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Key Terms

Air Quality Conformity and Conforming TIP “Air Quality conformity” refers to a set of federal regulations that require MPO such as SCAG to assess the impact of the TIP on the region’s air quality. The TIP must satisfy a number of tests to indicate that implementation of the TIP will achieve specific reductions in pollutants and that Transportation Control Measures (TCM) adopted by local agencies will be continued, and be implemented.

Allocate the process used to release funding to sponsors of a previously approved transportation project.

Appropriate an act by the State Legislature or Congress to provide budgeted funds to programs that have been previously authorized by other legislation. The amount of funding appropriated may be less than what was authorized.

Article XIX Restriction This provision in the California Constitution limits the use of state gasoline tax revenues to projects related to roadway (including bicycle and pedestrian projects) or fixed guideway (rail or trolley coach) improvements.

Authorize an act by Congress that creates the policy and structure of a program, including formulas and guidelines for awarding funds. Authorizing legislation (such as SAFETEA-LU) may set an upper limit on program spending or may be open ended. Revenues to be spent under an authorization must be appropriated annually by separate legislation.

Authorization, Obligation, and Allocation Prior to beginning reimbursable work, the project (or project phase) eligible for reimbursement from federal funds must be formally authorized (approved) by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) or by Caltrans for exempt project. Following authorization, FHWA obligates federal funds. However, both terms have been used interchangeably.

On the other hand, allocation of funds is an approval process by which California Transportation Commission (CTC) votes on STIP** for federal and/or state funded project. Non-regional TEA federal program, however, also requires a CTC vote. This CTC vote should precede the E-76 request of federal funds for federal and/or state funded projects.

Caltrans California Department of Transportation: The state agency responsible for building, maintaining and operating state highways and certain intercity rail services, among other things.

Capital Funds Funding dedicated to new projects or projects to improve or replace elements of the transportation system, including freeway widening, rail extensions, transit station improvements, new bicycle and pedestrian lanes, and so forth. (Also see "Operating Funds.")

CMAQ Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program: A pot of federal money for projects and activities that reduce congestion and improve air quality.

Conformity This is the process in which transportation plans and spending programs are reviewed to ensure they are consistent with federal clean air requirements; transportation projects collectively must not worsen air quality. The ongoing process that ensures the planning for highway and transit systems, as a whole and over the long term, is consistent with the state air quality plans for attaining and maintaining health-based air quality standards; conformity is determined by metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) and the USDOT, and is based on whether transportation plans and programs meet the provisions of a State Implementation Plan.

County Minimums A formula in state law that requires a minimum return of STIP revenues to counties based on population and state highway miles.

CTC California Transportation Commission: A state-level commission that sets state spending priorities for highways and transit and allocates funds. The governor appoints the nine members.

E-76 Formally called an "Authorization to Proceed" or E-76, is a Caltrans authorization to proceed with a project and is a federal obligation of the project funds. A separate E-76 request is required for preliminary engineering (PE), right of way, utility relocation, and construction phases if federal funds are to be used in the respective phase of work.

Expenditure In transportation terms, this is any allowable expense associated with a project or program.

Farebox The revenues collected by transit operators from passenger fares.

FHWA Federal Highway Administration: See U.S. DOT.

Financial Constraint When the TIP is “financially constrained,” that means that funding is available and has been committed by the appropriate agencies to implement projects in the TIP. If implementation of a project depends on the development of a new funding source, such as a new sales or fuel tax measure, the project will not be included in the TIP until the new funding source has been developed and the funds have been committed to the project.

Flexible Funding Unlike funding that flows only to highways or only to transit by a rigid formula, this is money that can be invested on a range of transportation projects. Examples of flexible funding categories include the STP, RSTP, STPL, CMAQ and RIP programs.

FTA Federal Transit Administration: See U.S. DOT.

FY (FFY) Fiscal Year: Annual schedule for keeping financial records and for budgeting transportation funds. California's fiscal year runs from July 1 through June 30, while the federal fiscal year runs from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30.

