FY 2014 - 2023 Statewide
Transportation Improvement Program

Glossary

• Section 1: Capital Investment Strategy Categories/Asset Categories
• Section 2: Core Mission
• Section 3: Phases of Work
• Section 4: Funding Categories

  a. NJDOT
  b. NJ Transit

• Section 5: Metropolitan Planning Organizations
• Section 6: Air Quality Codes

Section 1: Capital Investement Strategy Categories/Asset Categories

Airport Assets

Administration of NJ Aviation System: Public Use Airports that consists of a complex system of facilities operated by State, County, Municipal and private entities. This classification includes work that is anticipated to preserve, maintain and improve NJ Aviation facilities for the development of an efficient air transportation system that responds to the needs of its users and the public.

Bridge Assets

Projects under this classification designed to keep existing bridges functioning and in a state of good repair, including work which rehabilitates or replaces existing bridges to current design standards. Examples of work included within this classification are:

• Bridge rehab and replacement
• Bridge deck rehab and replacement
• Bridge capital maintenance
• Bridge management
• Dams

Capital Program Delivery

This classification includes program implementation costs for various phases of projects, including construction, contractor support, planning programs and studies, scoping and design, right-of-way and utility work, and quality assurance.

Congestion Relief

This classification encompasses work that improves the flow of people and goods along transportation corridors. Specific programs under this heading include highway operational improvements, bottleneck widening, missing links, major widening, intelligent transportation systems and travel demand management.

Local Systems Support

This classification provides for development and implementation of transportation improvements on the local roadway network. Examples of program categories within this classification are local aid to counties and local aid to municipalities, bicycle/pedestrian, regional planning and project development.

Mass Transit Assets

This classification includes light rail, rail and bus physical assets required to bring the transit system to a state-of-good-repair. Categories within this classification include:

• Track
• Structures
• Electric Traction
• Signaling
• Rolling Stock, rail cars and buses
• Rail Stations, bus terminals, shelters

Multimodal Programs

This classification includes work that addresses improvements/provisions for alternative modes of transportation. Program categories within this classification include goods movement, bicycle/pedestrian, ferries, paratransit, intermodal connections, rail, maritime and other modes.

Road Assets

Projects under this classification designed to keep the existing highway system functioning and in a state of good repair, including work which upgrades segments of the system to current design standards (e.g. safety treatments that are part of a general roadway project such as signs, guiderail, barrier curb, traffic signals as opposed to individual line-item programs that exclusively include signs or traffic signals only). Examples of work included in this classification are:

• Resurfacing
• Highway Rehabilitation and Reconstruction
• Pavement Management System
• Drainage Management
• Landscape
• Environmental Remediation

Safety Management

“Safety First” is further reflected in several other NJDOT supported projects that utilize the 4E’s (Engineering, Education, Enforcement, and Emergency Medical Services (quicker response and care) and other measures to enhance safety and reduce crashes. Safety programs aimed at reducing the frequency and severity of crashes and promoting the all-round engineering, education, and enforcement approach of Safety First. Examples of safety management programs are:

• Intersection Improvement Program
• Safe Corridors
• Accident Reduction
• Cross Median Crash Prevention
• Rail Highway Grade Crossing, Cape May
• Rail Highway Grade Crossing, State
• Rail Highway Grade Crossing, Federal
• Train Preemption for Traffic Signals North
• Safety Projects
• Safety Capital Maintenance
• Betterments, Safety
• Restriping Program
• Traffic Signal Replacement
• Safety Management System
• Motor Vehicle Crash Records
• Rockfall Mitigation

Transportation Support Facilities Assets

Projects under this classification designed to preserve, maintain and improve physical plant infrastructure including office buildings, rest areas, maintenance facilities, toll plazas and existing park and ride locations. Bus stops and train stations are included under Mass Transit Assets.

Section 2: Core Mission

Local Aid

Programs, projects, goods and services directly related to supporting transportation improvements on the county or municipal transportation network.

Program Delivery

Programs, goods and services that support more than one of the other core missions or are not directly attributable to one of the other core missions.

State of Good Repair and Safety

Programs, projects, goods and services directly related to preserving infrastructure and improving safety.

