2006-2011 Main LTP

Definition

Acronymn / term

Description

Accident Hot Spots

Location where there has occurred 6 or more casualties over 3 years, either within 20m of a junction or over a 100m stretch of road

Accessibility

The ease with which an individual can access services and facilities that he or she needs or desires. It encompasses the entire journey chain from the origin to the destination and reflects the ability of individuals to reach and use transport services and infrastructure as well as life enhancing facilities and services

Active Traffic Management

ATM

A range of measures to reduce congestion, improve road safety, improve journey time reliability and reduce traffic management costs for routine maintenance utilising latest electronic message signs to supply better in-journey information, with overhead gantries enabling individual lane control and the use of variable speed limits.Other initiatives to enhance safety include CCTV, automatic queue and accident detection equipment and emergency refuges

Air Quality Management Areas

AQMA

Area designated by local authority where there is a potential risk of exceeding guidelines concerning air pollutants

Annual Progress Report

APR

Annual report to DfT submitted by Highways Authorities as part of the LTP process

Appraisal

Assessment of scheme, strategy or policy in order to determine financial cost/benefit and can include the degree of compliance with a range of other criteria

Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty

AONB

Areas designated within the Land Use Planning System subject to special laws and protection

Best Value

A legal obligation, set out in the Local Government Act 1999, that places a duty on councils to ensure that they deliver services with regard to "Economy, Efficiency and Effectiveness"

Automatic Number Plate Recognition

ANPR

A system to detect and capture images of a vehicle passing a particular point. These images are then processed to ‘read’ the vehicle’s number plate

British Waterways

Public corporation responsible for managing inland waterways in England, Scotland and Wales

Bus Priority

Generic term for measures designed to give buses priority over other traffic

Bus Quality Partnerships

BQP

Voluntary or statutory agreements whereby operators improve buses and services and the local authority improves infrastructure

Bus Rapid Transit

BRT

High quality bus provision incorporating a variety of priority and information benefits

Bus Service Operators Grant

Mechanism whereby bus operators receive fuel duty rebate

Capacity Constraints

Situations where specific areas of the transport network are unable to meet demand

Capital Funding

Financial resources that are available for one-off, infrastructure projects as against revenue resources that are spent over a period of time

Casualty Reduction Measures

Engineering, education and enforcement measures introduced to address safety problems in a specific location, often identified from analysis of Accident Hot Spots.  Formerly known as Local Safety Schemes

Centro

The marketing name for the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive, who are responsible for promoting and developing public transport across the West Midlands metropolitan area

Concessionary Fares

Scheme to provide compensation to bus operators who suffer loss of revenue as a result of providing reduced fares to vulnerable groups

Congestion Charging

Generic term for direct charging for the use of roads. Also known as road user charging

Cost Benefit Analysis

CBA

Analysis which quantifies in monetary terms as many of the costs and benefits of a proposal as feasible, including items for which the market does not provide a satisfactory measure of economic value

Coventry Rapid Transit

CRT

Proposed transport scheme that would use tram-like, high quality vehicles running both on and off street and connecting locations to the north and south of Coventry (see also BRT)

Cyclists’ Touring Club

CTC

Campaign group representing cyclists

Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal

DIRFT

A major distribution and manufacturing complex and intermodal rail freight interchange situated just outside the County boundary in Northamptonshire

Decriminalised Parking Enforcement

DPE

Circumstance where the responsibility for parking enforcement is transferred from the Police to the Local Authority

Demand Management

Generic term for measures designed to manage or deter the demand for travel. 

Department for Transport

DfT

Central government department with responsibility for transport headed by a Secretary of State

Detrunking

Process whereby responsibility for a trunk road is transferred from the Highways Agency to the local Highways Authority and the road loses its Trunk Road designation

Developer Funding/Developer Contributions

Financial support obtained from developers used to mitigate the adverse effects of the development usually via a S278 agreement for highway improvements or S106 agreement for sustainable transport or other improvements

Dial-a-Ride

Scheme to provide ‘on demand’ transport services to people unable to access services or employment via the mainstream providers.  Similar to Flexibus

Disability Discrimination Act

DDA

Legislation ensuring rights of access for disabled people

Environment Agency

EA

Government agency responsible for protecting and improving the environment in England and Wales

Environmental Impact Assessment

EIA

Procedure and management technique that ensures that the likely effects of new development on the environment are fully appraised and taken into account before the development is allowed to go ahead.

