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Transportation Terms
TRANSPORTATION TERMS • ACRONYMS
The following terms are used in planning documents produced by the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).

Sources: With each definition, the source is given if it is outside the MPO. Key to the citations: AC Transit—Alameda–Contra Costa Transit District; APTA—American Public Transportation Association; Mineta—Mineta Transportation Institute at San Jose State University; NCDOT—North Carolina Department of Transportation Public Transportation Division.
A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   U   V   W   X   Y   Z  

A

Access Advisory Committee to the MBTA (AACT)
Consumer group that provides input to the MBTA on the transportation concerns of people with disabilities and assists in monitoring the MBTA´s ADA compliance. Also provides input to the MPO on accessibility matters.
accessibility
Ability to reach a destination or use a facility or service without being impeded by physical or other barriers due to auditory, visual, mobility, or cognitive disabilities.
accessible station
A station that provides ready access, and does not have physical barriers that prohibit and/or restrict access by individuals with disabilities, including individuals who use wheelchairs. (APTA)
accessible vehicle
A public transportation revenue vehicle that does not restrict access, is usable, and provides allocated space and/or priority seating for individuals who use wheelchairs. (APTA)
adult base cash fare
The minimum cash fare paid by an adult for one transit ride; excludes transfer charges, zone or distance charges, express service charges, peak-period surcharges, and reduced fares. (APTA)
aerial tramway
An electric system of aerial cables with suspended powerless passenger vehicles. The vehicles are propelled by separate cables attached to the vehicle suspension system and powered by engines or motors at a central location not on board the vehicle. Only two such transit operations exist, in New York City and at Mountain Village, Col. All other aerial tramways are at ski areas or at tourist sites. (APTA)
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Federal legislation prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability and requiring accessible transportation services.
arterial
A highway serving primarily through traffic and also providing access to abutting properties.
articulated bus
An extra-long (54 to 60 feet) vehicle with two connected passenger compartments. The rear body section is connected to the main body by a joint mechanism that allows the vehicle to bend when in operation for sharp turns and curves and yet has a continuous interior. (Such vehicles are normally operated in local service in the very largest metropolitan areas on extremely heavily patronized routes.) (APTA)
automated guideway transit (a.k.a. personal rapid transit, group rapid transit, people mover)
An electric railway (single- or multicar trains) of guided transit vehicles operating without an onboard crew. Service may be on a fixed schedule or in response to a passenger-activated call button. The places with automated guideways are Detroit, Mich., Jacksonville, Fla., Las Colinas, Tex., Miami, Fla., and Morgantown, W.Va. Automated guideways in non-transit settings such as airports and hospital campuses are more common. (APTA)
average fare
The overall average amount per ride paid by cash-fare passengers and pass users on a given service, equal to combined total cash-fare and pass revenue divided by total riders.
average farebox deposit
Total cash-fare revenue from a given service divided by combined total cash-fare passengers and pass users. This average can be used to calculate subsequent total ridership from cash-fare revenue alone.
average speed
Vehicle revenue-miles divided by vehicle revenue hours. (APTA)
average trip length
The average distance ridden for an unlinked passenger trip by time period (weekday, Saturday, Sunday), computed as passenger-miles divided by unlinked passenger trips. (APTA)

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B

Boston Transportation Planning Review (BTPR)
A comprehensive review, undertaken during the 1970s, of the region´s transportation infrastructure needs, tempered by concern about the socioeconomic and environmental impacts of transportation projects and modes. The review resulted in a moratorium on expressway construction within Route 128 and a reorienting of transportation investments to address public transportation needs.
bridge management system (BMS)
A method for evaluating, and establishing priorities for, bridge rehabilitation and replacement needs.
bus
Bus mode, which uses vehicles powered by diesel, gasoline, battery, or alternative-fuel engines contained within the vehicle. (APTA)
bus rapid transit (BRT)
A type of limited-stop service developed in the 1990s that relies on technology to help speed up the service. It combines the quality of rail transit and the flexibility of buses. It can operate on exclusive transitways, high-occupancy-vehicle lanes, expressways, or ordinary streets. A BRT line combines intelligent-transportation-systems technology, priority for transit, rapid and convenient fare collection, and integration with land use policy in order to substantially upgrade bus system performance. (APTA)
busway (or bus lane)
A roadway reserved for buses only. It may be a grade-separated (meaning it is above or below the level of the public street or other roadway) or a controlled-access roadway. (APTA)

