-A- Alternative · An alternative includes various improvements (modal options) designed to address transportation deficiencies in the project area. Arterial · An arterial roadway serves major traffic movements or major traffic corridors. While they may provide access to abutting land, their primary function is to serve traffic moving through the area. At Grade Crossing · When two modes of transportation intersect at the same elevation it is referred to as an at grade crossing. As an example, a railroad track crossing a road. Average Daily Traffic (ADT) · The average 24-hour volume, being the total volume during a stated period divided by the number of days in that period.  Unless otherwise stated, the period is a year.  The term is commonly abbreviated as ADT.  - C - Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) · The metropolitan planning organization (MPO) for the Chicago metropolitan area including the counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will.   · Passenger train service operating between metropolitan and suburban areas, whether within or across the geographical boundaries of a state, usually characterized by reduced fares for multiple rides, and commutation tickets for regular, recurring riders. Corridor  · A corridor is a general path from one point to another.  Corridor Planning Group · A group of community leaders that has been established to provide input and local insight throughout the project.    - D - DEIS  · DEIS is an acronym for Draft Environmental Impact Statement.  The DEIS is a federally mandated document for projects that require federal funding or actions.  The document discloses the potential environmental impacts of the project alternatives.    - E - EIS · EIS is an acronym for Environmental Impact Statement.  The EIS is a federally mandated document for projects that require federal funding options or actions.  The document discloses the potential environmental impacts of project alternatives.  Evaluation Criteria · A standard or measure that permits a comparative evaluation of an alternative. Expressway · A fully or partially accessible divided highway, designed for high-speed travel. - F - Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) · The FHWA became a component of the Department of Transportation in 1967 pursuant to the Department of Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. app. 1651 note).  It administers the highway transportation programs of the Department of Transportation under pertinent legislation and the provisions of law cited in section 6a) of the act (49 U.S.C. 104).  The Administration encompasses highway transportation in its broadest scope seeking to coordinate highways with other modes of transportation to achieve the most effective balance of transportation systems and facilities under cohesive Federal transportation policies pursuant to the act.  The Administration administers the Federal-Aid Highway Program; is responsible for several highway-related safety programs; is authorized to establish and maintain a National Network for trucks; administers a coordinated Federal lands prgram; coordinates varied research, development and technology transfer activities; supports and participates in efforts to fund research and technology abroad; plus a few additional programs. (OFR1) FEIS · FEIS is an acronym for Final Environmental Impact Statement.  The FEIS is a federally mandated document for projects that require federal funding options or actions.  The document discloses the potential environmental impacts of project alternatives.  Freeway · A fully access controlled divided highway.   - G - Geographic Information Systems (GIS) · A computer software tool that is used to solve problems based on geographically related information. It is a system linked to a graphics system capable of collecting, storing, analyzing and manipulating spatial information.   - H - HOV · HOV is an acronym for High Occupancy Vehicle and is typically used in association with travel lanes dedicated to two or more riders.   - I - Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) · The Illinois Department of Transportation has responsibility for planning, construction and maintenance of Illinois' extensive transportation network.  This network encompasses highways, bridges, airports, public transit, rail freight and rail passenger systems. Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (ISTHA) · The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority has responsibility for planning, construction and maintenance of Illinois' tollway system. Interchange · A multilevel highway intersection arranged so that vehicles may move from one road to another without crossing streams of traffic. (Webster) Intersection · A point at which separate roadways cross, meet, or overlap.   - L - Land Use Forecasts · Land use forecasts are often prepared with computerized urban growth models in order to accurately and efficiently accommodate the considerable amount of data they require. These models are rigorous mathematical algorithms that allocate the total growth of the area according to criteria that affect development decisions. Several factors are considered in the allocation of future development including: The amount of developable land (or redevelopment) available Policy limitations on development intensity The potential for utility services such as water and sewer Proximity to residential and employment centers Level of Service · A set of characteristics that indicate the quality and quantity of transportation service provided, including characteristics that are quantifiable and those that are difficult to quantify.  