Action plan

A document identifying both low cost, short-term, and major capacity improvements necessary to bring a controlled access facility to State Highway System (SHS) standards within 20 years.

Adjusted count

An estimate of a traffic statistic calculated from a base traffic count that has been adjusted by application of axle, seasonal, or other defined factors. (AASHTO)

The total volume of traffic passing a point or segment of a highway facility in both directions for one year divided by the number of days in the year. (HCM)

The geographical transportation network of state and regionally significant roadway segments on which the proposed project would have impact. Note: The term AOI used for Interchange Access Request (IAR) has a more specific definition. Refer to FDOT Interchange Access Request User’s Guide for more details.

A signalized roadway that primarily serves through-traffic and provides access to abutting properties as a secondary function, having signal spacings of two miles or less and turning movements at intersections that usually do not exceed 20 percent(%) of the total traffic.

The total traffic volume during a given period in whole days (greater than one day and less than one year) divided by the number of days in that time period. (AASHTO)

The factor developed to adjust axle counts into vehicle counts. ACF is developed from classification counts by dividing the total number of vehicles counted by the total number of axles on these vehicles.

A traffic count that has not been adjusted for axle factors (effects of trucks) or seasonal (day of the week/month of the year) effects. (AASHTO)

The unedited and unadjusted measurements of traffic volume, vehicle classification, and vehicle or axle weight. (AASHTO)

The initial year of the forecast period.

The year whose conditions the modeling system was calibrated and/or validated to reflect, from which projections are made.

The process of developing basic functional forms of a travel forecasting model and estimating the values of various constants and parameters in the model structure using Census data, surveys, traffic counts, and other information.

The maximum sustainable hourly flow rate at which persons or vehicles can be expected to traverse a point or a uniform section of a lane or roadway during a given time period under prevailing roadway, environmental, traffic, and control conditions. (HCM)

A classification assigned to a roadway that broadly identifies the various built environments in Florida, based on existing or future land use characteristics, development patterns, and the roadway connectivity of an area.

A statewide system currently consisting of 230 permanent continuous vehicle count stations that collect volume, speed, vehicle classification data and 35 stations that collect weigh-in-motion data 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. The data collected is transmitted using a wireless cellular device to TDA at the FDOT Central Office.

A conceptual term defining a freeway (major, through, non-toll) routed into or through a large urbanized area’s core area (central business districts). The Standard K value may change as it passes through. (FDOT)

A linear geographical area that follows a general directional flow connecting centers of economic activity and may contain several alternate transportation alignments and one or more transportation modes.

The process used to determine the required number of lanes within a corridor to meet anticipated traffic demands.

The long-range system traffic forecast that includes projected link volumes and other data necessary to determine the number of lanes needed on a particular roadway and that includes the analysis of transportation alternatives for the corridor.

The data collected as a result of measuring and recording traffic characteristics such as vehicle volume, classification (by axle or length), speed, weight, or a combination of these characteristics. (AASHTO)

Any device that is placed at specific locations to record the duration and variation of traffic flow by hour of the day, day of the week, and/or month of the year.

A cut line is a line that intersects several parallel roadways that make up a corridor. It is similar to a screenline; however, it is shorter and crosses corridors rather than regional flows.

The total volume of trucks on a highway segment in a day.

The number of standard axles per truck. It is calculated by determining the load equivalency factor (LEF) for each axle and then taking the total of the equivalent standard axles for all the axles in the truck.

The traffic volume expected to desire service past a point or segment of the highway system at some future time, or the traffic currently arriving or desiring service past such a point, usually expressed as vehicles per hour.

An hour with a traffic volume that represents a reasonable value for designing the geometric and control elements of a facility. (HCM)

The proportion of the AADT that occurs during the design hour (see also K FACTOR).

The percent of trucks expected to use a highway segment during the design hour of the design year. The adjusted, annual design hour percentage of trucks and buses (24T+B).

The traffic volume expected to use a highway segment during the design hour of the design year. The DHV is related to AADT by the K factor.

The adjusted, annual design hour medium truck percentage. The sum of the annual percentages of Class Groups 4 and 5, adjusted to 24 hours.

The adjusted, annual design hour heavy truck percentage. Is DHT minus DH2, or the sum of the adjusted annual percentages of Class Groups 6 through 13.

The number of years from the initial application of traffic until the first planned major resurfacing or overlay. (AASHTO)

The year for which the project roadway is designed. It is typically 20 years for capacity projects and 10 years for operational projects from the Opening Year.

The traffic volume expected to use a highway segment during the design hour of the design year in the peak direction.

The percentage of the total, two-way peak hour traffic that occurs in the peak direction.

Directional distribution factor used for Equivalent Single Axle Load (ESAL) determination. This value is not to be confused with the Directional Distribution (D) used for planning capacity computations.

A unit of measurement equating the amount of pavement consumption caused by an axle or group of axles, based on the loaded weight of the axle group, to the consumption caused by a single axle weighing 18,000-lbs, known as 18-KIP ESAL. (AASHTO)

The process required to estimate the cumulative number of 18-KIP ESALs for the design period; used to develop the structural design of the roadway.