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C

cable car
An electric railway with individually controlled transit vehicles attached to a moving cable located below the street surface, powered by engines or motors at a central location, not onboard (inside the vehicle). Only one cable car operation exists in the world (in San Francisco, Calif.). (APTA)
capital costs
Expenses incurred that are related to the purchase of facilities, vehicles, and equipment.
Capital Investment Program (CIP)
The MBTA´s five-year capital expenditures plan.
carbon monoxide (CO)
A colorless, tasteless gas produced primarily by the combustion of organic fuels in transportation and industrial activities. Overly high levels of CO reduce oxygen in the bloodstream, preventing normal respiration. CO emissions are regulated by the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.
Central Artery North Area (CANA)
That portion of the Central Artery project that extends from loop ramps north of the Charles River to the approach of the Tobin Bridge.
Central Transportation Planning Staff (CTPS)
The staff of the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). CTPS provides technical and policy-analysis support for transportation planning in the MPO area.
certification document
Any one of the three key documents produced by MPOs in the metropolitan transportation planning process: the Unified Planning Work Program, the Transportation Improvement Program, and the Transportation Plan.
Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (CAAA)
Federal legislation that establishes allowable levels for various air pollutants. Where these standards are not attained, officials must take specified actions within a set time frame or face sanctions, such as the loss of federal highway funds.
commuter rail (also called metropolitan rail, regional rail, or suburban rail)
An electric- or diesel-propelled multicar railway utilizing exclusive rights-of-way for urban passenger train service consisting of local, short-distance travel, operating between a central city and adjacent suburbs. Service must be operated on a regular basis by or under contract with a transit operator for the purpose of transporting passengers within urbanized areas or between urbanized areas and outlying areas. Such rail service, using either locomotive-hauled or self-propelled railroad passenger cars, is generally characterized by multitrip tickets, specific station-to-station fares, and only one or two stations in the central business district. Intercity rail service is excluded, except for that portion of such service that is operated by or under contract with a public transit agency for predominantly commuter services, which means that for any given trip segment (i.e., the distance between any two stations), more than 50 percent of the average daily ridership travels on the train at least three times a week. (APTA)
Complementary Paratransit Service
Complementary paratransit service is required by law for those disabled persons and others not able to use fixed-route service. Generally it must operate in the same areas and during the same hours as fixed-route service. The fare is limited to twice the fixed-route fare. Service may be provided by the fixed-route bus agency or by a completely separate agency. (APTA)
conformity
The requirement that state or metropolitan transportation plans, programs, and projects be consistent with the State Implementation Plan for attaining air quality standards. A conformity finding by the Environmental Protection Agency is required as part of the federal review of Transportation Plans and Transportation Improvement Programs.
Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program
A federal funding program that directs funding to projects that contribute to meeting National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Generally, CMAQ funds cannot be used for projects that result in the construction of new capacity available to single-occupant vehicles.
contraflow lane
A reserved lane for buses on which the direction of bus traffic is opposite to the flow of traffic in the other lanes. (APTA)
controlled-access right-of-way
Lanes restricted for at least a portion of the day for use by transit vehicles and/or other high-occupancy vehicles. Use of controlled-access lanes may also be permitted for vehicles preparing to turn. The restriction must be sufficiently enforced that 95 percent of vehicles using the lanes during the restricted period are authorized to use them. (APTA)
crosstown route
Nonradial bus or rail service which does not enter a central business district (CBD). (Mineta)
crush load
The maximum number of passengers that can physically be placed onboard a vehicle without violating safety regulations or blocking doors.

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D

deadhead
Miles and hours that a vehicle travels when out of revenue service. This includes leaving and returning to the garage, changing routes, etc., and times when there is no reasonable expectation of carrying revenue passengers. However, it does not include charter service, school bus service, operator training, maintenance training, etc. For nonscheduled, non-fixed-route service (demand-responsive), deadhead mileage also includes the travel between the dispatching point and passenger pickup and drop-off. (NCDOT)
demand-response (or demand-responsive) service
Demand-response (also called paratransit or dial-a-ride) service is composed of passenger cars, vans, or small buses operating in response to calls from passengers or their agents to the transit operator, who then dispatches a vehicle to pick up the passengers and transport them to their destinations. A demand-response operation is characterized by the following: (a) The vehicles do not operate over a fixed route or on a fixed schedule, except perhaps on a temporary basis to satisfy a special need; and (b) typically, the vehicle may be dispatched to pick up several passengers at different pickup points before taking them to their respective destinations and may even be interrupted en route to these destinations to pick up other passengers. The following types of operations fall under the above definitions provided they are not on a scheduled fixed-route basis: many origins–many destinations, many origins–one destination, one origin–many destinations, and one origin–one destination. The transit agency may limit the service to certain people, such as persons with disabilities, their attendants and companions, and seniors, or may make it available to anyone. Some such services operate during late-night and weekend hours in place of fixed-route services. (APTA)
Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)
Agency that maintains 15,000 acres of parkland, numerous public beaches, and 650 miles of parkways within the Boston region. DCR is the successor to the Metropolitan District Commission.
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
The state regulatory agency within the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs charged with protecting the natural environment of the commonwealth.
design capacity
The vehicle manufacturer´s recommendation of the maximum number of passengers that can be accommodated by a vehicle.
directional route-miles
The mileage in each direction over which public transportation vehicles travel while in revenue service. Directional route-miles are a measure of the route path over a facility or roadway, not the service carried on the facility; e.g., number of routes, vehicles, or vehicle revenue-miles. Directional route-miles are computed with regard to the direction of service, but without regard to the number of traffic lanes or rail tracks existing in the right-of-way. Directional route-miles do not include staging or storage areas at the beginning or end of a route. (APTA)
directly operated service
Service provided by a transit agency using its own employees, as opposed to service operated under contract by a separate company.
discretionary funds
Federal funds that are distributed based upon agency action or congressional action, rather than upon an established formula.