Flexibus

Scheme to provide ‘ on demand’ transport services to people unable to access services or employment via the mainstream providers.  Similar to Dial-a-Ride

Footpath

A route over which the public have a right of way on foot only

Footway

The area designated within the carriageway which is for use by pedestrians, and cyclists where the footway is shared use

Franchise

A combination of routes designated under the Railways Act 1993 over which operators are licensed to run rail services

Freight Operating Company

FOC

Company which is licensed for operating freight trains on the national rail network

Government White Paper on Transport

The Future of Transport Command Paper specifying the government’s proposals for the development of transport to the year 2030

Highways Agency

HA

An Executive Agency of the Department for Transport responsible for operating, maintaining and improving the strategic road network in England on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport

Home Zones

Locations within urban areas where physical alteration of streets and roads force motorists to drive with greater care and at lower speeds. Home Zones are an attempt to strike a balance between vehicular traffic and everyone else who uses the street, the pedestrians, cyclists, business people and residents

Index of Multiple Deprivation

IMD

A measure of deprivation based on the idea of distinct dimensions or aspects of deprivation and disadvantage that can be identified and measured separately. These aspects of deprivation and disadvantage are experienced by individuals living in an area

Integrated Transport

This refers to the whole public transport network. The phrase is often used to indicate a wish to see greater co-ordination between the different modes and operators working within the same mode

ISO 9000

Recognised ‘Standard’ for Quality Management Systems and procedures

ISO 14001

Recognised ‘Standard’ for Environmental Management Systems and procedures

Journey Runs

Specific repeat journeys on set routes that are timed to provide data for traffic management purposes

Light Rail

Tram/Metro type of railway designed and engineered on a more lightweight scale than traditional rail

Local Agenda 21

LA21

A set of plans and strategies encouraging local co-operation and action in promoting a sustainable future

Local Authorities

LAs

Division of local government comprising Counties and District/Boroughs

Local Plan

Detailed land use plan to guide development at District/Borough level, including proposals for specific sites.  Along with the Structure Plan, it forms the County’s Development Plan

Local Transport Plan

LTP

Five year plan which sets out transport strategy, a programme of work, targets and procedures for monitoring progress

Local Safety Schemes

LSS

See Casualty Reduction Measures

Long Stay Car Parking

Parking with a duration of 4 hours or over usually associated with commuting or the workplace rather than shopping

Low Floor Bus

Bus with a low body to facilitate easy access for mobility impaired passengers or those with luggage etc

Major Schemes

Term used within the LTP process to describe a transport scheme valued at over £5m

MATTISSE

Mattisse is a traffic and travel information wholesaler for the Midlands. It collects information on public and private transport from a range of sources and presents it in a form that is easy to use. Mattisse is a partnership between local authorities and transport operators with innovative contracting and procurement processes. It enables up to the minute travel information to be exchanged easily between transport authorities, allowing them to respond more quickly and efficiently to travel problems

MORI Poll

Survey carried out by Market Opinion and Research International, the largest independently-owned market research company in Great Britain.

Motorways

Strategic roads administered on behalf of the DfT by the Highways Agency

Mobility Impaired

People with physical, sensory or mental impairment

Multi-Modal Study

MMS

The Department’s programme of Multi-Modal Studies arose from the Government’s A New Deal for Trunk Roads in England, published in July 1998. This proposed a series of studies to develop sustainable long-term solutions to problems identified on key parts of the strategic road network

Network Management

Duty imposed by the Traffic Management Act 2004 on local traffic authorities to secure expeditious movement of traffic on their road networks, and to facilitate the expeditious movement of traffic on other authorities' networks

Network Rail

Not-for-dividend company which owns and operates the majority of the rail infrastructure in England, Wales and Scotland

Off-Street Car Parking

Parking provision in off-street car parks, owned and operated by the local authority or private sector

On-Street Car Parking

Parking provision ‘on the road’ and is the responsibility of the Highways Authority

Option Values

The worth of a service to non-users who, nonetheless, place a value on its availability

Park and Ride

Scheme whereby vehicles are parked at a remote location and occupants complete the journey to their destination via a dedicated (usually) bus service

Partnership Working

Procedure whereby local authorities or other groups agree a series of specific measures to work together in an efficient, trusting and co-operative manner.

Planning Policy Guidance

PPG

Guidance issued by central government to direct the manner in which local authorities operate the Land Use Planning System

Powered Two Wheelers

PTW

Motorcycles, scooters and mopeds

Primary Route Network

PRN

Motorways, Trunk Roads and other primary routes identified to be of regional strategic importance.

Private Hire Vehicles

PHV

Vehicles licensed by the local authority that can only respond to pre-arranged bookings and cannot park on Licensed Taxi Ranks or in the street plying for hire

Private Non-Residential

PNR

Private off-street parking spaces provided for purposes other than residential parking

Public Consultation

Measures to confer with individuals, groups and other stakeholders

Public Transport Information 2000

PTI 2000

This project established a network of regional call centres to provide details of all bus and coach services through a single national telephone enquiry number (Traveline)

Quality Contracts

Mechanism introduced by the Transport Act 2000 whereby local authorities can, in effect, take control of bus operations in a specified area

Quality Bus Initiative

QBI

Specific bus routes (normally tendered services) where the local authority purchase new vehicles to operate the service

Quality Bus Corridors

QBC

Specific bus routes where Quality Partnerships have been agreed (see below)

Quality Partnerships

Voluntary or statutory agreements whereby operators improve the quality of the vehicles and the local authority improves infrastructure

Quiet Lanes / Greenways

Quiet Lanes and Greenways are initiatives that aim to give better mobility and access for people on foot, bike or horseback or for people with disabilities.  Greenways are designed for shared use and largely exclude motorised vehicles. They are in and around towns, cities and the countryside.

