City of Pasadena General Plan
DRAFT MOBILITY ELEMENT GLOSSARY
AA - Alternative Analysis-
An analysis of the environmental effects of alternatives under consideration
for a project that has been determined through an Initial Study (IS) and/or Environmental Assessment
(EA) to have potential significant environmental impacts.
AADT - Average Annual Daily Traffic- The total traffic for a year divided by 365.
AASHTO - American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials- An interest group
based in Washington, D.C., that is involved in transportation-related research, advocacy, and technical
assistance.
Accessibility- The degree to which a product, device, service, or environment is available to as many
people as possible. Accessibility can be viewed as the "ability to access" and benefit from some system
or entity.
ADA - Americans With Disabilities Act- Federal civil rights legislation for disabled persons passed in
1990. As it pertains to transportation, public transportation, and public facilities such as sidewalks,
features must be designed per ADA standards to provide access for disabled persons.
ADT - Average Daily Traffic- The total traffic volume during a given period divided by the number of
days in that period. Current ADT volumes can be determined by collecting traffic counts for two or more
24-hour periods. Where only periodic traffic counts are taken, ADT volume can be established by
applying correction factors, e.g., for season or day of week. For roadways having traffic in two
directions, the ADT includes traffic in both directions unless specified otherwise.
AFC - Automatic Fare Collection System- A system of controls and equipment that automatically admits
passengers on insertion of the correct fare in coins, tokens, tickets or fare cards; it may include special
equipment for transporting and counting revenues.
Alley- A vehicular way located at the rear of lots providing alocation for utility easements and access to
service areas, parking, and outbuildings.
Alternative Fuels- Low-polluting fuels which are used to propel a vehicle instead of high-sulfur diesel or
gasoline. Examples include methanol, ethanol, propane or compressed natural gas, liquid natural gas,
low-sulfur or "clean" diesel and electricity.
Amtrak- Operated by the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, this rail system was created by the
Rail Passenger Service Act of 1970 (Public Law 91-518, 84 Stat. 1327) and given the responsibility for the
operation of intercity (as distinct from suburban) passenger trains between points designated by the
Secretary of Transportation.
Apportionment- A federal budgetary term that refers to a statutorily prescribed division or assignment
of funds.
Appropriation- A federal budgetary term that refers to an act of Congress that permits federal agencies
to incur obligations and make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes.
Air Quality Management District (AQMD)- A regional agency which adopts and enforces regulations to
achieve and maintain State and federal air quality standards.
Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP)- A plan for attaining State air quality as required by the California
Clean Air Act of 1988. The plans are adopted by air quality districts and subject to approval by the
California Air Resources Board.
ARB - Air Resources Board- The state agency, (aka, CARB in California) responsible for adopting state air
quality standards, establishing emission standards for new cars sold in the state, and overseeing
activities of regional and local air pollution control agencies.
Arterial- A major thoroughfare, used primarily for through traffic rather than for access to adjacent land,
that is characterized by high vehicular capacity and continuity of movement.
ATIS - Advanced Traveler Information Systems
ATMS - Advanced Traffic Management Systems- ATMS uses a variety of means to more efficiently
manage traffic. It can include roadside sensors, ramp metering, HOV lanes and synchronized traffic
signals that respond to traffic flows.
Attainment Area- An area that the Environmental Protection Agency has designated as being in
compliance with one or more of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for sulfur dioxide,
nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, lead, and particulate matter. An area may be in attainment
for some pollutants but not for others. (See National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS),
nonattainment area, and particulate matter.)
At-Grade Crossing- An intersection of traveled ways — eg, highways, rail lines, or walkways — at the
same vertical elevation.
Authorization- Basic, substantive legislation which establishes or continues the legal operation of a
federal program or agency, either indefinitely or for a specific period of time, or which sanctions a
particular type of obligation or expenditure within a program. An authorization may set appropriation
limits.
Automated Guideway- An electric railway operating without vehicle operators or other crew on board
the vehicle.
AVCS - Advanced Vehicle Control Systems- New techniques to ease stresses and strains of driving are
evolving, possibly leading to the day when you may be able to sit back and leave your car in charge.
AVCS spans the gamut from ordinary cruise control to "smart cruise control" that helps maintain safe
following distance to, researchers hope, "platooning" — the ability to electronically link and guide a
dense pack of cars moving in formation at high speed.
Avenue- A thoroughfare of high vehicular capacity and low to moderate speed, acting as a short
distance connector between urban centers, and usually equipped with a landscaped median.
AVI - Automated Vehicle Identification System- Also known as Automatic Vehicle Monitoring System or
Automatic Vehicle Location System. A system in which electronic equipment on a vehicle sends signals
back to a central control facility, locating the vehicle and providing other information about its
operations or about its mechanical condition.
AVL – Automated Vehicle Location System- A computerized system that employs satellites and other
technologies to track vehicles in a fleet, assisting with dispatching and other applications.
AVO - Average Vehicle Occupancy- The number of people traveling by private passenger vehicles
divided by the number of vehicles used.