Transportation Services

Programs, goods and services that directly relate to making the state more economically competitive by improving the mobility of people and goods, and improving the quality of life.

Section 3: Phases of Work

CAP (Capital Acquisition)

Term used to denote the acquisition of rolling stock by NJ TRANSIT. Statewide Investment (SWI)—NJ TRANSIT uses this designation to describe a series of coordinated smaller-scale projects in multiple locations, and in multiple phases of work, that address a specific mobility issue.

CD/LCD - Concept Development

The Concept Development Phase purpose is to identify and compare reasonable alternatives and strategies that address a well-defined and well-justified Purpose and Need Statement and select a Preliminary Preferred Alternative (PPA). The PPA is selected based on several factors, including environmental impacts, constructability, cost effectiveness, and if the project can be constructed in a timely manner. This phase involves data collection, internal and external stakeholder coordination, and alternatives analysis. Along with the PPA, key products that are produced in this Phase include the Purpose and Need Statement, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Classification, and the Concept Development Report. CD denotes NJDOT Concept Development Phase; LCD denotes concept development by a local entity (MPO, county, municipality).

CON - Construction

A phase or type of work involving the actual building of a project.

DES - Final Design

The purpose of the Final Design Phase is to produce the project’s construction contract documents (i.e., Final Plans, Specifications, and Cost Estimate (PS&E) for use in soliciting bids from prospective contractors, and advancing the project to the Construction Phase. This Phase includes the continuation and completion of environmental and engineering tasks initiated in the Preliminary Engineering Phase, such as roadway design, bridge design, right of way and access engineering, utility engineering, environmental permits and clearances, and community outreach. The completion of those tasks will involve various internal and external project stakeholders. Stakeholder coordination ranges from onboard project review meetings with internal offices to efforts with local officials, the general public and other State and federal agencies. Efforts with the public and local officials are guided by a project-specific public involvement action plan. The Final Design Phase is completed when the project is authorized for construction, which initiates the Construction Phase of project delivery.

EC - Design and Construction

Funding is provided for both design and construction costs.

ER - Design and Right of Way

Funding is provided for both design and right of way costs.

ERC - Design, Right of Way and Construction

Funding is provided for design, right of way, and/or construction costs.

FA/LFA - Feasibility Assessment

A phase of work intended to develop feasible project proposals that produce the best balance among transportation needs, environmental values, public concerns and costs. The end products of scoping are: a recommended scheme with a realistic cost estimate; an approved environmental document; reasonable assurance that environmental permits can be obtained; community support, or documentation explaining why such support cannot reasonably be obtained; and identification of right of way (ROW) needs and costs. Scoping consists of two phases in NJDOT: Feasibility assessment and final scope development. FA denotes feasibility assessment by NJDOT; LFA denotes local feasibility assessment by a local entity (MPO, county, municipality).

PE/LPE - Preliminary Engineering (PE, LPE)

The Preliminary Engineering Phase involves performing engineering tasks and technical environmental studies to obtain formal community consensus (through a public information center) of the study and to secure the approval of the environmental document. If a design exception is necessary on a project, preparation and approval of the Design Exception Report will occur during this Phase. During the Preliminary Engineering Phase a number of activities are simultaneously set in motion based on the PPA such as community involvement (meetings with affected property, business owners), agency consultation, environmental documentation, design level mapping, and the development of geometric design. PE denotes NJDOT Preliminary Engineering Phase; LCD denotes preliminary engineering by a local entity (MPO, county, municipality).

PD/LPD - Preliminary Design

Preliminary design is the process of advancing preliminary engineering and obtaining formal community and environmental approval of the Initially Preferred Alternative. PD denotes preliminary design by NJDOT; LPD denotes local preliminary design by a local entity (MPO, county, municipality).

PLS - Planning Study

A phase or type of work involving traffic studies needs analyses, corridor studies, and other work preparatory to project development. See also “Concept Development.”

PRD - Project Development

A phase or type of work used by NJ TRANSIT which is intended to develop feasible project proposals that produce the best balance among transportation needs, environmental values, public concerns and costs.

