AVR - Average Vehicle Ridership- The ratio of the number of all people
traveling by any mode, including
cars, buses, trains and bicycles, in a given area during a given time period to the number of cars on the
road.
AWDT - Average Weekday Daily Traffic- The total traffic for an average weekday. An average weekday
is a representative weekday computed as the mathematical average of several typical weekdays
selected at random throughout the year. A typical weekday has no anomaly such as heavy traffic due to
a special public event or light traffic due to inclement weather. Average Saturday, Sunday, and holiday
traffic are determined the same way.
Baseline- The existing environmental conditions against which impacts of the proposed action and its
alternatives can be compared.
Base Period- The period between the morning and evening peak periods when transit service is
generally scheduled on a constant interval. Also known as "off-peak period".
Base Fare- The price charged to one adult for one transit ride; excludes transfer charges, zone charges,
express service charges, peak period surcharges and reduced fares.
Bicycle Boulevard- A low-speed street that prioritizes bicycle travel over other modes, though also
allows local vehicle traffic.
Bicycle Lanes- Commonly referred to as Class II facilities established within the paved area of roadways
for the preferential use of bicycles. Bike lane stripes are intended to promote an orderly flow of traffic
by establishing specific lines of demarcation between areas reserved for bicycles and lanes to be
occupied by motor vehicles.
Bicycle Locker- An enclosed storage facility designed to temporarily house and secure a bicycle.
Bicycle Paths- Commonly referred to as Class I facilities with exclusive right of way, with cross flows by
motorists minimized.
Bicycle Rack- A non-enclosed rack designed for parking and securing a bicycle.
Bicycle Routes- Commonly referred to as Class III facilities, designated Bicycle Routes do not provide an
exclusive lane for bicycles. These facilities are established by placing Bike Route signs along the
roadways to provide awareness to drivers that bicyclists may be more common on the route.
Bicycle Shed- An area that is centered on a common destination. Its size is related to average cycling
distances for the applicable community type.
Bicycle Treatment- Typically on-street bicycling improvement strategies, such
as signed bicycle routes or
striped bicycle lanes; on-street bicycle lanes can also be buffered, separated, colored, or otherwise
made distinct from general travel lanes.
Biofuel- A type of fuel whose energy is derived from biological carbon fixation. Biofuels include fuels
derived from biomass conversion, as well as solid biomass, liquid fuels, and various biogases.
Block- The aggregate of private lots, passages, alleys, and rear lanes, circumscribed by thoroughfares.
Budget Authority- A federal budgetary term that refers to legal authority given by Congress to federal
agencies to make funds available for obligation or expenditure.
Budget Resolution- A federal budgetary term that refers to a concurrent resolution passed by both
Houses of Congress, but not requiring the signature of the President, setting forth the congressional
budget for each of five fiscal years. The budget resolution sets forth various budget total and functional
allocations, and may include reconciliation instructions to designated House or Senate committees.
Bus (Motorbus)- A rubber-tired, self-propelled, manually steered vehicle with fuel supply carried on
board the vehicle. Types include advanced-design, articulated, charter, circulator, double-deck, express,
feeder, intercity, medium-size, new look, sightseeing, small, standard-size, subscription, suburban,
transit and van.
Bus, Articulated- A bus, usually 55 feet or more in length, with two connected passenger compartments
that bend at the connecting point when the bus turns a corner.
Bus, Charter- A bus, transporting a group of persons who pursuant to a common purpose and under a
single contract at a fixed price have acquired the exclusive use of a bus to travel together under an
itinerary.
Bus, Circulator- A bus serving an area confined to a specific locale, such as a downtown area or
suburban neighborhood with connections to major traffic corridors.
Bus, Double Deck- A bus with two separate passenger compartments, one above the other.
Bus, Express- A bus that operates a portion of the route without stops or with a limited number of
stops.
Bus, Feeder- A bus service that picks up and delivers passengers to a rail rapid- transit station or
express
bus stop or terminal.
Bus, Intercity- A bus with front doors only, high-backed seats, separate luggage compartments, and
usually with restroom facilities, for use in high-speed long-distance service.
Bus, Medium-Size- A bus from 29 to 34 feet in length.
Bus, New Look- A bus with the predominant styling and mechanical equipment common to buses
manufactured between 1959 and 1978.
Bus, Rapid Transit (BRT)- Bus Rapid Transit can be defined as a flexible, rubber-tired rapid-transit mode
that combines stations, vehicles, services, running ways, and Intelligent Transportation System (ITS)
elements into an integrated system with a strong positive identity that evokes a unique image. BRT
applications are designed to be appropriate to the market they serve and their physical surroundings,
and they can be incrementally implemented in a variety of environments. In brief, BRT is an integrated
system of facilities, services, and amenities that collectively improves the speed, reliability, and identity
of bus transit. BRT, in many respects, is a rubber-tired light-rail transit (LRT) bus with greater operating
flexibility and potentially lower capital and operating costs.
Bus, Sightseeing- A bus
adapted for sightseeing use, usually with expanded window areas.
Bus, Small- A bus 28 feet or less in length.
Bus, Standard-Size- A bus from 35 to 41 feet in length.
Bus, Subscription- A commuter bus express service operated for a guaranteed
number of patrons from a
given area on a prepaid, reserved-seat basis.
Bus, Suburban- A bus with front doors only, normally with high-backed seats, and without luggage
compartments or restroom facilities, for use in longer-distance service with relatively few stops.
Bus, Transit- A bus with front and center doors, normally with a rear-mounted engine, low-back seating,
and without luggage compartments or restroom facilities, for use in frequent-stop service.