Glossary

100-year floodplain – The areas along or adjacent to a stream or body of water that are capable of storing or conveying floodwaters during a 100-year frequency storm event.

accessibility – A measure of how reachable locations or activities are from a given site; it is influenced by changes in travel time, safety, vehicle operating costs, and transportation choice.

adverse effect – Defined in Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (36 CFR 800.5(a) (1)). An adverse effect to a historic property occurs when the project under consideration alters any characteristic that qualifies the property for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places in a manner that would diminish the integrity of the property.

affected environment – Ambient conditions at the time an Environmental Impact Statement is prepared.

alignment – The ground plan of a roadway, railway or other fixed route.

Alternatives Analysis (AA) – A study designed to examine all viable transit options to address a local preferred alternative.
For more information visit http://www.fta.dot.gov/printer_friendly/planning_environment_218.html
http://www.fta.dot.gov/printer_friendly/planning_environment_233.html 

ambient air – A physical and chemical measure of the existing concentration of various chemicals in the outside air, usually determined over a specific time period (e.g., one hour, eight hours).

ambient background noise – The existing cumulative noise that is characteristic of an area based on current activity levels.

Area of Potential Effect (APE) – For purposes of complying with Section 106 of the NHPA, a geographic area or areas where an undertaking (e.g., the Richmond/Hampton Roads High Speed Rail Project) may directly or indirectly cause alterations in the character or use of historic properties, if any such properties are located in the area of the project.

Arlington Transit (ART) - This bus service operates within Arlington County, Virginia. The service supplements Metrobus with smaller, neighborhood-friendly vehicles, and provides access to Metrorail and Virginia Railway Express (VRE).
For more information visit http://www.arlingtontransit.com/

at-grade – level with the ground surface.

Best Management Practices (BMPs) – Specific standards utilized during construction and design to minimize the impact on surrounding resources.

build alternative – The alternative being evaluated as the proposed action during the EIS process.

bus bunching – buses arriving at stops within 30 seconds of each other

capital costs – The cost to construct a transportation system such as passenger rail. Costs include design fees, vehicle procurement, environmental mitigation, property acquisition, construction materials, and labor for the construction of a project.

Capital Improvement Program (CIP) - This is a short-range plan, usually four to six years, which identifies capital projects, provides a planning schedule, and identifies options for financing the plan.

census tract – A small statistical subdivision of a county defined by a local committee of census data users for the purpose of presenting census information every ten years. The census tract boundaries, which are nested within counties, generally follow visible features and often follow governmental unit boundaries or invisible features.

Clean Air Act of 1970 (CAA) – Legislation mandating the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set national air quality standards to protect the public against common pollutants.  State governments are required to devise clean-up plans to meet these EPA standards.

Clean Air Act Amendment of 1990 (CAAA) – A strategy for the U.S. to address the problem of urban smog.  It requires states and the Federal government to reduce emissions from automobiles, trucks, buses, ships, barges, and consumer products, and to meet air quality standards. It particularly addresses the urban problem of ozone, carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter. It defines how areas are designated “attainment” and allows the EPA to classify “non-attainment” areas as those that do not meet the federal air quality standards.

coastal plain - An area of flat, low-lying land adjacent to a seacoast and separated from the interior by other features.

Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization (CPRO) – CPRO is a coalition of businesses, civic associations, property owners, and individuals working with Arlington County Government. The organization provides direction and support to a variety of initiatives that aim to improve and revitalize Columbia Pike and its adjacent neighborhoods.  
For more information visit http://www.columbia-pike.org/

Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) – A seventeen-member board appointed by the Governor of Virginia that is primarily responsible for locating routes, approving construction contracts, creating traffic regulations, naming highways, and administering and allocating transportation funds in Virginia.

Community Coordination Committee (CCC) – The CCC for the Columbia Pike Transit Initiative meets at least semi-annually and is composed of citizens, commercial and business interests along the corridor, as well as representatives of official advisory groups. The project team engages and coordinates with the CCC regarding project activities, particularly at key milestones. CCC members are encouraged to provide feedback to the Project Management Team (PMT) and communicate what they learn about the project to their constituencies.