PS - Problem Screening

The Problem Screening Phase is the entrance into the delivery process for any potential project. The Phase purpose is to investigate a potential transportation problem. A potential problem is developed into a Problem Statement (PS) and submitted to Capital Investment Strategies (CIS). The sources of the Problem Statement may include NJDOT Management Systems, Planning Studies, a Metropolitan Planning Organization, or internal and external stakeholders. This Phase involves a Tier 1 Screening, a Tier 2 Screening or a Management System Initiative Screening. If the problem is validated, a recommendation is advanced for review and approval by the Capital Program Screening Committee (CPSC) and the Capital Program Committee (CPC).

The objective of the Problem Screening Phase is to effectively, efficiently, and consistently screen transportation problems in agreement with the Statewide Capital Investment Strategy (SCIS) and project prioritization criteria. Achieving this goal is expected to produce selective proposals that are consistent with the SCIS performance related goals, objectives and investment targets for potential advancement while conforming to State and federal requirements.

ROW - Right of Way (ROW)

A phase or type of work in which the land needed to build a project is purchased.

UTIL - Utility (UTIL)

In some cases, the utility relocation work associated with a project must be programmed separately from the actual construction phase of work. These items are shown under the “Utility” category.

Section 4: Funding Categories

a. NJDOT Funding Categories

BRIDGE-OFF - Bridge off System

This federal-aid funding category provides funds for the rehabilitation or replacement of bridges defined as structurally deficient and/or functionally obsolete according to federal definitions. This funding is used for bridges that are off the federal-aid system.

CMAQ - Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality

This federal-aid funding category was established under the federal Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) to provide funding for projects which improve air quality and/or relieve congestion without adding new highway capacity. These funds are especially targeted for states like New Jersey with serious air quality problems. MAP-21 has an increased the focus on addressing PM-2.5.

DEMO - Demonstration Funds

Federal transportation acts sometimes target specific projects in various states in addition to general programs for federal support. This funding category includes “demonstration” funding provided under ISTEA, as well as “high priority project” funding provided under TEA-21 and SAFETEA-LU. These projects with “demonstration” or “high priority project” funding often have special rules of use.

DRPA - Delaware River Port Authority

Federal funding provided to the Delaware River Port Authority capital program.

FBP - Ferry Boat Program

Federal funds are allocated for the rehabilitation and/or development of ferry facilities throughout the state.

GARVEE - Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle

A type of anticipation vehicle, which are securities (debt instruments) issued when moneys are anticipated from a specific source to advance the upfront funding of a particular need. In the case of transportation finance the anticipation vehicles' source is expected Federal-aid grants. Specific to highways, a GARVEE is used as a term for a debt instrument that has a pledge of future Title 23 Federal-aid funding. As stated in Section 122 of Title 23, debt financing instrument-related costs eligible for Federal-aid reimbursement include interest payments, retirement of principal, and any other cost incidental to the sale of an eligible debt issue. The issuer may be a state, political subdivision, or a public authority.

HSIP - Highway Safety Improvements

The primary purpose of this federal funding category is to establish the policy for development and implementation of a comprehensive highway safety program in each state.

I-MAINT - Interstate Maintenance

This federal-aid funding category provides funds for resurfacing, rehabilitation, and preventive maintenance on the interstate system.

NBIG - National Boating Infrastructure Grant Program

Federal funds are provided to construct, renovate, and maintain tie-up facilities for vessels that are 26 feet or more in length. Activities eligible for funding are: construction; renovation and maintenance of public and private boating infrastructure tie-up facilities; one-time dredging only between the tie-up facility and the already maintained channel; installation of navigational aids; application of funds to grant administration; and funding preliminary costs.

NHPP - National Highway Performance Program

As established by MAP-21, the NHPP provides support for the construction of new facilities on the National Highway System (NHS), the condition and performance of the NHS, and achieving performance targets, as set by that State’s asset management plan.

OTHER - Other Funds

This represents funding provided from sources other than State or federal funding. Sources could include the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, New Jersey Turnpike Authority, other State agencies, private developers, counties or municipalities.

P3 - Public-Private Partnership

A contractual agreement formed between public and private sector partners, which includes private sector financing and allows for more private sector participation than is traditional. The agreements involve a government agency contracting with a private company to renovate, construct, operate, maintain, and/or manage a facility or system. The public sector retains ownership of the facility, however the private party may be given additional decision rights in determining how the project or task will be completed.