IIP Interregional Improvement Program: A state funding category created in SB 45 for intercity rail, interregional road or rail expansion projects outside urban areas, or projects of statewide significance. IIP moneys become part of a funding program known as the ITIP (see below).

Intermodal A mode is a particular form of transportation, such as automobile, transit, ship, bicycle and walking. Intermodal refers specifically to the connections between modes.

ISTEA Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act: Federal transportation legislation that expired in 1997. ISTEA emphasized diversity and balance of modes, as well as the preservation of existing systems before construction of new facilities. Much of ISTEA's program structure is carried forward in new federal legislation (see TEA 21 and SAFETEA-LU).

ITIP Interregional Transportation Improvement Program: A state-funding program for IIP funds. Caltrans nominates and the CTC approves a listing of interregional highway and rail projects for 25 percent of the funds to be programmed in the STIP (the other 75 percent are RIP funds).

MPO Metropolitan Planning Organization: A federally required planning body responsible for the transportation planning and project selection in its region; the governor designates an MPO in every urbanized area with a population of over 50,000 people. SCAG is the Southern California Region’s MPO.

Model An analytical tool (often mathematical) used by transportation planners to assist in making forecasts of land use, economic activity, travel activity and their effects on the quality of resources such as land, air and water.

Multimodal Refers to the availability of multiple transportation options, especially within a system or corridor. A multimodal approach to transportation planning focuses on the most efficient way of getting people or goods from place to place is it by truck, train, bicycle, automobile, airplane, bus, boat, foot or even a computer modem.

NHS National Highway System: This approximately 160,000-mile network consists of the 42,500 miles of the Interstate system, plus other key roads and arterials throughout the United States. Designated by Congress in 1995 pursuant to a requirement of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act, the NHS is designed to provide an interconnected system of principal routes to serve major travel destinations and population centers.

North/South Split A requirement in state law governing how STIP funds are divided within California, with 60 percent of funds going to the South and 40 percent of the funds going to the North.

Obligate the way project sponsors spend money, typically by putting their project under contract for construction. Often funding programs come with restrictions that require a project sponsor to obligate funds in a timely manner or lose the funds.

Operating Funds Moneys used to fund general, day-to-day costs of running transportation systems. For transit, costs include fuel, salaries and replacement parts; for roads, operating costs involve maintaining pavement, filling potholes, paying workers" salaries, and so forth. (Also see "Capital Funds.')

Program 1. Verb: to assign funds to a project that has been approved by SCAG, the state or other agency. 2. Noun: a system of funding for implementing transportation projects or policies, such as through the State Transportation Improvement Program (see STIP) or Federal Transportation Improvement Program (see FTIP).

Return to Source A requirement with some funding programs (such as TDA) that the money flow back to the county where it originated from tax revenues.

RIP Regional Improvement Program: State funding category created by SB 45 that can be used for a variety of projects, including for freeways, carpool lanes, rail lines, transit stations and road rehabilitation. RIP funds become part of a funding program known as the RTIP (see below).

RTIP Regional Transportation Improvement Program: State funding program that includes RIP funds, which make up 75 percent of the funds available for programming in the STIP. RTPAs prepare the RTIP consistent with the RTP to reflect priorities identified by county CMAs, project sponsors and members of the public. The CTC must approve the entire RTIP list or reject it in its entirety. Once the CTC approves an RTIP, it is combined with those from other regions to comprise 75 percent of the funds in the STIP.

RTP Regional Transportation Plan: A blueprint to guide the region's transportation development for a 20-year period. Created by SCAG, the plan is updated every two years and based on projections of growth and travel demand coupled with financial projections. State and federal law require the document.

RTPA Regional Transportation Planning Agency: A state-designated agency responsible for preparing the Regional Transportation Plan and the Regional Transportation Improvement Program, administering state funds, and other tasks.

SAFETEA-LU Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users Signed on August 10, 2005, the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). SAFETEA-LU authorizes the Federal surface transportation programs for highways, highway safety, and transit for the 5-year period 2005-2009

SB 45 Senate Bill 45: 1997 state legislation that streamlined the STIP and transferred from the state to metropolitan regions more authority in deciding how to invest transportation funds.