For highway systems, a qualitative rating of the effectiveness of a highway or highway facility in serving traffic, in terms of operating conditions.  For paratransit, a variety of measures meant to denote the quality of service provided, generally in terms of total travel time or a specific component of total travel time.  For pedestrians, sets of area occupancy classifications to connect the design of pedestrian facilities with levels of service.   - M - Metra: · Metra provides commuter rail service in the Chicago Metropolitan area. Metra, with 495 miles of track, serves 230 stations in the counties of Cook, DuPage, Lake, Will, McHenry and Kane.  Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) · Formed in cooperation with the state, the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) develops transportation plans and programs for the metropolitan area. For each urbanized area, an MPO must be designated by agreement between the Governor and local units of government representing 75% of the affected population (in the metropolitan area), including the central cities or cities as defined by the Bureau of the Census, or in accordance with procedures established by applicable State or local law. The MPO for the Chicago land area is Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP).   - P - Pace · Pace primarily provides bus service in suburban areas outside the City of Chicago. Within the City of Chicago, the Chicago Transit Authority provides bus service. Park and Ride Facility · An access mode to transit in which patrons drive private automobiles or ride bicycles to a transit station, stop, or carpool/vanpool waiting area and park their vehicle in the area provided for park and ride patrons. They then ride the transit system or take a carpool or vanpool to their destinations. Peak Travel Period  · The period in the morning (a.m. peak period) and afternoon or evening (p.m. peak period) when additional transportation services are needed/provided to handle higher traffic/passenger volumes. The period begins when normal travel times are increased and ends when travel are returned to normal. In the Chicago metropolitan area, the a.m. peak period is generally 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and the p.m. peak period is 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. each weekday.  Public Transit · Passenger transportation services, usually local in scope, that are available to any person who pays a prescribed fare. Public transit operates on established schedules along designated routes or lines with specific stops and is designed to move relatively large numbers of people at one time.   - R - Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) · The Regional Transportation Authority, created in 1973, oversees the operation and funding of public transit in the Chicago metropolitan area. There are three service boards under the RTA—the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra and Pace. Right-of-way  · The land (usually a strip) acquired for or devoted to transportation purposes.   - T - Tiering · The process of considering the environmental effects of a project in two distinct phases or "tiers."  40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 1502.20, and FHWA 23 CFR Part 771.111, that permit tiering for large, complex NEPA studies. Tollway · A divided, fully access controlled roadway that assesses a toll or travel fee to pay for cost of construction or maintenance. Traffic Analysis Zone · In planning, a division of a study area that is represented by a centroid and used for traffic assignment purposes. Traffic Controls · Traffic control systems are designed to reduce travel times, delays and stops, while also improving the average speed on arterial roadways and freeways. These systems include elements such as coordinated traffic signals, continuous optimization of timing plans, use of bus priority signal control systems, and implementation of computer-based traffic control and freeway traffic management.  Transportation Network · Arrangement of transportation systems for the movement of passenger and cargo.  Transportation systems include grid systems, radial networks, circumferential networks and eclectic networks. Transportation System Management (TSM) · Current TSM practices are fundamental traffic engineering actions taken to improve the operation of the highway system. TSM actions are usually categorized as "supply-side" (actions intended to increase the existing vehicle capacity on the system) and "demand-side" (actions that are designed to reduce vehicle demand on the system by increasing vehicle occupancy, see TDM). For example:  traffic engineering improvements: left- and right-turn lanes, one-way streets, bus turn out lanes. traffic control improvements: traffic signal interconnection, use of bus priority signal control. Travel Demand Management (TDM)  · Measures designed to change single-occupant vehicle driver behavior with programs such as ridesharing (carpooling and vanpooling). Other demand-side actions include parking management strategies (like park and ride lots or preferential parking for carpooling/vanpooling) or transit service improvements (like express bus service, or by-pass ramps for buses). Travel Demand Modeling · Travel demand modeling or travel forecasting is a major step in transportation planning. This is the process by which trip assignments are made to roadways, transit, and high-occupancy vehicles.   - V - Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) · A measure frequently used by transportation planners. A vehicle mile represents 1 vehicle traveling for 1 mile.