PANY-&NJ

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey funds.

PL/PL-FTA - Planning ()

This federal-aid funding category provides funds for the federally mandated transportation planning process conducted within each Metropolitan Planning Organization.

RHC - Rail-Highway Grade Crossing

This is a federal funding category which is intended to develop and implement safety improvement projects to reduce the number and severity of crashes at public highway-rail grade crossings. Eligible activities include: signing and pavement markings at crossings; active warning devices; crossing surface improvements; sight distance improvements; grade separations; and the closing and consolidation of crossings.

RTP - Recreational Trails Program

New Jersey’s Recreational Trails Program provides grants to public agencies and non-profit organizations for a variety of trail projects. The NJ Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Parks and Forestry, is the administrator of the program.

SPR/SPR-FTA - Statewide Planning and Research

Federal law requires a percentage of funds allocated to states for highway improvements to be devoted to planning and research activities.

STATE - State Funds

The “State” or “TTF” category is used to show the disposition of funding received from the New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund.

STP - Surface Transportation Program

The Surface Transportation Program is a federal-aid funding category established under ISTEA, which encompasses funding previously made available under various smaller federal-aid categories as well as a broad, flexible component. Funding must be set aside for safety (STP-SY). Sub-allocations must be made to urbanized and non-urbanized areas (STP-NJ or STP-NJTPA, funding provided to NJTPA; STP-STU or STP-DVRPC, funding provided to DVRPC; STP-SJ or STP-SJTPO, funding provided to SJTPO).

TAP - Transportation Alternatives Program

The TAP provides funding for programs and projects defined as transportation alternatives, including on- and off-road pedestrian and bicycle facilities, infrastructure projects for improving non-driver access to public transportation and enhanced mobility, community improvement activities, and environmental mitigation; recreational trail program projects; safe routes to school projects; and projects for the planning, design or construction of boulevards and other roadways largely in the right-of-way of former Interstate System routes or other divided highways.

TBD - To Be Determined

Funding has not yet been determined for the unconstrained years of the Capital Program.

TIFIA - The Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act

Provides credit assistance for qualified projects of regional and national significance. Many large-scale, surface transportation projects - highway, transit, railroad, intermodal freight, and port access - are eligible for assistance. Eligible applicants include state and local governments, transit agencies, railroad companies, special authorities, special districts, and private entities. The TIFIA credit program is designed to fill market gaps and leverage substantial private co-investment by providing supplemental and subordinate capital. Each dollar of Federal funds can provide up to $10 in TIFIA credit assistance and support up to $30 in transportation infrastructure investment.

b. NJ TRANSIT Funding Categories

Casino Revenue

Annual allocation of the 8.5% of the Casino Revenue Fund appropriated for transportation services for senior citizen and disabled residents.

COPS (Certificates of Participation)

Funds freed up on existing COPS Notes substituting insurance policy for a cash reserve fund to guarantee payment to the note holders.

CMAQ (Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality)

This federal-aid funding category was established under the federal Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) to support projects which improve air quality and/or relieve congestion without adding new highway capacity. These funds are especially targeted for states like New Jersey with serious air quality problems.

FFGA (Full Funding Grant Agreements)

FFGAs are authorized under Federal transit law and are the designate means for providing new starts funds to projects.

MATCH

These are local funds that are needed to match federal funding (JARC and Section 5311).

METRO-NORTH

This is funding received from the METRO-North transit agency.

OPER (Operating)

These are fare box revenue funds.

OTHER

Potential federal earmarks or unidentified non-traditional transit funds.

PANY-NJ

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey funds.

Section 5307

Under MAP-21 this program has been consolidated to include the Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC) program (formally Section 5310). Federal Transit Administration Urbanized Area Formula Program, including funding for transportation enhancements (Sect. 5307-TE) and Transportation alternatives (Sect. 5307-TAP).

Section 5309

See Section 5339 (Bus and Bus Facilities Program).

Section 5310

Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities. This program provides formula funding to increase the mobility of seniors and persons with disabilities. The former New Freedom Program (Section 5317) is folded into this program.

