Planning Terms (A - I)

The Transportation Planning Dictionary provides definitions to transportation planning's most curious acronyms and jargon.

  • CALTRANS - The California Department of Transportation is part of the state cabinet-level California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency.  Caltrans mission is to provide a safe, sustainable, integrated and efficient transportation system to enhance California’s economy and livability.  Caltrans manages the state highway system and is actively involved with public transportation systems throughout the state.
  • CHTP (Coordinated Human Transportation Plan) - The CHTP is a coordinated public-transit human-service transportation plan providing strategies for local needs.  It prioritizes transportation services for funding and implementation, with an emphasis on the transportation needs of individuals with disabilities, older-adults and persons of limited means.
  • CTSA (Consolidated Transportation Services Agency) - An agency outlined in the Transportation Development Act (TDA) which provides subscription public transit services to the elderly and persons with disabilities who are unable to use traditional public transit service and its complementary paratransit alternative.
  • DHCL (Dignity Health Connected Living) - The Shasta Region provider of CTSA services, under agreement with SRTA.
  • FHWA (Federal Highway Administration) - One of the modal administrations of the U.S.  Department of Transportation.  Among other things, it is responsible for the administration of FHWA planning funds program.
  • FTA (Federal Transit Administration) - One of the modal administrations of the U.S.  Department of Transportation.  FTA provides financial aid in the development of transit systems in both urbanized and non-urbanized areas, as well as provides funds for public transportation for the elderly and/or persons with disabilities.
  • FTIP (Federal Transportation Improvement Program) - A federally-required four-year program of transportation projects, either federally-funded, and/or regionally significant within the planning area of an MPO. 
  • GHG (Greenhouse gas) - a gas in the atmosphere that absorbs and emits radiation within the thermal infrared range.
  • GIS (Geographic Information System) - A computer system capable of capturing, storing, analyzing, and displaying geographically referenced information - that is, data identified according to location.
  • HPMS (Highway Performance Monitoring System) - A national level highway information system that includes data on the extent, condition, performance, use, and operating characteristics of the nation's highways and streets/roads.
  • ITS (Intelligent Transportation System) - Information and communication technology (applied to transportation infrastructure and vehicles) that improve transportation outcomes such as transportation safety, transportation productivity, travel reliability, informed travel choices, social equity, environmental performance, and network operation resilience.