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E

environmental impact statement (EIS)
Document developed as part of a federal environmental review process that studies all impacts likely to result from a project, including a major transportation project. Impacts include those on the natural environment, as well as impacts on the economy and society and those on the built environment of historical and aesthetic significance.
environmental justice
Balancing the benefits and burdens of government policies and actions so that no racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic community bears a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences. The MPO works to provide an equitable distribution of transportation benefits and burdens and encourages full participation by minority and low-income communities in advising the MPO during its planning and decision-making process.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The federal agency charged with protecting the nation´s environmental quality. The agency reviews all Transportation Plans and Transportation Improvement Programs to ensure compliance with the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.
exclusive right-of-way
Roadway or other right-of-way reserved at all times for transit use and/or other high-occupancy vehicles. The restriction must be sufficiently enforced that 95 percent of vehicles using the right-of-way are authorized to use it. (APTA)
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA)
The cabinet agency that oversees energy and environmental issues for the state and is responsible for State Implementation Plan adoption.
Executive Office of Transportation and Public Works (EOTPW)
The cabinet agency that sets state policies and plans for all modes of transportation and that oversees public transit services, general aviation programs, and the state and local highway network. EOTPW is also the chair of the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization.
express service
Express service speeds up longer trips, especially in major metropolitan areas during heavily patronized peak commuting hours, by operating long distances without stopping. Examples include park-and-ride routes between suburban parking lots and the central business district that operate on freeways, and express buses on major streets that operate local service on the outlying portions of a route until a certain point and then operate nonstop to the central business district. (APTA)

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F

fare mix
The percentage distribution of passengers by fare payment method on a given service. This information is obtained by sample observations onboard vehicles that have onboard fare collection, and at fare-collection areas of stations with off-vehicle fare collection.
fare recovery ratio (farebox recovery ratio)
Measure of the proportion of operating expenses covered by passenger fares; found by dividing farebox revenue by total operating expenses for each mode and/or systemwide. (Mineta)
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
The federal agency that administers federal highway programs. The agency reviews all Transportation Plans, Transportation Improvement Programs, and Unified Planning Work Programs to ensure compliance with federal planning and funding requirements.
Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
The federal agency that administers federal transit programs. The agency reviews all Transportation Plans, Transportation Improvement Programs, and Unified Planning Work Programs to ensure compliance with federal planning and funding requirements.
feeder bus
A bus service that picks up passengers and delivers them to a rail rapid transit station or express bus stop or terminal. (Mineta)
feeder service
Local public transportation service that provides passengers with connections to a longer, line-haul service.
ferryboat
A ferryboat is a vessel for carrying passengers and/or vehicles over a body of water. The vessel is generally a steam- or diesel-powered conventional ferry vessel. It may also be a hovercraft, hydrofoil, or other high-speed vessel. (APTA)
fixed guideway
A mass transit facility using and occupying a separate right-of-way or rail for the exclusive use of mass transportation and other high-occupancy vehicles; or using a fixed catenary system usable by other forms of transportation. Fixed guideways are generally located only in large metropolitan areas where traffic congestion is worst. These rights-of-way may be restricted solely to buses and trolley buses or may be shared with vanpools, carpools, motorcycles, alternative-fuel vehicles, toll-paying vehicles, and emergency vehicles, based on state law and local ordinance. They may also be reversible, operating toward the central business district in the morning and away from it in the afternoon. Although almost exclusively located on the surface, short stretches of some of these roadways are in tunnels or elevated. In addition, as bus rapid transit lines are implemented, more surface streets are being converted to fixed guideways through restricted access and technology that allows buses to preempt or expedite traffic light cycles. (APTA)
fixed-route service
Service provided on a repetitive, fixed-schedule basis along a specific route, with vehicles stopping to pick up and deliver passengers to specific locations; each fixed-route trip serves the same origins and destinations, unlike demand-response service. Includes route deviation service, where revenue vehicles deviate from fixed routes on a discretionary basis. (APTA)
flexible funds
Transportation funding categories that may be used for either highway or transit programs. Within the Boston region, highway funds have been flexed to the MBTA to fund commuter rail extensions, transit station improvements, and park-and-ride facilities.
formula funds
Funds distributed on a quantified basis according to legislative or administrative criteria.
freeway
A multilane divided highway without traffic signals and with limited opportunities for access and egress.

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G

guideway
A guideway is the buildings and other facilities (dedicated facilities for the operation of trains and buses, including at-grade, elevated, and subway structures, tunnels, bridges, track, paved highway lanes, bus loops) with all attached fixtures, located along the route where passenger service is offered. Does not include passenger stations or bus pull-ins. (APTA)

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H

headsign
The sign above the front windshield of a bus describing the route number and destination. (AC Transit)
headway
Time intervals between vehicles moving in the same direction on a particular route. Headway can change on a line during the day as rider demand changes. (AC Transit)
heavy rail (metro, subway, rapid transit, or rapid rail)
An electric railway with the capacity for a heavy volume of traffic. It is characterized by high-speed and rapid-acceleration passenger rail cars operating singly or in multicar trains on fixed rails; separate rights-of-way from which all other vehicular and foot traffic are excluded; sophisticated signaling; and high-platform loading. If the service were converted to full automation with no onboard personnel, the service would be considered an automated guideway. A heavy rail car has motive capability, is driven by electric power taken from a third rail (or, rarely, overhead wires), and is usually operated on exclusive rights-of-way. (APTA) The Red Line is an example of heavy rail.
high-floor vehicle
Vehicles that require riders to climb two or three steps from street level. Such vehicles accommodate wheelchair-bound and other riders who cannot climb steps by using a retractable lift (usually formed from the vehicle´s steps) that raises and lowers persons and equipment between street and floor levels. (APTA)
high-level platforms
Platforms that are generally 18–36 inches above track level and are used primarily by heavy rail, automated guideway, and some commuter rail lines. Only high-floor cars can be used. For purposes of accessibility (access for persons using wheelchairs), platforms can be level with car floors, the cars could have a lift or a ramp, or the platform could have a lift, ramp, or mini-platform. Some commuter rail and light rail lines use a mixture of high-level and low-level platforms on the same line. Typically, all platforms were originally low-level, but the most heavily used stations have been upgraded to high-level to speed loading and unloading. In such cases, the cars must have two accessibility options—one for high-level platforms and one for low-level platforms. (APTA)
high-occupancy vehicle (HOV)
A vehicle carrying two or more persons. Examples of high-occupancy vehicles are a bus, vanpool, and carpool. These vehicles sometimes have exclusive traffic lanes called "HOV lanes," "busways," "transitways," or "commuter lanes." (APTA)
high-occupancy-vehicle (HOV) facility
Exclusive- or controlled-access right-of-way that is restricted to high-occupancy vehicles (buses, passenger vans, and cars carrying two or more persons, or, in some cases, three or more persons) for a portion or all of a day.
high-occupancy-vehicle (HOV) lane
A lane designated for the exclusive use of high-occupancy vehicles, such as carpools, vanpools, other ridesharing modes, and buses.
Highway Safety Management Program (HSMP)
A method for evaluating highway safety needs and making recommendations to address deficiencies.
hybrid bus
A bus that runs on hybrid propulsion (fossil fuel combined with electric power). An onboard generator powered by an internal combustion engine or fuel cell supplies electricity. (AC Transit)

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I

inclined plane
A railway operating over an exclusive right-of-way on steep grades (slopes) with powerless vehicles propelled by moving cables attached to the vehicles and powered by engines or motors at a central location not on board the vehicle. The special tramway type of vehicles has passenger seats that remain horizontal, while the undercarriage (truck) is angled parallel to the slope. Chattanooga, Tenn., Dubuque, Iowa, Johnstown, Penn., Los Angeles, Calif., and Pittsburgh, Penn. (two inclines) are the only places with inclines. (APTA)
Inner Core
The traditional center of the Boston metropolitan area, comprising Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Somerville, Chelsea, Everett, Revere, and Winthrop.
intelligent transportation system (ITS)
Computer and communications technology that provides real-time information to operators of vehicles about transportation system conditions. Also includes technologies that identify, monitor, or control vehicles.
interlining (through-routing)
The practice of combining two routes end-to-end. If two routes share the same frequency and have one end in common, they may be combined for either passenger convenience or because this permits a more cost-effective operation. Interlined routes usually retain their separate numbers to avoid confusion. (AC Transit)
intermodal (multimodal)
Those issues or activities that involve or affect more than one mode of transportation, including transportation connections and choices, and cooperation and coordination between various modes. (APTA)
Intermodal Management System (IMS)
A method for evaluating intermodal connections and making recommendations to address deficiencies. Freight planning in Massachusetts is handled as part of the IMS.
intermodal planning
Planning that reflects a focus on connectivity between modes as a means of facilitating linked trip making.
Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA)
Federal legislation that restructured federal transit and highway programs and mandated an increased decision making role for MPOs in transportation planning and project selection. The act expired September 30, 1997.

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J

jitney
A transit mode composed of privately-owned passenger cars or vans operating on fixed routes (sometimes with minor deviations) as demand warrants without fixed schedules or fixed stops. There are currently no jitneys listed in the Federal Transit Administration´s National Transit Database, though a number of unofficial and often illegal jitneys are known to exist. (APTA)
JOURNEY TO 2030
The Boston Region MPO´s long-range transportation plan (also a certification document), which defines the overarching vision for the future of transportation in the region, establishes principles and policies that will lead to the achievement of that vision, and allocates projected revenue to transportation programs and projects that reflect those principles and policies.

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K

key station plan
A document designating critical transit facilities needed to expand accessibility for individuals with disabilities and to meet ADA requirements.
kiss-and-ride facility
A kiss-and-ride facility is a part of a park-and-ride facility where commuters who are passengers in nontransit vehicles are dropped off to board a public transportation vehicle. (APTA)

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L

land use
The purpose for which land or the structures on the land are being utilized; for example: commercial, residential, retail.
layover
Time built into a schedule between arrival at the end of a route and the departure for the return trip, used for the recovery of delays and preparation for the return trip. (Mineta)
level of service (LOS)
A qualitative measure used to characterize the operating conditions of a transportation service as perceived by its users. Most commonly applied to traffic operations, where designations range from A (best) to F (worst).
light rail (streetcar, tramway, or trolley)
Lightweight passenger rail cars operating singly (or in short, usually two-car, trains) on fixed rails in a right-of-way that is not separated from other traffic for much of the way. A light rail car (or streetcar, tram, or trolley car) has motive capability, is usually driven by electric power taken from overhead lines, and usually operates for much or all of its route on a nonexclusive right-of-way. If built before 1960 or a modern replica of such cars, it is called a heritage trolley car (or vintage trolley car). (APTA) The Green Line is an example of light rail.
limited-stop service
A hybrid between local and express service, where not all stations and stops are served. An example is a pair of closely spaced trains that both stop at the most heavily patronized stations on a line. For the other stations, the first train stops at every other station, while the following train stops at the stations missed by the first train. For buses, stops may be several blocks to a mile or more apart to speed up the trip. (APTA)
line-haul route
A route characterized by relatively long travel distances and wide station spacing, often connecting a large city with outlying suburbs (as opposed to a service used primarily for short, local trips). Commuter rail and express buses are examples of line-haul services.
linked trip
A trip from origin to destination on the transit system. Even if a passenger must make several transfers during a journey, the trip is counted as one linked trip on the system. (NCDOT)
local service
Service where vehicles may stop every block or two along a route several miles long; by far the most common type of bus service. Trackless trolleys, unless bypass overhead wiring is available, cannot pass the trolleybus in front of them, and thus generally operate with local service only. When limited to a small geographic area or to short-distance trips, local bus service is often called circulator, feeder, neighborhood, trolley, or shuttle service. Such routes, which often have a lower fare than regular local service, may operate in a loop and connect, often at a transfer center or rail station, to major routes for travel to more far-flung destinations. Examples are office park circulators, historic-district routes, transit mall shuttles, rail feeder routes, and university campus loops. Local service, in the rail context, means trains stop at every station on a route. For light rail and cable cars operating on city streets, local service would be analogous to local bus service, where stops are one or two blocks apart. (APTA)
low-floor vehicle
Vehicles that eliminate the steps at the front entrance and have a level floor in the front part of the vehicle. Only a short retractable ramp is necessary to accommodate wheelchair users and others who cannot bridge the gap between vehicle and street level. Some models have a level floor the entire length of the vehicle and no steps at the rear door. Both types may have a "kneeling" feature that lowers the entire front end of the vehicle several inches to aid in boarding. Prior to the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990, almost all vehicles were high-floor. Now the majority of new vehicles are low-floor. Some bus rapid transit services implemented during the next few years may utilize stations with high-level platforms, which would require high-floor buses with no steps and a level floor. Hybrid buses that also have a lift would be necessary when BRT buses serve both stations with high-floor platforms and regular bus stops. (APTA)
low-level platforms
Platforms that are generally about 12–18 inches above track level and are used primarily by commuter rail and light rail lines. For purposes of accessibility (e.g., access for persons using wheelchairs), either a low-floor car with a retractable ramp or a high-floor car with a retractable lift can be used. Alternatively, the platform can be level with the car floor or the platform may have a lift, ramp, or elevated mini-platform. (APTA)

