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Access management
A process that provides or manages access for roadway users entering or exiting adjacent developed land without significantly impacting safety conditions, traffic capacity, and vehicle speeds for other roadway users.

Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT)
An international organization that promotes and educates the public and transportation officials about alternative forms of transportation and programs that reduce single occupant vehicle travel.

American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials
A non-profit, non-partisan association that represents the member highway and transportation departments in the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico and whose primary goal is to foster the development, operation and maintenance of an integrated national transportation system.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Federal law which requires that public facilities and transportation services accommodate the disabled.

Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT)
An international organization that promotes and educates the public and transportation officials about alternative forms of transportation and programs that reduce single occupant vehicle travel.

Austin Metropolitan Area Transportation Plan (CAMPO Plan)
A planning guide that identifies existing and future transportation deficiencies and needs, as well as network improvements needed to meet mobility requirements over at least a twenty-year time period.

Austin Metropolitan Trails & Greenways (AMTG)
A coalition of public, private and non-profit organizations, local advocacy groups, neighborhood associations and individuals working on developing a comprehensive system of greenways and trails in the greater Austin area.

Bike Lane
A portion of a roadway that has been designated by striping, signing and pavement markings for the preferential or exclusive use of bicycles.

Bike Path
A bikeway physically separated from motorized vehicle traffic by an open space or barrier within the highway right-of-way or within an independent right-of-way.

Bike Route
A segment of a system of bikeways designated by the jurisdiction having authority with appropriate directional and informational markers, with or without specific bicycle route number.

Bikeway
Any road, path, or way which in some manner is specifically designated as being open to bicycle travel, regardless of whether such facilities are designated for the exclusive use of bicycles or are to be shared with other transportation modes.

Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) (formerl
The official Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Austin metropolitan area whose purpose is to coordinate regional transportation planning with the State of Texas, three counties, nineteen cities, and the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and other transportation providers and to approve the use of federal transportation funds within the Austin metropolitan area.

Capital Area Planning Council (CAPCO)
An association of cities, counties and special districts consisting of the 10 county area (Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays, Lee, Llano, Travis and Williamson) surrounding Austin whose primary purpose is to plan for the development of the area.

Capital Area Rural Transportation System (CARTS)
A bus company that provides transit services for residents of Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays, and Lee Counties and those portions of Travis and Williamson Counties not in the City of Austin's bounds.

Capital Improvement Program (CIP)
A local government program that has the objective of completing numerous public infrastructure and facility projects within a specified time frame.

Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (CMTA)
An agency established to operate transportation programs for the Austin metropolitan service area's residents, including public transit systems, special transportation for the disabled and information dissemination on alternative transportation modes.

Central Business District (CBD)
The downtown retail trade and commercial area of a city or an area having high land values, traffic flow and concentration of retail business offices, entertainment, lodging and services.

Center for Transportation Research (CTR)
A nationally recognized research center at the University of Texas which undertakes relevant transportation research, provides significant educational opportunities for University of Texas students, and provides a public service by conducting research that responds to the transportation needs of Texas and other U.S. travelers. In partnership with the Texas Department of Transportation and other sponsors, CTR undertakes investigations that seek practical solutions to various state mobility problems.

Census Transportation Planning Package (CTPP)
Travel related data collected during the 1990 Census.

Clean Air Act (CAA)
Federal legislation that requires each state with areas that have not met federal air quality standards to prepare a State Implementation Plan, or SIP.

Clean Air Act Amendments (CAAA)
Amendments made in 1990 to the Clean Air Act which aim to substantially reduce air pollutants by specified target dates.

CLEAN AIR Force of Central Texas (CAF)
An independent, non-profit organization of government agencies, environmental and business organizations, and interested individuals in Travis, Williamson, and Hays Counties whose purpose is to create programs consisting of educational and voluntary actions that can be taken to reduce air pollution. The goal of CAF is to develop programs that keep the Central Texas region in compliance with the federal standard for ozone.

Commute Solutions
A partnership between public agencies and private companies in the Central and South Texas regions (Metropolitan Austin and San Antonio). These agencies work together to promote alternatives to the single occupant vehicle, including carpooling, vanpooling, public transit, biking, walking, and teleworking.