A type of managed lanes where pricing through electronic tolling is applied to lanes.

A standard modeling structure used in Florida for travel-demand forecasting approved by FDOT Model Task Force.

A statewide, comprehensive transportation plan, updated annually, which is designed to establish long range goals to be accomplished over a 20- or 25-year period and to define the relationships between the long-range goals and shortrange objectives and policies implemented through the Work Program.

The total length of time covered by the traffic forecast. It is equal to the period from the base year to the design year. For existing roads, the forecast period will extend from the year in which the forecast is made, and thus must include the period prior to the project being completed as well as the life of the project improvement.

A fully access-controlled, divided highway with a minimum of two lanes (and frequently more) in each direction. (HCM)

A major or significant road, street, or parkway that is capable of carrying reasonably heavy traffic and providing access to residential, commercial, and business areas.

A publication of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies of Science that provides concepts, guidelines, and computational procedures to determine the capacity and quality of service for various highway facilities.

Any vehicle carrying two or more passengers.

A restricted traffic lane reserved for the exclusive use of HOVs and transit vehicles.

Any future year in the forecast period between the base year and the design year, typically halfway between the two years.

The proportion of AADT that occurs during the peak hour (see also Standard K).

The percentage of vehicles driving in the design lane. The Lane Factor is used to convert directional trucks to the design lane trucks. Lane factors can be adjusted to account for unique features, such as roadways with designated truck lanes.

A quantitative stratification of a performance measure or measures that represent quality of service, measured on an A-F scale, with LOS A representing the best operating conditions from the traveler’s perspective and LOS F the worst. (HCM)

A street or highway especially designed for through traffic and over, from, or to which owners or occupants of abutting land or other persons have no right or easement, or only a limited right or easement, of access, light, air, or view by reason of the fact that their property abuts upon such limited access facility or for any other reason. Such highways or streets may be parkways from which trucks, buses, and other commercial vehicles are excluded; or they may be freeways open to use by all customary forms of street and highway traffic.

The spatial representation of a roadway segment in a travel demand model.

The ratio of the number of repetitions of an 18,000-pound single axle load necessary to cause the same degree of pavement damage as one application of any axle load and axle number combination. A Load Equivalency Factor is commonly referred to as a damage factor.

The plan (and amendments thereto) developed and approved by the local governmental entity pursuant to Chapter 163, F.S. (ss. 163.3177 and 163.3178), and found in compliance by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

A document with a long-term planning horizon, typically ranging from 20 to 35 years, required of each Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) that forms the basis for the annual MPO Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), developed pursuant to Title 23 United States Code 134 and Title 23 Code of Federal Regulations Part 450 Subpart C.

A document identifying both short- and long-term capacity improvements to limited access highways mainline and interchanges consistent with Strategic Intermodal System (SIS)/State Highway System (SHS) policies and standards to allow for highspeed and high-volume travel.

A TSM&O solution where highway facilities or sets of lanes within a highway facility use management strategies to provide congestion relief. The three primary management strategies used are access control, vehicle eligibility, and tolling.

An organization made up of local elected and appointed officials responsible for the development and coordination of transportation plans and programs, in cooperation with the state for metropolitan area containing 50,000 or more resident (see also TPO/TPA).

A factor that is used to convert the traffic volumes generated by a travel demand forecasting model in the Peak Season Weekday Average Daily Traffic (PSWADT) to AADT. The MOCF is the average of the 13 consecutive weeks during which the highest weekday volumes occur and when the sum of Seasonal Factors (SF) for those 13 weeks are the lowest. MOCF used during model validation to convert traffic counts in AADT to PSWADT for the base year model should also be used for adjusting future year model volumes.

The estimate of mean traffic volume for a month, calculated by the sum of Monthly Average Days of the Week (MADWs) divided by seven; or in the absence of a MADW for each day of the week, divided by the number of available MADWs during the month. (AASHTO)

The estimate of traffic volume mean statistic for each day of the week, over the period of one month. It is calculated from edited-accepted permanent data as the sum of all traffic for each day of the week (Sunday, Monday, and so forth through the week) during a month, divided by the occurrences of that day during the month. (AASHTO)

An area where secondary priority is given to auto vehicle movements.

A seasonal adjustment factor derived by dividing the AADT by the MADT for a specific short-term TMS count site.

One year after a project is scheduled to be open to public and when the new traffic pattern stabilizes This is normally provided by the project manager.

A phase in project development process to evaluate if the project can meet the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

The hourly volume during the analysis hour divided by the peak 15-minute flow rate within the analysis hour; a measure of traffic demand fluctuation within the analysis hour. (HCM)

The direction of travel (during the 60-minute peak hour) that contains the highest percentage of travel.

The 13 consecutive weeks of the year with the highest traffic volume.

A factor used to convert a 24-hour count representing the average weekday daily traffic to PSWADT.

The average weekday traffic during the peak season. Most FSUTMS traffic assignment volumes represent PSWADT projections for the roads represented in the model network. For Project Traffic Forecasting Reports, the PSWADT should be converted to AADT using a MOCF.