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M

major investment study (MIS)
An alternatives analysis required to support decisions on significant transportation investments. The purpose of an MIS is to examine the possible impacts and consequences of various alternatives to address an identified transportation need at the subarea or corridor level.
management system
A system intended to provide information needed to make effective decisions on the use of limited resources to improve the efficiency of, and protect the investment in, the nation´s existing and future infrastructure at all levels of jurisdictional control. ISTEA originally required the implementation of six management systems: congestion, intermodal, public transportation, pavement, bridges, and safety. These systems are no longer federally mandated, except that a Congestion Management Process is required as part of the conformity determinations in transportation management areas.
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA)
The agency that provides public-transportation service in eastern Massachusetts. A member of the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization.
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Advisory Board
Legislatively created group representing the 78 cities and towns within the MBTA service district. Powers include: approval or reduction of the MBTA budget; approval of the Program for Mass Transportation; approval of changes to the fare structure; approval of the appointment of the general manager and three MBTA board members. A member of the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization.
Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) Unit
Section of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs responsible for administration of the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act, which establishes a process for evaluating impacts from a public or private infrastructure project and for identifying steps to be taken to avoid or minimize that damage. This process may require preparation of an environmental impact report. MEPA permits are required for most large transportation projects.
Massachusetts Highway Department (MassHighway)
The agency responsible for the design, construction, and maintenance of state highways and bridges. A member of the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization.
Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport)
The agency charged with operating and developing major commercial maritime and aviation facilities in the Boston region. Owns and operates Logan International Airport, Hanscom Field, maritime terminals located in the Port of Boston, and the Tobin Bridge. A member of the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization. Created as an independent authority in Chapter 465 of the Acts of 1956, as amended.
Massachusetts Turnpike Authority (MTA)
Sometimes called MassPike, this agency is responsible for the operation of the Massachusetts Turnpike and the three harbor tunnels (Sumner, Callahan, and Ted Williams). A member of the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization.
MassRIDES
Organization implementing the Executive Office of Transportation and Public Works´ statewide travel options program that provides free assistance to commuters, employers, students, and other traveler markets.
maximum load
The maximum load is the maximum number of passengers on board a transit vehicle at any one point in time during a trip.
maximum load point
The maximum load point is the location along a route where the maximum load of a trip or group of trips has been observed.
measures of effectiveness (MOE)
Parameters describing the quality of transit service provided to drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. Examples are speed, delay, passenger loadings, and transit vehicle travel time. Qualitative rankings such as level of service and on-time performance would be based on these measures.
Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC)
Regional comprehensive-planning agency for the Boston metropolitan area, comprising 101 communities. Composed of officials from cities, towns, and state agencies, and independent gubernatorial appointees. A member of the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization.
metropolitan planning organization (MPO)
The regional organization responsible, under federal regulations, for comprehensive transportation planning and for programming of federal funds for projects and programs in an urbanized area. MPOs produce three federally mandated documents: the Transportation Plan, Transportation Improvement Program, and Unified Planning Work Program.
midpoint schedule adherence
The on-time performance of a transit service at a location other than the very beginning or very end of the route.
mini-high platform
A section of a transit station platform that is the same height as the floors of the vehicles using the platform, the remainder of the platform being lower. Such platforms are used at many of the older MBTA commuter rail stations where site constraints prevent construction of full-length high platforms.
Mobility Management System (MMS)
A method for evaluating the level of congestion in the region´s transportation system and for identifying strategies that will reduce this congestion. Federal regulations refer to this program as the congestion management process.
mode
A particular means of transportation (for example, transit, automobile, bicycle, walking).
monorail
An electric railway of guided transit vehicles operating singly or in multicar trains. The vehicles are suspended from or straddle a guideway formed by a single beam, rail, or tube. There are only two transit monorails in the United States: in Las Vegas, Nev., and Seattle, Wash. Their most common use is in the nontransit settings of amusement parks. If a train does not have an onboard crew, it is considered automated guideways. (APTA)
multimodal
See intermodal.
multimodal planning
Planning that reflects consideration of more than one mode to serve transportation needs in a given area.

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N

National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)
Federal standards that set allowable concentrations and exposure limits for ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter.
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
Federal legislation that requires agencies to give full consideration to environmental effects in planning and implementing federal programs, sometimes requiring the preparation of an environmental impact statement. NEPA permits are required for most large transportation projects.
net cost per passenger
The difference between the fare revenue derived from passengers on a given service and the cost of providing that service, divided by the total number of passengers. This measure usually includes only operating costs.
nitrogen oxides (NOx)
Precursor emission that forms from high-temperature combustion processes. Reacts with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the presence of heat and sunlight to form ozone.
nonattainment area
A geographic region that the Environmental Protection Agency has designated as failing to meet National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The Boston area has been designated as being in “serious nonattainment” for ozone.

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O

one-way trip
A single trip in one direction of a route.
operating expenses
The expenses associated with the operation of a transit agency, classified by function or activity and the goods and services purchased. (APTA)
ozone (O3)
A colorless gas with a sweet odor that is not a direct emission from transportation sources, but is formed when volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) from car exhaust and from certain industrial emissions combine in the presence of sunlight. Ground-level ozone is associated with smog conditions and initiates damage to lungs, trees, crops, and other materials. Regulated by the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.

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P

paratransit
Any one of a variety of smaller, flexibly scheduled and routed, demand-responsive transportation services using low-capacity vehicles. Primarily used by persons for whom use of standard mass-transit services is difficult or impossible.
park-and-ride facility
A parking garage and/or lot used for parking passengers´ automobiles, either free or for a fee, while they use transit agency services. Park-and-ride facilities are generally established as collector sites for rail or bus service. Park-and-ride facilities may also serve as collector sites for vanpools and carpools, and as transit centers. (APTA)
passenger fares
Revenue earned from carrying passengers in regularly scheduled and demand-response service. Passenger fares include: the base fare; zone premiums; express-service premiums; extra-cost transfers; and quantity-purchase discounts applicable to the passenger´s ride. (APTA)
passenger-miles
Passenger-miles is the cumulative sum of the distances ridden by each passenger. (APTA)
pass-ride value
The average revenue per trip obtained from pass users. This figure is calculated from pass sales figures and from survey data on the number of trips by mode that pass users make per day or per week.
pavement management system (PMS)
A method for evaluating, and establishing priorities for, pavement rehabilitation and resurfacing needs.
peak-period surcharge
An extra fee required during peak periods (rush hours). (APTA)
pointcheck
An observation of the arrival times, departure times, and passenger loads of a transit service at a single location.
Program for Mass Transportation (PMT)
A long-range plan prepared by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and approved by the MBTA Advisory Board. It describes scheduled MBTA capital projects.
publico
In Puerto Rico a mode similar to jitney composed of passenger vans or small buses operating with fixed routes but no fixed schedules. Publicos are a privately owned and operated mass transit service which is market oriented and unsubsidized, but regulated through a public service commission or a state or local government. Publicos are operated under franchise agreements, fares are regulated by route, and there are special insurance requirements. Vehicle capacity varies from 8 to 24 passengers, and the vehicles may be owned or leased by the operator. (APTA)
pull-back
Nonrevenue or revenue trip by a vehicle returning to a storage location such as a carhouse, garage, or yard.
pull-out
Nonrevenue or revenue trip to put a vehicle into service from a vehicle storage location such as a carhouse, garage, or yard.
pulse system
A transit system in which vehicles from all or several routes simultaneously converge at a central location at regular intervals (such as hourly or half-hourly) to allow passengers to transfer directly between vehicles arriving on any of the routes and vehicles departing on any of the others.
purchased transportation
Transportation service provided to a public transit agency or governmental unit by a public or private transportation provider based on a written contract. The provider is obligated in advance to operate public transportation services for a public transit agency or governmental unit for specific monetary compensation. Purchased transportation does not include franchising, licensing operation, management services, cooperative agreements, or private conventional bus service. (APTA)