Commuter Rail (CR)
Railroad local and regional passenger train operations between a central city, its suburbs and/or another central city. It may be either locomotive-hauled or self-propelled, and is characterized by multi-trip tickets, specific station-to-station fares, railroad employment practices and usually only one or two stations in the central business district. Also known as "suburban rail".

Congestion Management System (CMS)
A systematic process that provides information on transportation system performance and alternative strategies to alleviate congestion and enhance the mobility of persons and goods. A CMS includes methods to monitor and evaluate performance; identify alternative action; access and implement cost-effective action; and evaluate the effectiveness of implemented actions.

Congestion Management Team (CMT)
A team of representatives from public agencies that plan, develop, implement, monitor, and evaluate projects and programs for managing traffic congestion. CMT's play an important role in the CAMPO Congestion Management System.

Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ)
A funding program that helps implement projects designed to reduce emissions in non-attainment areas.

Congestion Reduction Program (CRP)
An important element of the CAMPO Congestion Management System (CMS). The program provides STP 4C funds for implementing low cost, near-term congestion reduction projects and initiatives such as the CAMPO Commute Solutions/Ozone Action Day Program, traffic signal synchronization projects, freeway operations studies, and traffic count stations.

Council of Governments (COG)
Voluntary associations of local governments formed under Texas law that deal with problems and planning needs that cross the boundaries of individual local governments or that require regional attention.

Department of Transportation (USDOT)
Federal cabinet-level agency headed by the Secretary of Transportation with responsibility for highways, mass transit, aviation and ports. The DOT includes the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)
A business with gross receipts of less than $15,370,000 over the previous three years and is at least 51% owned by one or more persons who are minorities or women.

Environmental Assessment (EA)
A document that assesses an action that is not a categorical exclusion and does not clearly require the preparation of an environmental impact statement.

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
A document required by the National Environment Policy Act that details any adverse economic, social and/or environmental effects of a proposed transportation project for which federal funding is being sought.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
A federal agency charged with protecting the natural resources of the nation.

Expressway (EXPY)
A divided highway usually having two or more traffic lanes in each direction. Traffic can enter or exit an expressway only at ramped interchanges or at signalized intersections with major streets. Few private access points are allowed.

Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ)
The area in which a city enforces its subdivision and water quality ordinances, but not its planning, zoning, and health/safety ordinances. The ETJ extends from the city limits to a certain distance (for larger cities, 5 miles) and its residents do not pay city taxes and may vote only in certain city elections dealing with issues that affect them.

Farm to Market (FM)
An identifier for a roadway designated by the Texas Transportation Commission to be part of the statewide highway system. Normally associated as a 2-lane roadway in rural areas, but are located in urban areas and can be a 4 or 6 lane divided roadway. The FM roadway designation is typically given to roads that are located east of IH 35.

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
The component of USDOT that administers, plans, funds and regulates the federal highway system.

Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
The component of USDOT that operates under the authority of the Federal Transit Act and provides financial and technical assistance to local transit systems.

Fixed Guideway Transit Investment Strategy (FGTIS)
A report documenting the Major Investment Study process that prioritized alternative corridors for transportation improvements in the Austin metropolitan area. The North Corridor was selected as the priority corridor and rail and busway development was then evaluated within the selected corridor. The major investment study, endorsed by the CAMPO Policy Advisory Committee in February 19 recommended a Locally Preferred Strategy to pursue development of a "Phase One" rail transit system from Leander to downtown Austin.

Freeway (FWY)
A divided highway usually having two or more traffic lanes in each direction. Traffic can enter or exit a freeway only at ramped interchanges so that "through" traffic is not interrupted. Freeways often include frontage roads that allow access to and from the freeway and permit drivers to safely make turns onto cross streets or into driveways. Frontage roads are usually separated from the freeway's main lanes by wide medians.

Freight Rail
A railway dedicated to transporting cargo as opposed to passengers.

Geographic Information System (GIS)
A computer system for storing, analyzing and mapping geographic data.

High Occupancy Toll (HOT)
A fee that allows solo drivers to use HOV lanes.

High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV)
Vehicles having two or more occupants.

High Occupancy Vehicle Lane (HOV Lane)
A separate lane that is restricted to vehicles occupied by two or more people. HOV lanes usually include carpools, vanpools and buses.