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) – Commonly known as Superfund, this law was passed in 1980 to create a tax on the chemical and petroleum industries and provide broad federal authority to respond directly to releases or hazardous substances that may endanger public health or the environment.

Comprehensive Plan – A plan required by state law to be used by local municipalities as a guide to decision-making about the natural and built environment.

Conformity – A designation given to transportation plans, programs, and projects that conform to federally mandated state air-quality plans.

Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) – Authorized under the Intermodal Surface Transportation Equity Act (ISTEA), this law provided $6 billion in funding for surface transportation and other related projects that contribute to improvements in air-quality and reduce congestion.

Constrained Long Range Transportation Plan (CLRP) – The Financially Constrained Long Range Transportation Plan is a regional plan that includes transportation projects and programs that the region anticipates implementing over the next 25 years.  Transportation projects that expect to receive federal funding must be included in the CLRP and Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The CLRP is developed and approved by the Transportation Planning Board (TPB).
For more information visit http://www.mwcog.org/clrp/

Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) – Established in the Executive Office as part of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the council coordinates federal environmental efforts, policies, and initiatives, and ensures that federal agencies meet NEPA requirements.

cumulative impact  – The impact on the environment which results from the incremental impact of the action when added to other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions.

decibel – A unit of measure of sound pressure used to describe the loudness of sound on the A-weighted scale.

determination of eligibility – The decision made by the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) regarding whether historic buildings or district are eligible for or listed in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).

direct effects  – Effects that occur as a direct result of the project.

dwell time – the time a bus takes to load and unload passangers.

effects – Synonymous with impact, includes the result from actions that may have a beneficial or detrimental outcome.

endangered species – A species whose prospects for survival are in immediate danger based on a loss of habitat, over-exploitation, predation, competition, or disease. An endangered species requires immediate attention or extinction will likely follow.

Environmental Assessment – A prepared document used find the significant impacts of a transportation project. If significant impacts are found, then an environmental impact statement should commence.

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) – A comprehensive study of potential environmental impacts related to federally assisted projects.  Projects for which an EIS is required are defined in the National environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended.

Environmental Justice (EJ) – Provides for equal protection from environmental hazards and fair treatment for all people regardless of race, ethnicity, or economic status, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. Fair treatment implies that no population of people bear an unequal share of negative environmental impacts of pollution or environmental hazard resulting from industrial, municipal, and commercial operations or the execution of federal, state, or local policies.

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) – As part of the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT), the FHWA is charged with the broad responsibility of ensuring that America’s roads and highways continue to be safe and technologically up-to-date.

Federal Transit Administration (FTA) – The agency of the USDOT responsible for regulation and funding of public transportation.
For more information visit http://www.fta.dot.gov/

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) – A system of computer software and hardware, data, and personnel to manipulate, analyze and present geographically referenced information or data that is identified according to their locations. 

grade crossing  – An intersection where a roadway crosses a railway at the same elevation.

grade-separated – Used to describe an alignment that is elevated or below ground, or crossings that use an overpass or an underpass.  Grade separation allows traffic or transit vehicles to pass through intersections without stopping for opposing traffic. 

ground-borne vibration and noise – The vibration-induced levels that propagate over ground between the source and a receptor such as a building; typically assessed indoors.

habitat – The area or environment where an organism or ecological community normally lives or occurs.

headways – a measurement of the time between vehicle frequency on a transit route.

hydric soils –  A soil that formed under conditions of saturation, flooding or ponding long enough during the growing season to develop anaerobic conditions in the upper part.

hydrology indicators  – The presence of water at or near the surface for a designated amount of time.

hydrophytic vegetation  – Plant-life that thrives in wet conditions.

Intelligent Transportation Systems – information and communications technology that allows real time reporting, location tracking, and signal timing to improve the transportation network.

Jurisdictional determination (JD) – Regulatory review of previously identified wetlands and waters of the United States Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) in compliance with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.

land use – Classification providing information on land cover and the types of human activity occurring on a parcel of land, such as “commercial,” “industrial,” “residential,” or “open space.”

level of service (LOS) – A letter grade designation used to describe given roadway conditions with “A” being at or close to free-flow conditions and “F” being at or close to over-saturation of the roadway; usually based on the progression of vehicles through the green phase of a signal, driver discomfort/frustration, lost travel time, and fuel consumption.

low-income – Any household with income at or below the U.S. Bureau of the Census poverty thresholds.

Major Investment Study (MIS) – Also called Alternatives Analysis, a study that seeks to find the best capital improvement within a given corridor to solve the need for additional transportation investment.

mass transportation– Transportation that provides regular and continuing general or special transportation to the public; does not include school buses, charters, or sightseeing transportation.

master plan – An exhaustive plan for a community’s future development activities.

Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) – The forum for cooperative transportation decision-making for a metropolitan area. Title 23 USC Section 134 requires that (1) a MPO be designated for each Urbanized Area (UZA) containing 50,000 or more persons based on the latest US Census, and (2) the metropolitan area has a continuing, cooperative and comprehensive transportation planning process.
For more information visit http://www.mwcog.org/transportation/tpb/

Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) – COG is a regional organization of Washington area local governments. COG is comprised of 21 local governments surrounding our nation's capital, plus area members of the Maryland and Virginia legislatures, the U.S. Senate, and the U.S. House of Representatives. COG provides a focus for action and develops regional responses to such issues as the environment, affordable housing, economic development, health and family concerns, human services, population growth, public safety, and transportation.
For more information visit http://www.mwcog.org/

micron  – A unit of length equal to one millionth (10-6) of a meter.

minority – A member of the following races: (1) Black or African American, (2) American Indian or Alaska Native, (3) Asian, (4) Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, (5) Hispanic or Latino Origin.

mitigation – The actions necessary to reduce or eliminate an impact and thereby restoring the affected environment.

mixed-use – Combination of land uses, such as residential uses combined with office, retail, public, entertainment, or even manufacturing uses. 
multimodal – A term used to refer to the availability of multiple forms of transportation within a system or corridor. Forms of transportation include the automobile, transit, bicycle and walking.

National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) – Requires federal agencies to consider the environmental impacts of major federal projects or decisions, to share information with the public; to identify and assess reasonable alternatives; and to coordinate efforts with other planning and environmental reviews taking place.

National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) – A federal list of buildings, sites, district or other properties that have a historic significance. The National Register of Historic Places is maintained by the Keeper of the National Register.

New Starts/Small Starts  – The Federal Transit Administration’s New Starts program (49 USC §5309) is the primary funding resource for supporting locally planned, implemented, and operated transit guideway capital investments. Small Starts projects are major transit capital projects costing less than $250 million and requiring less than $75 million in Small Starts resources.
For more information visit http://www.fta.dot.gov/planning/planning_environment_5221.html
http://www.fta.dot.gov/planning/newstarts/planning_environment_222.html

No Build Alternative – a do nothing alternative to compare as a benchmark to other alternatives

off-peak period – Used to describe times where travel is not at its peak, or highest level, during the day. Off-peak travel usually occurs in the midday and evenings in most cities.

operating costs – The periodic and usual expenses a company incurs to generate revenues.

park-and-ride facility –  A parking facility that is part of a transportation facility; an access mode for patrons to drive private vehicles to a transportation facility.

Pike Ride – Pike Ride refers to the Metrobus 16 Line routes and ART routes that serve Columbia Pike. The two services are coordinated to provide frequent, convenient service along the Pike.
For more information visit http://www.commuterpage.com/pikeride/index.htm

Policy Committee (PC) – The PC for the Columbia Pike Transit Initiative meets semi-annually or as project activities require. The committee is composed of elected officials and executive staff of state and local agencies. Their role is to advise the Project Management Team (PMT) and provide policy direction. The co-chairs are from the Arlington County Board and Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Mason District.