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Q



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R

Regional Transportation Advisory Council
Citizens group that advises the Boston Region MPO on transportation issues and reviews the Transportation Plans, Transportation Improvement Programs, and Unified Planning Work Programs. Composed of representatives from state agencies, municipalities, and civic and private associations that have an interest in regional transportation planning.
reverse commuting
Traveling in a direction opposite to the main flow of traffic, such as from the central city to a suburb during the morning peak period. (APTA)
ridership
The number of rides taken by people using a public transportation system in a given time period. (Mineta)
ridesharing
A form of transportation, other than that provided by a transit agency, in which more than one person shares the use of a vehicle, such as a van or car, to make a trip. Also known as "carpooling" or "vanpooling." (APTA)
rolling stock
The revenue vehicles used in providing transit service for passengers. The term "revenue vehicles" includes the body and chassis and all fixtures and appliances inside or attached to the body or chassis, except fare-collection equipment and revenue-vehicle-movement-control equipment (radios). For rubber-tired vehicles, it includes the cost of one set of tires and tubes to make the vehicle operational, if the tires and tubes are owned by the transit agency. (APTA)
round-trip
A trip to a destination and back, usually on the same route.
running time
Time allowed between any two points, such as from time point to time point, or from end-of-line to end-of-line. (AC Transit)

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S

Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Policy Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU)
The federal legislation governing federally funded surface transportation projects and planning through 2010. Provides the framework and contemporary guidance for metropolitan transportation planning and the programming of federal funds.
short-turn
A trip that does not go to the furthest point of the line, sometimes due to passenger load or schedule adherence. (AC Transit)
single-occupant vehicle (SOV)
A vehicle containing only the driver and no passengers.
standing load
The number of standing passengers that can be accommodated aboard a revenue vehicle during a normal full load (non-crush) in accordance with established loading policies or, in absence of a policy, with the manufacturer´s rated standing capacity figures. (NCDOT)
State Implementation Plan (SIP)
A document that contains procedures detailing how a state will attain or maintain compliance with National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Prepared by the state and submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency for approval.
State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP)
A short-range transportation-planning document detailing the federally assisted projects planned to be undertaken in a given four-year period. By federal law, the STIP consists of a compilation of regional MPO transportation improvement programs and a list of projects to be undertaken outside of MPO boundaries.
station
A passenger boarding/alighting facility with a platform, which may include stairs; elevators; escalators; passenger controls (e.g., faregates or turnstiles); canopies; wind shelters; lighting; signs; and buildings with a waiting room, ticket office or machines, restrooms, and / or concessions. Includes all fixed-guideway passenger facilities (except for on-street cable car and light rail stops), including busway passenger facilities; underground, at-grade, and elevated rail stations; and ferryboat terminals. Includes transportation/transit/transfer centers, park-and-ride facilities, and transit malls with the above components, including those utilized only by motor buses. Does not include bus, light rail, or cable car stops (which are typically on-street locations at the curb or in a median, sometimes with a shelter, signs, or lighting). (APTA)
Strategic Assessment Report (SAR)
A report initiated by the Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission to reassess the long-term needs for high-speed intercity transport to and from the Boston region.
supplemental trip
Additional service operating when school is in session to reduce the crowding resulting from a large number of students traveling at the same time.
swing on/swing off
To replace an operator on a vehicle while in service. The operator leaving the vehicle is "swinging off," while the operator boarding the vehicle is "swinging on." The location where the change of operators is made is known as a swing point.

