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 equirements
- 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 (NBIG)
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, PL-FTA)
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 non-profit 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.
Other-Potential federal earmarks or unidentified non-traditional
transit funds.
PANYNJ-Anticipated Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
funds.
PRD—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.
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 non-profit 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.
SWI—A series of coordinated smaller-scale projects
in multiple locations, and in multiple phases of work, that address
a specific mobility issue.
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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