Section 5311

Non-urbanized Area Formula Program — Federal funding is provided for rural public transportation programs. (Formerly known as the Section 18 Program). Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC) program funds are also elgible under the Rural Area Formula Program.

Section 5324

Assists States and public transportation systems with emergency-related expenses. Emergencies are defined as natural disasters affecting a wide area or a catastrophic failure from an external cause for which the governor of a State has declared an emergency or the President has declared a major disaster. The program funds capital projects to protect, repair, reconstruct or replace equipment and facilities. It also funds transit agency operating costs related to evacuation, rescue operations, temporary public transportation service or changing public transportation route service before, during or after an emergency in an area directly affected.

Section 5326

Transit Asset Management. MAP-21 requires FTA to define the term “state of good repair” and create objective standards for measuring the condition of capital assets, including equipment, rolling stock, infrastructure, and facilities. All FTA grantees and their subrecipients are required to develop transit asset management plans. FTA will support this effort through technical assistance, including the development of an analytical process or decision support tool that allows recipients to estimate their capital investment needs over time and assists with asset investment prioritization.

Section 5337

MAP-21 establishes a new grant program to maintain public transportation systems in a state of good repair. This program replaces the fixed guideway modernization program (Section 5309). Funding is limited to fixed guideway systems and high intensity bus. Projects are limited to replacement and rehabilitation, or capital projects required to maintain public transportation systems in a state of good repair. Projects must be included in a transit asset management plan to receive funding. The new formula comprises: (1) the former fixed guideway modernization formula; (2) a new service-based formula; and (3) a new formula for buses on HOV lanes.

Section 5339

Bus and Bus Facilities Formula grant program. A new formula grant program which replaces Section 5309. This capital program provides funding to replace, rehabilitate, and purchase buses and related equipment, and to construct bus-related facilities.

Section 5340

High Density and Growing State Apportionments.

State

The “State” category is used to show the disposition of funding received from the New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund.

Surface Transportation Program (STP)

The Surface Transportation Program is a federal-aid funding category established under ISTEA, which encompasses funding previously made available under various smaller federal-aid categories as well as a broad, flexible component. Funding must be set aside for transportation enhancement (STP-TE).

Transit-Oriented Development Planning Pilot

MAP-21 creates a new discretionary pilot program for transit-oriented development (TOD) planning grants. Eligible activities include comprehensive planning in corridors with new rail, bus rapid transit or core capacity projects.

Section 5: Metropolitan Planning Organizations

DVRPC - Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission

The MPO covering the counties of Mercer, Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester.

NJTPA - North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority

The MPO covering the counties of Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren.

SJTPO - South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization

The MPO covering the counties of Cape May, Atlantic, Cumberland, and Salem.

Section 6: Air Quality Codes

An alphanumeric air quality (AQ) coding scheme has been developed for projects and programs. The AQ code is applied by the MPOs as part of the conformity determination and exempt eligibility identification process.

For non-exempt projects (projects for which no exemption code applies), the first conformity analysis year following the project’s opening or projected completion is listed (analysis years in the current conformity determination include 2014, 2015, 2020, 2030, and 2040). The letter following the year indicates whether the project was modeled (M) or not modeled (NM) in the regional travel demand model or if the project was analyzed using an off-model technique (O). Off-model techniques are commonly used for projects that cannot be adequately represented in the travel demand model.

The Clean Air Act regulations also provide for projects that may be exempt from the conformity analysis. An exempt project is defined as a project that primarily enhances safety or aesthetics, maintains mass transit, continues current levels of ridesharing, or builds bicycle and pedestrian facilities. There are several categories of exempt projects, and each STIP page indicates the specific exemption code (note that multiple exemption codes may apply to a particular project/program). Exempt projects in design phases are classified under the planning and technical studies category. A list of exempt categories is shown below.

Even though projects may be exempt, the MPOs may include those that represent changes in the travel demand model and those for which VMT or emissions savings have been estimated, where possible. These projects are noted by including the analysis year and modeling status within parentheses following the exemption code(s). Projects for which conformity does not apply (e.g., freight rail projects) have been labeled “NA”. Projects determined to be “Not Regionally Significant” and do not fit into an exempt category have been labeled “NRS”.

Air Quality Codes: