Glossary
The following serves as a guide to terms used in the capital plan:
Phases Of Work
This classification indicates the stage of development of a project as
it moves through the "project development pipeline."
Planning Study (PLS)
A phase or type of work involving traffic studies needs analyses,
corridor studies, and other work preparatory to project development. See
also "Concept Development."
Concept Development (CD, LCD)
A phase of type of work involving traffic studies needs analyses,
corridor studies, and other work preparatory to project development. CD
denotes NJDOT Concept Development; LCD denotes Concept Development by
a local entity (MPO, county, municipality).
The purpose of Concept Development is to deliver projects to Scope Development
with a well-defined need and a recommended concept that has been environmentally
screened and has received community support. Concept Development includes
the following major elements:
- early and intensive public involvement
- an evaluation of project need
- an analysis of physical deficiencies
- environmental screening
- evaluation of alternative strategies/fulfillment of CMS requirements
- definition of potential concepts, limits and/or complimentary strategies
as well as staging and phasing opportunities
- address community design/aesthetic opportunities
- order of magnitude cost estimate
The Concept Development Process is divided into the following four phases:
- 1. Background Research and Work Program Development
- Problem Identification and Project Need
- Congestion Management Strategies and Fulfilling Congestion Management
System (CMS) Requirements
- Concept Development and Analysis
Feasibility Assessment (FA, LFA)
A phase or type 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 by NJDOT; LFA denotes
Local Feasibility by a local entity (MPO, county, municipality).
Feasibility Assessment is the first phase of scoping, during which the
Bureau of Project Scope Development performs sufficient engineering to
determine whether the concept emerging from Concept Development can be
feasibly evolved into a project in light of environmental and community
constraints and issues. If it cannot be reasonably demonstrated that environmental
approvals and community support are forthcoming, the concept will neither
become a project, nor pass into the Five-Year Capital Program.
During Feasibility Assessment, project schemes that balance project objectives
against environmental, community, engineering and budget constraints are
developed. If alternatives which can resolve the problem to full engineering
standards in light of constraints cannot be developed, then a full range
of design and alignment alternatives will be considered, including those
which back off desirable standards and instead meet minimum standards,
which drop below minimum standards, or even those which do not achieve
one or more of the project goals. In essence, BPSD will systematically
"ratchet down" project expectations until a good fit between
engineering goals and environmental and political considerations are achieved.
This will lead to the development of what has been termed at the Initially
Preferred Alternative (IPA).
During Feasibility Assessment, the community involvement will generally
be limited to coordination with municipal staff and officials, although,
if deemed necessary, the Department may decide to conduct the public meetings
normally reserved for Final Scope Development. This may include the obtaining
of the actual resolution of support from the community governing body.
Feasibility Assessment will culminate in a presentation to the CPC regarding
the potential project. If deemed a worthy project, the project will be
assigned to a PM and entered into the Draft Project Pool for completion
of Final Scoping. If the project is determined to be "fatally flawed,"
it will be recommended for termination, or recycled for reconsideration
as part of Concept Development.
Preliminary Design (PD, LPD)
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).
During PD, the Program Manager who was liaison for the Feasibility Assessment
phase will assume full control of the project. A number of activities
will be simultaneously set in motion, based on the IPA: Community Involvement,
Environmental Documentation, and Design services.
To obtain the formal community involvement buy-in, a public meeting will
be generally be arranged, which may lead to some minor adjustments to
the project's scope. Ultimately, the local officials will be asked to
provide a resolution of support endorsing the project.
To obtain the environmental approvals for the IPA, consultation with
outside agencies, such as the State Historic Preservation Office may be
necessary. The approved Environmental Document will be based on technical
studies conducted by the Environmental Teams within the Bureau of Environmental
Services, and will generally consist of a Categorical Exclusion. The Preliminary
Design phase will not be considered complete until the Environmental Document
is approved.
The Preliminary Engineering conducted during this phase will be initiated
to facilitate later final design activities. They will be based on the
IPA, and consist of, among other things: development of base plans for
final design; development of geometric design sufficiently to clarify
environmental impacts and to define ROW parcels; utilities discovery and
verification; geotechnical studies (soil borings and analysis); preliminary
drainage work; and development of property acquisition cost estimates.
Design (DES)
A phase or type of work consisting of taking a recommended solution and
scope of work defined in the project development phase and developing
a final design, including right of way and construction plans.