SCAG Southern California Association of Governments: The transportation planning, financing and coordinating agency and MPO for the six counties in the Southern California region.

Self-Help Counties A term used to describe counties that have taken the initiative to supplement available state and federal funds by enacting local voter-approved funding mechanisms -- such as half-cent sales taxes -- to pay for transportation improvements

SHOPP State Highway Operations and Protection Program: State-funding category used by Caltrans to maintain and operate state highways.

STA State Transit Assistance: State-funding program for mass transit operations and capital projects.

State-Owned Toll Bridges Those toll bridges owned and operated by the state of California.

STIP State Transportation Improvement Program: The STIP is a multi-year capital improvement program of transportation projects on and off the State Highway System, funded with revenues from the State Highway Account and other funding sources. STIP programming generally occurs every two years. The programming cycle begins with the release of a proposed fund estimate in July of odd-numbered years, followed by CTC adoption of the fund estimate in August (odd years). The fund estimate serves to identify the amount of new funds available for the programming of transportation projects. Once the fund estimate is adopted, Caltrans and the regional planning agencies prepare transportation improvement plans for submittal by December 15th (odd years). Caltrans prepare the Interregional Improvement Plan (IIP) and regional agencies prepare Regional Improvement Plans (RIPs). Public hearings are held in January (even years) in both northern and southern California. The STIP is adopted by the CTC by April (even years).

STP Surface Transportation Program: One of the key funding programs in TEA 21. STP monies are "flexible," meaning they can be spent on mass transit, pedestrian and bicycle facilities as well as on roads and highways.

TCM Transportation Control Measure. A strategy to reduce driving or smooth traffic flows in order to cut auto emissions and resulting air pollution. Required by the Federal Clean Air Act, TCMs for the Los Angeles area are developed by MTA and SCAG. Examples of TCMs include carpool lanes (HOV lanes), Freeway Service Patrol, new or increased transit services, and ridesharing services to get people into carpools and vanpools, bicycle programs, flexible work schedules.

TDA Transportation Development Act: State law enacted in 1971. TDA funds are generated from a tax of one-quarter of one percent on all retail sales in each county; used for transit, special transit for disabled persons, and bicycle and pedestrian purposes, they are collected by the state and allocated to fund transit operations and programs. In non-urban areas, TDA funds may be used for streets and roads under certain conditions (see Unmet Transit Needs Findings).

TEA Transportation Enhancement Activities: Ten percent of STP monies must be set aside for projects that enhance the compatibility of transportation facilities with their surroundings. Examples of TEA projects include bicycle and pedestrian paths, restoration of rail depots or other historic transportation facilities, acquisition of scenic or open space lands next to travel corridors, and murals or other public art projects. (Also see Transit Enhancements.)

TEA-21 Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century: Passed by Congress in May 1998, this federal transportation legislation retains and expands many of the programs created in 1991 under ISTEA. Reauthorizes federal surface transportation programs for six years (1998-2003), and significantly increases overall funding for transportation.

TIP Transportation Improvement Program: MTA planning and programming staff works with SCAG to prepare and update a Regional / Federal Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP / FTIP). The program includes a listing of all transportation - related projects that require federal funding or other approval by the federal transportation agencies USDOT (FHWA, FTA). The FTIP also lists non-federal, regionally significant projects for information and air quality modeling purposes.

Transit Enhancements Transit funding program designed to enhance the travel experience for public transit riders. Funded by federal Section 5307 formula funds, eligible projects include bus shelters, increased access by persons with disabilities, public art, rehabilitation and renovation of historic transit facilities and vehicles, landscaping, and bicycle and pedestrian access.

Unmet Transit Needs Findings Certain smaller counties may use TDA funds for local streets and roads only if the RTPA in their jurisdiction makes a finding that public transit service and operations in the county have no unmet needs. RTPAs must hold public hearings prior to making such a determination.

U.S. DOT United States Department of Transportation: The federal agency responsible for highways, mass transit, aviation and ports and headed by the secretary of transportation. Includes the FHWA and the FTA, among others.

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