Official Site of The State of New Jersey

• 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

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. Administration of NJ Aviation System includes Public Use Airports that consist of a complex system of facilities operated by State, County, Municipal and private entities.

Bridge Assets

This classification includes projects which are 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 rehabilitation and replacement
• Bridge deck rehabilitation 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. Examples of work 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

This classification includes projects which are 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

This classification includes safety programs aimed at reducing the frequency and severity of crashes and promoting the all-round engineering, education, and enforcement approach of Safety First. “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. 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

This classification includes projects 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

10-Infrastructure Preservation

Projects and programs with a primary focus on preserving, rehabilitating, or reconstructing existing physical assets, such as roads and bridges.

20-Safety

Projects and programs with a primary focus on improving public health and safety of motorists, pedestrians, cyclists and other users of the transportation network by reducing transportation-related fatalities and injuries.

30-Operations and Maintenance

Routine and regular expenditures required to keep the highway surfaces, shoulders, roadsides, structures, and traffic control devices in usable condition; maintain facilities; purchase winter operations equipment, light trucks, cars, and construction equipment; and respond to winter storms and emergencies. This core mission also include administrative operations such as human resources, budget and accounting, which support more than one of the core missions.

40-Mobility and Congestion Relief

Projects and programs with a primary focus on maintaining or increasing the movement of passengers and goods. Projects and programs that are not safety or infrastructure, but that improve quality of life.

50-Mass Transit

Passenger transportation services operating on established schedules along designated routes or lines with specific stops and is designed to move relatively large numbers of people at one time.

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

The construction phase refers to the 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.

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).

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).

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).

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 purpose of the phase 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 general term denoting land, property, or interest therein, usually in a strip acquired for or devoted to transportation purposes.

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

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 that improve air quality and/or relieve congestion without adding new highway capacity. This program was designed to help states meet their Clean Air Act obligations. The federal Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) has an increased 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 Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) and Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). These projects with “demonstration” or “high priority project” funding often have special rules of use.

FBP - FHWA Ferry Boat Program

Federal funds are allocated for improvements to ferry boats and ferry terminal facilities throughout the state.

HSIP - Highway Safety Improvement Program

This federal-aid funding category was established under SAFETEA-LU with the purpose of significantly reducing traffic fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads in a comprehensive and strategic manner consistent with the State’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan. MAP-21 has continued this program with a focus on performance measures and targets.

LTAP – Local Technical Assistance Program

Federal funds are allocated for the center that provides information and training to local governments and agencies to foster a safe, efficient, and environmentally sound surface transportation system by improving skills and increasing knowledge of the transportation workforce and decision makers.

NHFP – National Highway Freight Program

As established by FAST-Act, the National Highway Freight Program provides support to improve the efficient movement of freight on the National Highway Freight Network (NHFN) and support of several goals, as set by the State’s freight investment plan.

NHPP - National Highway Performance Program

As established by MAP-21, the National Highway Performance Program 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

This represents funding provided from other sources, including but not limited to, bi-state and autonomous authorities, private entities, and local governments.

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 Crossings Program

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.

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.

STBGP - Surface Transportation Block Grant Program

The Surface Transportation Block Grant Program is a federal-aid funding category established under the FAST Act.  Sub-allocations must be made to urbanized and non-urbanized areas (STBGP-ALLEN, STBGP-NY/NWK, STBGP-PGH/NWB, funding provided to NJTPA; STBGP-PHILA, STBGP-TRENTON, funding provided to DVRPC; STBGP-AC, funding provided to SJTPO).  This was previously known as the Surface Transportation Program (STP), which was established under ISTEA and encompasses funding previously made available under various smaller federal-aid categories as well as a broad, flexible component.

STBGP-OS-BRDG

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.

STATE

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

TBD - To Be Determined

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

TAP - Transportation Alternatives Program

The Transportation Alternatives Program 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.

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 SECT 5311).

METRO-NORTH

Funding received from the Metro-North Commuter Railroad of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

OPER - Operating

These are fare box revenue funds.

OTHER

Third-party funds represent funding provided from other sources, including but not limited to, bi-state and autonomous authorities, private entities, and local governments.

SECT 5307 - Section 5307

Under MAP-21 this program has been consolidated to include the Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC) program (formally SECT 5316). Federal Transit Administration Urbanized Area Formula Program, including funding for Transportation Enhancements (SECT 5307-TE), Transportation Alternatives Program (SECT 5307-TAP), and Associated Transit Improvements (SECT 5307-ATI).

SECT 5310 - 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 (SECT 5317) is folded into this program.

SECT 5311 - 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 eligible under the Rural Area Formula Program.

SECT 5337 - Section 5337

MAP-21 establishes a new formula-based State of Good Repair grant program dedicated to repairing and upgrading the nation’s rail transit systems in a state of good repair.along with high-intensity motor bus systems that use high-occupancy vehicle lanes, including bud rapid transit (BRT). This program replaces the Fixed Guideway Modernization program (SECT 5309). 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.

SECT 5339 - 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. Funds are eligible to be transferred by the state to supplement urban and rural formula grant programs (SECT 5307 and SECT 5311, respectively).

STATE

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

Section 5: Metropolitan Planning Organizations

Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) are planning organizations that serve as the forum for cooperative transportation decision making for metropolitan planning areas as required by federal regulations. MPOs consist of representatives of state and local governments and major transportation agencies. There are three MPOs in New Jersey:

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

AQ Code	Exempt Project Category
Air Quality
A1, AQ1	Continuation of ride-sharing and van-pooling promotion activities at current levels
A2, AQ2	Bicycle and pedestrian facilities
Exempt from Regional Emission Analysis
NR1, R1	Intersection channelization projects
NR2, R2	Intersection signalization projects at individual intersections
NR3, R3	Interchange reconfiguration projects
NR4, R4	Changes in vertical and horizontal alignment
NR5, R5	Truck size and weight inspection stations
NR6, R6	Bus terminals and transfer points
Mass Transit
M1, MT1	Operating assistance to transit agencies
M2, MT2	Purchase of support vehicles
M3, MT3	Rehabilitation of transit vehicles
M4, MT4	Purchase of office, shop, and operating equipment for existing facilities
M5, MT5	Purchase of operating equipment for vehicles (e.g., radios, fare-boxes, lifts, etc.)
M6, MT6	Construction or renovation of power, signal, and communications systems
M7, MT7	Construction of small passenger shelters and information kiosks
M8, MT8	Reconstruction or renovation of transit buildings and structures (e.g., rail or bus buildings, storage and maintenance facilities, stations, terminals, and ancillary structures)
M9, MT9	Rehabilitation or reconstruction of track structures, track, and track bed in existing rights-of-way
M10, MT10	Purchase of new buses and rail cars to replace existing vehicles or for minor expansions of the fleet
M11, MT11	Construction of new bus or rail storage/maintenance facilities categorically excluded in 23 CFR 771
Other
O1, X5	Engineering to assess social, economic, and environmental effects of the proposed action or alternatives to that action
O2, X6	Noise attenuation
O3, X7	Advance land acquisitions (23 CFR 712 or 23 CFR 771)
O4, X8	Acquisition of scenic easements
O5, X9	Plantings, landscaping, etc.
O6, X10	Sign removal
O7, X11	Directional and informational signs
O8, X12	Transportation enhancement activities (except rehabilitation and operation of historic O9 transportation buildings, structures, or facilities)
O9, X13	Repair of damage caused by natural disasters, civil unrest, or terrorist acts, except projects involving substantial functional, location or capacity changes
Planning and Technical Studies
O10a, X1	Planning and technical studies
O10b, X2	Grants for training and research programs
O10c, X3	Planning activities conducted pursuant to titles 23 and 49 U.S.C
O10d, X4	Federal-aid systems revisions
Safety
S1	Railroad/highway crossing
S2	Hazard elimination program
S3	Safer non-Federal-aid system roads
S4	Shoulder improvements
S5	Increasing sight distance
S6	Safety improvement program
S7	Traffic control devices and operating assistance other than signalization projects
S8	Railroad/highway crossing warning devices
S9	Guardrails, median barriers, crash cushions
S10	Pavement resurfacing and/or rehabilitation
S11	Pavement marking demonstration
S12	Emergency relief (23 U.S.C. 125)
S13	Fencing
S14	Skid treatments
S15	Safety roadside rest areas
S16	Adding medians
S17	Truck climbing lanes outside the urbanized area
S18	Lighting improvements
S19	Widening narrow pavements or reconstructing bridges (no additional travel lanes)
S20	Emergency truck pullovers