Design and Construction (EC)
Funding is provided for both design and construction costs.
Design and Right of Way (ER)
Funding is provided for both design and right of way costs.
Design, Right of Way and Construction (ERC)
Funding is provided for design, right of way, and/or construction
costs.
Right of Way (ROW)
A phase or type of work in which the land needed to build a project is
purchased.
Construction (CON)
A phase or type of work involving the actual building of a project.
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.
Capital Acquisition (CAP)
Term used to denote the acquisition of rolling stock by NJ TRANSIT.
Funding Categories
Projects are funded under various funding categories, depending on the
type of work to be done.
Air Safety
State funds allocated for aviation purposes.
BR BOND DISC
These are funds that were appropriated by legislation signed by the
Governor on November 13, 2000 to fund statewide transportation improvements
and the repair and rehabilitation of local bridges under the Statewide
Transportation and Local Bridge Bond Act of 1999. The discretionary portion
of these funds are allocated by the Commissioner of Transportation for
use on local bridges.
Bridge
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.
Bridge-Off
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.
Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ)
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.
Demonstration Funds (DEMO)
Federal transportation acts sometime 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.
These projects, for "demonstration" or "high priority project"
funding often have special rules applying to their use.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Federal Funds allocated for aviation purposes.
Ferry Funds (Ferry)
Federal funds are allocated for the rehabilitation and/or development
of ferry facilities.
Interstate Maintenance (I-Maint)
A federal-aid funding category has been established to promote resurfacing,
rehabilitation, and preventive maintenance on the interstate system.
Minimum Guarantee (MIN GAR)
The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) specifies
for each State a specific share of the aggregate annual funding for Interstate
Maintenance, National Highway System, Bridge, Congestion Mitigation and
Air Quality Improvement, Surface Transportation Program, Metropolitan
Planning. The percentage shares were set to result in a 90.5 percent return.
The percentage shares are adjusted each year to ensure that each State's
share of apportionments for the specified programs is at least 90.5 percent
of its percentage contributions to the Highway Account. The shares of
States falling below that minimum return will be increased and the shares
of the remaining States will be decreased so that the shares continue
to total 100 percent.
No state may receive less than $1 million per year in Minimum Guarantee
funds.
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 aides; application of funds to grant administration;
and funding preliminary costs.
National Highway System (NHS)
ISTEA has created a "national highway system," consisting of
the interstate highway system and other key highway links. The NHS funding
category has been established to support improvement projects on this
key network.
Planning (PL)
This federal-aid funding category provides funds for the federally
mandated transportation planning process conducted within each Metropolitan
Planning Organization.
Public Lands Highways (PLH)
This is a source of federal funds to be used for various unanticipated
public lands grants received through the FHWA Public Lands Highways Discretionary
Program. The PLH funds are available for transportation planning, research,
engineering, and construction of the highways, roads, and parkways, or
of transit facilities within the Federal public lands. Eligible projects
may also include the following, but must meet the public lands highway
criteria: transportation planning for tourism and recreational travel;
adjacent vehicular parking areas; interpretive signage; acquisition of
necessary scenic easements and scenic or historic sites; provision for
pedestrians and bicycles; construction and reconstruction of roadside
rest area including sanitary and water facilities; other appropriate public
road facilities such as visitor centers.
Recreational Trails (REC. TRAILS)
New Jersey's Recreational Trails Program provides grants to public agencies
and nonprofit organizations for a variety of trail projects. The NJ Department
of Environmental Protection, Division of Parks and Forestry administer
the program.
State
The "State" or "TTF" category is used to show the
disposition of funding received from the New Jersey Transportation Trust
Fund.
Statewide Planning and Research (SPR)
Federal law requires a percentage of funds allocated to states for
highway improvements to be devoted to planning and research activities.
Support Services (SUP SRV)
Support Services is a federal-aid funding category established under
TEA-21 for services and activities provided in connection with minority
business enterprise programs which are designed to increase the total
number of minority businesses active in the highway program and contribute
to the growth and eventual self-sufficiency of individual minority businesses
so that such businesses may achieve proficiency to compete, on an equal
basis, for contracts and subcontracts.
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 safety (STP-SY) and transportation enhancement
(STP-TE). Sub-allocations must be made to urbanized and non-urbanized
areas (STP-NJ; funding provided to NJTPA, STP-STU; funding provided to
DVRPC, STP-SJ; funding provided to SJTPO).
Transit
Transit funding categories are indicated generally by reference to federal
statutory categories and are identified as follows:
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.
JARC-Job Access and Reverse Commute Program-This is a Federal
Transit Administration program which provides funding for selected municipal
plans that either increase job accessibility for the most disadvantaged
members of the population, or facilitate reverse commute movements (offering
access to employment outside of the urban centers).
LEV LEASE (Leverage Lease Funds)-Funds obtained by NJT from
the sale and lease back of Capital Assets.
PANYNJ-Anticipated Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
funds.
Other-Potential federal earmarks or unidentified non-traditional
transit funds.
Section 5307-Federal Transit Administration Urbanized Area Formula
Program.
Section 5309-Federal Transit Administration Fixed-Guideway Modernization
Program.
Section 5310-Programs for Elderly and Persons with Disabilities-Federal
funds are provided for the purchase of small buses or van-type vehicles
with lifts for private or nonprofit agencies that serve the elderly
and persons with disabilities. (Formerly known as the Section 16 Program)
Section 5311-Non-urbanized Area Formula Program-Federal funding
is provided for rural public transportation programs. (Formerly known
as the Section 18 Program)
State-New Jersey Transportation Trust Funds appropriated for
fiscal year 2004.
Urban Core-Federal Transit Administration Section 5309 funds
for projects defined by TEA-21 as "Urban Core" projects.
Various Federal (VAR FEDERAL)
This funding category is used to denote unanticipated allocations
of Federal funds, outside the parameters of the regular apportionment
process. Until such allocations are made, the exact funding source is
not known.
Project Categories
For the purpose of program planning and analysis, transportation improvements
are classified into categories, generally defined by the type of "product"
they produce. This classification system improves the department's ability
to develop system objectives and performance measurements. These classifications
are:
Bridge Preservation
This classification includes work, which is designed to keep the existing
bridges functioning, and in a state of good repair, including work which
rehabilitates or replaces existing bridges to current design standards.
Program categories within this classification include bridge rehabilitation
and replacement, bridge capital maintenance, bridge management, local
bridges, NJ TRANSIT bridges, and railroad overhead bridges.
Bridge and Roadway Preservation
This classification includes work which is designed to keep both existing
bridges and roadway in a state of good repair. Under this category, in
addition to roadway improvements, existing bridges within the project
limits will be rehabilitated or replaced, bringing bridges to current
design standards.
Capital Program Delivery
This classification includes a variety of activities that provide
direct support to the capital program pipeline. Program categories within
this classification include program implementation costs, planning and
research, project scoping and design, right of way and utility, construction,
unanticipated expenses, project cost settlement, and transportation grants.
Capital Program Support
This classification includes a variety of "overhead" type
activities that indirectly contribute to the project pipeline. Program
categories within this classification include facilities and equipment,
contractor support, operational support.
Congestion Management
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,
intelligent transportation systems, demand management, and congestion
management system.
Intermodal Programs
This classification includes work that addresses improvements/provisions
for alternative modes of transportation. Program categories within this
classification include aviation, goods movement, bicycle/pedestrian, ferries,
paratransit, intermodal connections, rail, and other modes.
Local Aid
This classification provides for development and implementation of
transportation improvements on the local roadway network. Program categories
within this classification include local aid to counties, local aid to
municipalities, local aid discretionary, local aid other programs, local
roadway improvements, regional planning and project development.
Quality of Life
This classification includes work which is designed to enhance the
environment associated with, or impacted by, transportation improvements.
Program categories within this classification include transportation enhancements,
noise walls, landscape, air quality, signs, wetland mitigation, and rest
areas.
Roadway Preservation
This classification includes work that is 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. Program
categories within this classification include highway rehabilitation and
reconstruction, highway resurfacing, highway capital maintenance, drainage,
truck size and weight control, pavement management system, and dams.
Safety
This classification includes work that is designed to improve safety for
the travelling public on the existing highway system. Program categories
within this classification include safety improvements, safety management,
and safety capital maintenance.
Strategic Mobility
This classification includes work that adds to the capacity of the transportation
system through major capital construction. Under this heading are projects
listed as missing links, major widening, and economic development.
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.
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