Preliminary Engineering (PE) – Preliminary Engineering is analysis and design work to produce construction plans, specifications, and cost estimates. Within the New Starts program, FTA defines Preliminary Engineering as a specific phase in a project’s advancement toward construction and operation.  To gain FTA permission to enter this phase, a project sponsor must complete an Alternatives Analysis study, submit New Starts criteria templates and certifications, and complete a project financial plan, among other requirements. Upon successful completion of Preliminary Engineering, FTA allows projects to enter the Final Design phase.

Project Development – For Small Starts projects, preliminary engineering and final design work are combined into one phase referred to as “Project Development.”

Project Management Team (PMT) – The PMT for the Columbia Pike Transit Initiative meets monthly and is responsible for providing guidance and direction regarding project work activities and study products. The PMT participates in briefings with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and other appropriate agencies. Members include representatives from Arlington County, Fairfax County, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), the Consultant team, and the Columbia Pike Multimodal Study.

Record of Decision (ROD) – A formal decision made by a lead federal agency based on its interpretation of a Final Environmental Impact Statement.

ridership –  The number of people using a public transportation system during a given time period.

right-of-way (ROW) – Land available for operation of transportation facilities (roadways or rail lines).  The land is typically government-owned (local, state, or federal).  A transportation facility may occupy all or a portion of the right-of-way.  ROWs can be grade-separated or at-grade.

scoping – The effort taken at the beginning of a study to consider all issues that should be addressed in the study. It is the first phase of activity to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

secondary impact – The effect of an action that takes place some time after a primary event has occurred.

State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) – A state administrative agency responsible for carrying out consultation in accordance with the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended and other state historic preservation regulations.

study area – The special limits within which alternatives are considered.

Super Stops – These are improved shelters and waiting areas which include ample seating, enhanced lighting, better security, and real-time passenger information.  Arlington County has prepared designs for “Super Stops,” and plans to install prototypes at three locations along Columbia Pike.
For more information visit http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/23/AR2008072301189.html

Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) – The TAC for the Columbia Pike Transit Initiative meets quarterly and is composed of representatives from Federal, state, and local government agencies. Their role is to provide staff recommendations and technical advice.

threatened species –  A species that may become endangered if surrounding conditions begin or continue to deteriorate.

topography – The surface features of a place or region.

Traffic Analysis Zone (TAZ) – a geographic area delineated by state and/or local transportation officials for tabulating traffic-related data.

Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) – The TIP is a list of projects and programs that will be implemented over the next six years. Transportation projects that want to receive federal funding must be included in the TIP and the Financially Constrained Long Range Transportation Plan (CLRP).
For more information visit http://www.mwcog.org/clrp/projects/tip/

Transportation Planning Board (TPB) –The TPB (of the North Capital Region) includes local officials, state transportation agency representatives, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), state legislators, and other executives. Key decision makers on the TPB coordinate planning and funding for the region’s transportation system. The TPB is our region’s Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).
For more information visit http://www.mwcog.org/transportation/tpb/

Transportation Systems Management (TSM) – Different actions and activities designed to make an existing transportation system more efficient.

vehicle miles traveled (VMT) – The number of miles traveled by an automobile per individual within a given area.

Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) - This is the agency under the Virginia Secretary of Transportation that provides technical and financial assistance for public transit in Virginia.
For more information visit http://www.drpt.virginia.gov/

Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) – VDOT is the state department of transportation and has authority over public roads.
For more information visit http://www.virginiadot.org/default_noflash.asp

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority also known as “Metro” (WMATA) – WMATA is the public transit agency that operates Metro bus and rail. WMATA is conducting the Columbia Pike Transit Initiative on behalf of Arlington County and Fairfax County.  
For more information visit http://www.wmata.com/

wetlands – Tidal areas or swamps with water saturated soil characteristics and associated vegetation that meet certain criteria on which filling and development are federally- and/or state-regulated.

zoning ordinance – A local land use ordinance that identifies and regulates the use of property within a given municipality. Zoning ordinances prescribe land use type, relationships to nearby uses, densities, height and setback requirements, parking requirements and related elements.