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T

3C process
A continuing, comprehensive transportation-planning process carried out cooperatively by metropolitan planning organizations as they plan for the future and program federal transportation funds for studies, projects, and programs in their region.
time point
A location on a bus route assigned a fixed scheduled time that is part of a larger route schedule.
(AC Transit)
timecheck
An observation of the arrival times, departure times, and passenger loads of a transit service at multiple locations, usually the start and end of the route and at least one midpoint.
Title VI
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance.
trackless trolley (trolley bus)
Mode using vehicles propelled by a motor drawing current from overhead wires via a connecting pole called a trolley. (APTA)
transfer surcharge
An extra fee charged when boarding another transit vehicle to continue a trip. (APTA)
transit
Generally, urban passenger-transportation service, local in scope, provided to the public along established routes, with fixed or variable schedules, at published fares.
transit centers
A fixed location where passengers interchange from one route or vehicle to another and that has significant infrastructure such as a waiting room, benches, restrooms, a sales outlet, ticket- or pass-vending machines, and / or other services. Such centers may be located at rail stations, intercity bus terminals, or ferry terminals and may be shared with other transit agencies. Small and medium-sized agencies might have one center in the central business district; larger agencies might have several additional centers scattered throughout the suburbs at major shopping malls or park-and-ride lots. In some instances, a timed-transfer system is used, in which all buses converge on the transit center at a specific time to exchange passengers. (APTA)
transportation analysis zone (TAZ)
An area delineated by state and/or local transportation officials for tabulating transportation-related data, especially journey-to-work and place-of-work statistics. A TAZ usually consists of one or more census blocks, block groups, or census tracks.
transportation control measure (TCM)
Actions, usually found in a State Implementation Plan, that improve traffic flow or reduce vehicle use or congestion with the objective of reducing air pollutant emissions.
transportation demand management (TDM)
In its most general form, any action or actions that attempt to control or alter existing travel patterns or choices. Included in this group is a wide range of strategies, such as promoting ridesharing, requiring alternative work hours or flextime, and increasing travel costs for single-occupant vehicles.
Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)
A short-range certification document describing transportation projects, consistent with the Transportation Plan, that will receive federal capital funding. The Boston Region MPO´s TIP shows projects to be funded within the region during a given four-year period.
transportation management area (TMA)
Defined by the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) as any urban area with a population over 200,000. Within a TMA, all transportation plans and programs must be based on the 3C process. A TMA´s boundary affects the responsibility for the selection of transportation projects that receive federal funds.
transportation management association (TMA)
A voluntary association of public agencies and private firms that develop, fund, or implement transportation programs or services in a given area.
Transportation Plan (a.k.a. Regional Transportation Plan)
A long-range certification document that identifies facilities and programs that should function as an integrated metropolitan transportation system, and includes a financial plan that demonstrates how the long-range plan can be implemented. The plan must show that the current system can be operated and maintained over the long term, and recommends capital expansion projects to be constructed.
Transportation Planning and Programming Committee
A standing committee of the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) comprising a designated representative of each MPO agency and a representative of the Regional Transportation Advisory Council. The committee reviews and approves the preparation and distribution of reports, studies, and other documents, including the Transportation Plan, Transportation Improvement Program, and Unified Planning Work Program, and recommends the approval of these and other actions to the MPO.
trunk line
A route operating along a major corridor that carries a large number of passengers and operates at headways of 15 minutes or less. (AC Transit)

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U

Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP)
A certification document describing all proposed transportation-related planning activities and air quality planning activities undertaken in a metropolitan region in a given year.
unlinked passenger trips (unlinked trips)
The number of passengers who board public transportation vehicles. When a count is conducted to ascertain this number, passengers are counted each time they board a vehicle no matter how many vehicles they use to travel from their origin to their destination. An unlinked trip is any segment of a linked trip.

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V

vehicle-hours
The hours a vehicle travels from the time it pulls out from its garage to go into revenue service to the time it pulls in from revenue service. They are often called platform time. For conventional scheduled services, it includes revenue time and deadhead time. (APTA)
vehicle-miles
The miles a vehicle travels from the time it pulls out from its garage to go into revenue service to the time it pulls in from revenue service. They are often called platform miles. For conventional scheduled services, they include revenue miles and deadhead miles. (APTA)
vehicle revenue-hours
The hours traveled when the vehicle is in revenue service (in other words, the time when a vehicle is available to the general public and there is an expectation of carrying passengers). These passengers either directly pay fares, are subsidized by public policy, or provide payment through some contractual arrangement. Vehicles operated in fare-free service are considered in revenue service. Revenue service excludes school bus service and charter service. For conventionally scheduled services, vehicle revenue-hours are composed of two elements: running time and layover/recovery time. (APTA)
vehicle revenue-miles
The miles traveled when the vehicle is in revenue service (in other words, the time when a vehicle is available to the general public and there is an expectation of carrying passengers). These passengers either directly pay fares, are subsidized by public policy, or provide payment through some contractual arrangement. Vehicles operated in fare-free service are considered in revenue service. Revenue service excludes school bus service and charter service. For conventionally scheduled services, vehicle revenue-miles are composed of running miles only. (APTA)
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
A group of chemicals that react in the atmosphere with nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the presence of heat and sunlight to form ozone. Examples include gasoline fumes and oil-based paints.

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W

water taxi
Very small (about 50 feet long or less) passenger-only ferries that may operate both fixed-route and on-demand service, depending on the time of day and patronage levels. They can load and unload very quickly and operate very frequently, sometimes to several different points around a harbor or along a river. (APTA)

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X



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Y



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Z

zone or distance surcharge
An extra fee charged for crossing a predetermined boundary. (APTA)

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