electronic equipment that communicates a signal back to and help reduce sprawl, traffic congestion and air pollution. It includes housing, along with a central control facility. complementary public uses (jobs, retail and services), located at a strategic point along a MTA – Maryland Transit Administration regional transit system, such as a rail hub. PAC – Public Advisory Committee Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC) The organization of the Baltimore region’s elected executives, representing Baltimore City Transportation Demand Management (TDM) SHA – State Highway Administration and Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford and Howard counties. The goal of the Programs designed to reduce demand by automobiles on the transportation system. Exam- TC – Technical Committee organization is to improve the quality of life and economic vitality in the Baltimore region. ples are the promotion and use of transit, alternative work hours, ridesharing, etc. Land-use TIP – Transportation Improvement Program Areas of activity include: Air and Water Quality Programs, Building Permits Data System, planning also plays a role in providing alternate travel options. UPWP – Unified Planning Work Program Computer Mapping Applications; Cooperative Purchasing; Economic and Demographic Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Research; Emergency Preparedness and Public Safety; Rideshare Coordination; and Trans- A short-term (covering four years) program of transportation projects that will use federal portation Planning. BMC provides technical and staff support to the BRTB. funds expected to flow to the region; the projects contained in the TIP are drawn from, and Baltimore Regional Transportation Board (BRTB) are consistent with, the long-range transportation plan. The mission of the BRTB is to provide regional transportation planning and policy mak- Travel Demand Model ing for the Baltimore region. The BRTB is the federally recognized Metropolitan Planning Used by transportation planners for simulating current travel conditions and for forecasting Organization (MPO) for transportation planning in the Baltimore region. As an MPO, the future travel patterns and conditions. Models help planners and policy-makers analyze the Questions? BRTB is directly responsible for making sure that any federal money spent on existing and effectiveness and efficiency of alternative transportation investments in terms of mobility, If you have any comments about this glossary or just can’t find the word future surface transportation projects and programs is based on a continuing, cooperative accessibility, environmental and equity impacts. you are looking for, please contact the Public Involvement Coordinator and comprehensive (3-C) planning process. the BRTB convenes a number of committees Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) at 410-732-0500 x1047 or [email protected]. and advisory groups that focus on specific technical and policy areas, such as freight move- ment, bicycle and pedestrian access, traffic incident management, air quality. All meetings of A work program and budget that lists the transportation studies and tasks to be performed the BRTB and subcommittees are open to the public. by BMC staff or one of the BRTB members.