The highest hourly volume of a day divided by the daily volume.

A 24-hour traffic count continuously recorded at a permanent count station.

Automatic Traffic Recorders that are permanently placed at specific locations throughout the state to record the distribution and variation of traffic flow by hours of the day, days of the week, and months of the year from year to year.

A forecast of the design hour traffic volume for the design year. Project Traffic Forecasting projections are required by FDOT for all design projects.

A report documents the assumptions, methods, traffic forecasts, design traffic, and results of the traffic analysis for the PD&E Study in plain language and in an easily understood format. It summarizes the data collection effort, input parameters, traffic analysis tools, existing conditions, development of future traffic forecasts, and traffic operational and safety analyses of project alternatives.

The process to estimate traffic conditions used for determining the geometric design of a roadway and/or intersection and the number of 18-KIP ESALs that pavement will be subjected to over the design life.

A database maintained by the FDOT Transportation Data and Analytics (TDA) OA database maintained by the FDOT Transportation Data and Analytics (TDA) Office which contains features and characteristics data for the State Highway System. Features and characteristics are assigned and managed by owning offices and data is used throughout many FDOT departments.

An imaginary line which intercepts major traffic flows through a region, usually along a physical barrier such as a river or railroad tracks, splitting the study area into parts. Traffic counts and possibly roadside interviews are conducted along this line as a means to compare simulated model results to field results as part of the model calibration/validation process.

Parameters used to adjust base counts which consider traffic fluctuations by day of the week and month of the year. The Seasonal Factor used in Florida is determined by interpolating between the Monthly Seasonal Factors for two consecutive months. (AASHTO)

The maximum directional rate of flow that can be sustained in a given segment under prevailing roadway, traffic, and control conditions without violating the criteria for LOS. (HCM)

A short-term counting program that utilizes traffic count sites that may be permanently or temporarily established. As a part of the statewide count program administered by the FDOT district offices, each road section is generally counted about every three (3) years.

A factor used to convert AADT to a peak hour volume. Standard K values are statewide fixed parameters that depend on the general area types (location) and facility types (roadway characteristics). Multiple Standard K Factors may be assigned depending on the area type/facility type and applied statewide.

A statewide network of high-priority transportation facilities, including the State’s largest and most significant airports, spaceports, deep water seaports, freight rail terminals, passenger rail and intercity bus terminals, rail corridors, waterways, and highways. These facilities represent the State’s primary means for moving people and freight between Florida’s diverse regions, as well as between Florida and other states and nations.

The FDOT Central Office responsible for SIS through the development and implementation of the SIS Policy Plan and the SIS Funding Strategy. The Systems Implementation Office also develops policies, procedures, tools, training and technical assistance for planning level traffic studies.

The final year of the forecast period for which roadway improvements are designed (i.e., the design year or future year).

The percentage of truck traffic during the peak hour.

The percentage of truck traffic for 24-hours (one day) (see Figure 2-2).

The adjusted, annual 24-hour percentage of trucks and buses (see Figure 2-2).

The adjusted, annual 24-hour percentage of trucks (Classes 5 through 13, see Figure 2-2).

Geographic areas dividing the planning region into relatively similar areas of land use and land activity. TAZs serve as the primary unit of analysis in a traditional travel demand forecasting model. They contain socioeconomic data related to land use. TAZs are where trips begin and end.

A continuous section of highway that is reasonably homogenous with respect to traffic volume, vehicle classification, and general physical characteristics (e.g., number of through lanes), with beginning and ending points at major intersections or interchanges. Traffic breaks are determined through engineering judgment by the Districts and are recorded in the Roadway Characteristics Inventory (RCI).

A database maintained by the Transportation Data and Analytics (TDA) Office which contains both historical and current year traffic count information including AADT and the traffic adjustment factors: K, D, and T.

The FDOT Central Office in Tallahassee that monitors and reports statistical traffic information for the State Highway Systems.

Same as MPO.

Same as MPO.

Any heavy vehicle described in FHWA Vehicle Classification Scheme F (See Figure 2-2), using 13 classes in the State of Florida.

Validation is the process to verify if the estimated model accurately estimates traffic volumes on transit and roadways. The validation process establishes the credibility of the model by demonstrating its ability to replicate actual traffic patterns.

A statistic representing the total number of vehicles multiplied by the total number of hours that vehicles traveled.

A statistic representing the total number of vehicles multiplied by the total number of miles which are traversed by those vehicles.

Either the ratio of demand volume to capacity or the ratio of service flow volume to capacity, depending on the particular problem situation.

A system capable of estimating the gross weight of a vehicle and the portion of that weight that is carried by each wheel, axle, and axle group on the vehicle. The WIM equipment collects that volume speed, vehicle classification, vehicle lengths, gross vehicle weight, axle weights, and axle spacing of every vehicle that passes over the sensor.

The five-year listing of all transportation projects planned for each fiscal year by FDOT, as adjusted for the legislatively approved budget for the first year of the program.