Use the glossary below to look up definitions of transportation-related acronyms.

For a more extensive pdf list of transportation-related acronyms, click here.

3-C

3Employing a Continuing, Cooperative, Comprehensive (3-C) planning process is a requirement for all MPOs as specified in 23 CFR 450.300.

ADA

AThe Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 is a wide-ranging civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability.

ADVCON

AAdvance Construction Reimbursement (ADVCON) allows states to begin a project in the absence of sufficient Federal-aid funding to cover the Federal share of project costs. Generally, project costs are paid for with local funds, and the reimbursed through future Federal-aid grants.

CAC

CThe Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) is the foundation of OahuMPO's public involvement process. The CAC is a volunteer group consisting of representatives from community organizations, professional associations, neighborhood boards, and the private sector.

CFR

CThe Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is the codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the departments and agencies of the Federal Government.

CMAQ

CCongestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) is a Federal transportation funding program implemented to support surface transportation projects and other related efforts that contribute to air quality improvements and provide congestion relief.

DBEDT

DDepartment of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism is Hawaii’s resource center for economic and statistical data, business development opportunities, energy and conservation information, and foreign trade advantages.

DPP

DDepartment of Planning and Permitting provides services and information on building permits, development projects, and planning activities for the City and County of Honolulu.

DTS

DDepartment of Transportation Services (DTS) is a branch of City government involved with "multi-modal" movement of people and goods. Their responsibilities involve roadways, public transit systems, bicycle/pedestrian facilities, traffic control systems, traffic safety, rules and regulations of city owned streets and roadways, and the design and construction of transportation facilities.

FAA

FFederal Aviation Administration, an agency of the US Department of Transportation, is the national aviation authority of the United States which regulates aspects of civil aviation.

FFGA

FThe Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) is the final step of the New Starts transit planning and project development process. FTA and sponsors of New Starts projects enter into this multi-year contractual agreement that formally establishes the maximum level of Federal financial assistance and outlines the terms and conditions of Federal participation.

FFY

FA Federal Fiscal Year (FFY), or financial year, is a period used for calculating annual ("yearly") financial statements in businesses and other organizations. The FFY starts on October 1 each year and runs through September 30 of the following year.

FHWA

FThe Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provides stewardship over the construction, maintenance and preservation of the Nation’s highways, bridges and tunnels.

FTA

FThe Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is an agency within the US Department of Transportation that provides financial and technical assistance to local public transit systems.

HDOT

HHawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) is a state government organization which oversees transportation in Hawaii. The agency is divided into three divisions dealing with 1) aviation, 2) maritime, and 3) roads.

HHCTCP

HThe Honolulu High-Capacity Transit Corridor Project (HHCTCP) is the official name for the plan to construct an elevated rail line serving the City and County of Honolulu on the island of Oahu.

HR

HHouse Reports (HR) are the publications by which congressional committees report and make recommendations to the House as a whole. They concern the findings of committee hearings or the outcome of committee deliberations, and can contain discussions of legislative intent, a short history of a bill, and comparisons of current and proposed law text.

HSIP

HThe Federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) aims to achieve a significant reduction in traffic fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads. The HSIP requires a data-driven, strategic approach to improving highway safety that focuses on performance.

IFB

IAn Invitation for Bids (IFB) is an invitation to contractors or equipment suppliers, through a bidding process, to submit a proposal on a specific project or product or service to be furnished.

ITS

IIntelligent Transportation System (ITS) refers to advanced technology applications which aim to improve transportation services and traffic management and enable users to be better informed and make safer, more coordinated, and 'smarter' use of transportation networks. One example would be traffic sensors imbedded in roadways that send speed data to a traffic management center or to the public via a smart phone app.

MAP-21

MMoving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) (P.L. 112-141) was signed into law by President Obama on July 6, 2012 and provides Federal funding authority for surface transportation programs at over $105 billion for fiscal years (FY) 2013 and 2014. MAP-21 is the first long-term highway authorization enacted since 2005.

MPO

MA metropolitan planning organization is a federally-mandated and federally-funded transportation policy-making organization in the United States that is made up of representatives from local government and governmental transportation authorities.

NHS

NThe National Highway System (NHS) consists of roadways important to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility.

NTD

NThe National Transit Database (NTD) was established by Congress to be the Nation’s primary source for information and statistics on the transit systems of the United States. Recipients or beneficiaries of grants from the Federal Transit Administration are required to submit data to the NTD.

OahuMPO

OOahu Metropolitan Planning Organization (OahuMPO) is the Federally required and designated Metropolitan Planning Organization for the Urban Honolulu and Kailua-Kaneohe urbanized areas. OahuMPO’s planning area covers all of the island of Oahu.

ORTP

OThe Oahu Regional Transportation Plan (ORTP) is a long-term vision document that outlines transportation goals, objectives, and policies for Oahu. The ORTP guides future development of the major surface transportation facilities and programs.

OWP

OThe Overall Work Program (OWP) serves as the key management tool for conducting State and City transportation planning activities on the island of Oahu.

ROW

RA Right-of-Way (ROW) is a legal land easement granted or reserved for transportation purposes. ROW identifies the land that is set aside for transportation purposes, such as for a roadway, trail, driveway, rail line, or highway.

RY

RReport Year (RY) defines the time period for which data (usually financial data) is summarized.

SMP

SThe Special Maintenance Program (SMP) is a Hawaii DOT program that funds individual repair or maintenance projects that do not normally occur annually.

SOGR

SState of Good Repair (SOGR) Grant is a new initiative launched by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in 2010 to maintain the nation’s bus and rail systems. FTA defines SOGR as an effort that “includes sharing ideas on recapitalization and maintenance issues, asset management practices, and innovative financing strategies. It also includes issues related to measuring the condition of transit capital assets, prioritizing local transit re-investment decisions and preventive maintenance practices.”

STIC

SSmall Transit Intensive Cities (STIC) provide a level of transit service far greater than their size and density characteristics would typically suggest. These cities generally have special populations, such as a high student population due to the presence of a local college or university, or high transit usage due to resort destinations.

STIP

SThe Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) provides a multi-year listing of State and County surface transportation projects and identifies those projects slated for federal funding. It is developed utilizing existing transportation plans and policies, and current highway, transit and transportation programming processes. The STIP delineates the funding categories and the federal and local share required for each project.

TAC

TThe Technical Advisory Committee provides the technical input to OahuMPO's planning process. The TAC acts as the technical liaison between the Policy Committee and the OahuMPO Executive Director, provides advice to the Policy Committee and the OahuMPO Executive Director on technical matters, and insures the technical competence of the planning process.

TIGER

TThe Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Discretionary Grant program provides an opportunity for the U.S. Department of Transportation to invest in road, rail, transit and port projects that promise to achieve critical national objectives.

TIGGER

TThe Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) Grant Program, managed by the Federal Transit Administration, works directly with public transportation agencies to implement new strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and/or reduce energy use within transit operations.

TIP

TThe Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is a programming document that lists transportation projects that will be undertaken by the State of Hawaii and City and County of Honolulu, and funded in part with federal money. Projects identified in the TIP must be consistent with the Oahu Regional Transportation Plan (ORTP).

USC

UThe Office of the Law Revision Counsel prepares and publishes the United States Code (USC), which is a consolidation and codification by subject matter of the general and permanent laws of the United States.

UZA

UThe US Census Bureau’s Urbanized Areas (UZAs) are defined by densely developed land, irrespective of local government boundaries, and encompass residential, commercial, and other non-residential urban land uses.