Highway Capacity Manual (HCM)
A guide to the design and operational analysis of highway facilities.

Historically Underutilized Business (HUB)
A business certified by the General Services Commission as a sole proprietorship, partnership or joint venture corporation and is at least 51% owned by one or more persons who are minorities or women.

Intelligent Transportation System (ITS)
A system that enables people and goods to move more safely and efficiently through a state-of-the-art, intermodal transportation system that includes information processing, communications, control, and electronics.

Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA)
A bill providing authorizations for highways, highway safety, and mass transportation for Fiscal Years 1992-1997. The purpose of the Act is to develop a National Intermodal Transportation System that is economically efficient, environmentally sound, provides the foundation for the Nation to compete in the global economy and will move people and goods in an energy efficient manner. Metropolitan Planning Organizations, in cooperation with the State and key transportation providers, must develop transportation plans and programs for metropolitan areas.

Level of Service (LOS)
A description of the quality of service that can be expected by users of transportation facilities. For highways "A" means traffic is flowing freely and "E" or "F" means the highway is very congested. Highway LOS can be determined based on "Density" (average number of passenger cars located in a single lane within a one mile section), "Speed" (the average attainable speed in miles per hour), or "Maximum Service Flow" (average number of passenger cars that pass by every hour in one lane).

Light Rail
An electric railway with a "light volume" of traffic capacity compared to heavy rail. Light rail may use shared or exclusive rights-of-way, high or low platform loading and multi-car trains or single cars. Also know as "streetcar", "trolley car" and "tramway".

Long-Range Plan (LRP)
A plan referring to transportation planning for a time span of more than twenty years.

Major Arterial Divided (MAD)
High volume surface roadways with high priority at intersections with all lower level facilities. Typically, signalization is provided at significant crossings.

Major Arterial Undivided (MAU)
Similar to Major Divided Arterial, but with no center median, normally due to right-of-way limitations.

Major Investment Study (MIS)
A study done on major transportation improvement projects such as fixed guideway transit projects and controlled access highways that would involve the use of federal funds. The study includes factors that would justify a proposed project, such as its cost effectiveness and overall effectiveness, and evaluates various modes of travel to solve a transportation problem.

Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)
The organizational entity established by law to provide a forum for cooperative transportation decision making for the metropolitan area containing a population of 50,000 people or more. Major responsibilities include the development of transportation plans and programs and authorization of the use of federal transportation dollars.

Minor Arterial (MNR)
A secondary facility to meet local access and circulation requirements. Low priority is given at significant intersections.

Minority-owned Business Enterprise (MBE)
A business whose ownership is comprised of at least 51% minorities.

Municipal Utility District (MUD)
Political entities created by the State of Texas having the authority to construct and maintain improvements, incur debt and tax the land within its boundaries to pay operating expenses and repay debts. A board of directors elected by MUD property owners governs MUDs.

National Highway System (part of ISTEA) (NHS)
A system developed by the Department of Transportation in cooperation with the states, local officials and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) that identifies major intermodal highways that connect to major intermodal facilities (ports, airports, rail transit, etc.) and are important to the Nation's economy, defense and mobility.

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)
A pollutant produced during fossil fuel combustion that contributes to ground-level ozone.

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
An agreement between the United States, Canada and Mexico which promotes means for improved and increased free trade between these three countries.

Parkway (PKY)
Through travel lanes similar in characteristics to freeways but typically without parallel frontage roads.

Policy Advisory Committee (PAC)
The governing body of CAMPO consisting of locally elected officials and representatives from the Texas Department of Transportation and Capital Metro.

Public Involvement Program (PIP)
Established guidelines developed to disseminate information to all metropolitan area citizens, groups, agencies, and transportation providers to assure their input in the decision making process of transportation programs, projects, etc. for the Austin metropolitan area.

Ranch to Market (RM)
Identifier for a roadway designated by the Texas Transportation Commission to be part of the statewide highway system. Normally associated as a 2-lane roadway in rural areas, but are located in urban areas and can be a 4 or 6 lane divided roadway. The RM roadway designation is typically given to roads that are located west of IH35.

Reformulated Gasoline (RFG)
Unleaded gasoline with a special additive designed to lower emissions upon combustion by providing more oxygen to the fuel during combustion.

Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP)
An indicator of the volatility of gasoline and is measured in pounds per square inch (psi).

Right of Way (ROW)
Public land reserved for locating infrastructure such as a roadway or a utility line.

Shared Roadway
A roadway which is open to both bicycle and motor vehicle travel. This may be an existing roadway, street with wide curb lanes, or road with paved shoulders.

Single Occupant Vehicle (SOV)
Any vehicle that contains just one person, the driver.

Special Transit Service (STS)
A program operated by Capital Metro to serve citizens with disabilities by providing them with door-to-door, shared ride, or accessible public transportation.

Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA)
A Census Bureau delineation for major metropolitan areas in the U.S.

State Data Center (SDC)
The official repository of census data and demographic data for the State of Texas.

State Highway (SH)
Roads, streets and highways maintained by the State.

State Implementation Plan (SIP)
A plan required by the 1977 Clean Air Act Amendments which describes how the State of Texas will meet air quality standards.

State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP)
A staged, multi-year statewide, intermodal program of transportation projects which is consistent with the Statewide Transportation Plan and planning processes and metropolitan plans, TIPs and processes.

Surface Transportation Program (STP) (part of ISTEA and TEA 21)
A federal program designed to create flexible funding for transit and highway construction.

Surface Transportation Program Category 4B for Transportation En
A funding category used to address projects that are above and beyond what could normally be expected in the way of enhancements to the transportation system.

Surface Transportation Program Category 4C for "Metropolitan Mob
A funding category used to address transportation needs within the metropolitan area boundaries of MPOs having urbanized areas with populations of 200,000 or greater.

Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)
The State agency responsible for construction and maintenance of all interstate, U.S, state highways, ranch-to-market (RM) and farm-to-market (FM) roads within the state.

Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC)
A state agency charged with protecting water and air resources, including regulation of hazardous material sites.

Texas Transportation Institute (TTI)
A state agency that is a member of the Texas A&M University system and engages in research pertaining to all forms of transportation, including all phases of activities concerned with the movement of people, goods, and services, and identifies and helps to solve major state and national transportation problems.

Toll Road
A road in which one must pay a toll or a fee to use.

Traffic Serial Zone (TSZ)
The smallest geographically designated area used for analysis of transportation activity such as data collection and travel movements within, into, and out of the urban area.

Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)
Types of development that enhance or support public transit use.

Transportation Control Measure (TCM) (for air quality)
Any measure designed to reduce traffic congestion, pollution emissions and other traffic problems.

Transportation Demand Management (TDM)
Programs that work to reduce the level of drive alone travel by promoting walking, bicycling, carpooling, vanpooling, public transportation and other alternative modes.

Transportation Enhancement Program (TEP)
A federal program that provides funds for non-traditional improvements adjacent to or within the right of way of a transportation facility. Some examples of improvements are installing bicycle and pedestrian facilities, landscaping, and incorporating environmental protection systems.

Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA 21)
A law authorizing highway, highway safety, transit and other surface transportation programs for FY1998 - 2003. This new law combines the continuation and improvement of current ISTEA programs with new initiatives to meet the challenges of improving safety as traffic continues to increase at record levels, protecting and enhancing communities and the natural environment and advancing America's economic growth and competitiveness domestically and internationally through efficient and flexible transportation.

Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)
A document prepared by an MPO that identifies funding for specific transportation projects and studies to be implemented in an area over a three-year period.

Transportation Management Area (TMA)
All urbanized areas with a population of over 200,000. Transportation Systems Management (TSM): A program to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow through traffic signal synchronization, freeway operations improvements (e.g., changeable message signs and ramp metering), incident management (clearing accidents and breakdowns quickly) and other methods.

Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP)
An annual work plan prepared by the MPOs describing transportation planning activities and funding sources that will occur within their specific jurisdiction.

Unified Transportation Program (UTP)
A ten-year planning document that guides and controls project development for TxDOT in a feasible and economical manner.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)
Toxic residual chemicals from fossil fuel combustion, solvents, paints, glues and some dry cleaning processes which contribute to ozone formation.

Woman-owned Business Enterprise (WBE)
A business whose ownership is comprised of at least 51% women.

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