Quiet Lanes are minor rural roads, already lightly trafficked where extra traffic measures will improve their attractiveness for non-motorised users

Reallocation of Roadspace

Generic term for measures designed to increase roadspace for sustainable transport by reducing the amount of roadspace available to other traffic 

Regional Development Agency

RDA

RDAs are responsible for setting and implemeting regional economic development agendas.  The West Midlands RDA is Advantage West Midlands

Regional Transport Strategy

RTS

Sets out the necessary transport and investment policies needed to achieve the transport objectives of the Regional Spatial Strategy

Revenue Funding

Financial resources allocated over a period of time, usually to fund on-going initiatives or costs

Rights of Way

RoW

Minor public highways that exist for the benefit of the community at large.  They are usually footpaths, bridleways or byways

Road User Charging

Generic term for direct charging for the use of roads. Often used to imply charging to tackle congestion, also known as congestion charging

Road Traffic Reduction Act 1997

RTRA

Act of Parliament to require local authorities to prepare reports relating to the levels of road traffic in their areas

Rural Bus Subsidy Grant

Ring-fenced funding for rural bus services

Safer Routes to School

SRS

Programme of schemes designed to increase safety for children on the journey to school and encourage more use of sustainable modes

Seamless Journeys

Integrated trips that utilise one or mode of transport where interchange is accomplished smoothly and with minimal delay / inconvenience

Selective Vehicle Detection

SVD

Technology, normally utilised for buses, that detects the target vehicle and sets traffic signals etc to allow priority passage

Severance

The degree to which people using non-motorised modes (pedestrians - cyclists and equestrians) are faced with barriers to accessing goods and services

Shopmobility

Charity scheme to assist with shopping that normally provides manual and powered wheelchairs and scooters to anyone with a mobility problem

Short Stay Car Parking

On or off-street car parking designated or priced to facilitate a turn over of vehicles with a stay of up to approximately 3 hours

Site of Special Scientific Interest

SSSI

Nationally important sites for wildlife or earth science where proposed development must be given special scrutiny

Social Exclusion

Circumstances where people or places suffer from a series of problems such as unemployment, discrimination, poor skills, low incomes, poor housing, high crime, ill health and family breakdown

Regional Spatial Strategy (formerly Regional Planning Guidance)

RSS

Part of the national planning system.  Its main purpose is to provide a long term land use and transport planning framework for the Region in order to guide the preparation of local authority development plans and local transport plans

Statutory Undertakers

Organisations licensed by the government under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 to excavate roads, verges and footways. They include all electricity, gas, water, telephone, cable, television and other telecommunication companies

Strategic Environmental Assessment

SEA

A broad appraisal of the environmental impact of plans and programmes with a view to promoting sustainable development

Strategic Plan for Warwickshire

Community strategy for the County. Its overriding aim is to improve the quality of life for Warwickshire people and to do this by ensuring that a whole range of public agencies work together

Strategic Rail Authority

SRA

Government agency formerly responsible for developing strategic programmes for the rail network - now dealt with by DfT Rail

Structure Plan

Strategic land use plan produced at County level, along with the district Local Plans it forms the County’s Development Plan

Surface Access

Arrangements for access to a location by modes other than air transport

Sustainability

Extent to which conduct meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

Sustainability Appraisal

Assessment of the degree of sustainability

Sustrans

A charity that works on practical projects to encourage people to walk, cycle and use public transport

Taxis

Vehicles licensed by the local authority which may sit on Licensed Taxi Ranks or ply for hire

Through-Ticketing

Arrangements whereby a single ticket will allow passage over several stages and/or operators of a public transport journey

Traffic Calming

Generic term for measures to slow and/or discourage traffic and improve safety

Traffic Commissioner

Licensing authority for passenger carrying and goods vehicles

Traffic Management Act 2004

Act of Parliament that introduced Network Management Duty, Traffic Managers and increases in powers available to local authorities operating Decriminalised Parking Enforcement

Traffic Manager

Statutory appointment under the Traffic Management Act 2004 whereby local traffic authorities have a duty to secure the expeditious movement of traffic on their road networks, and to facilitate the expeditious movement of traffic on other authorities' networks

Traffic Modelling

Methodology for replicating and predicting traffic across a road network undertaken by computer software packages

Train Operating Company

TOC

Company holding a franchise to operate train services under the terms of the Railways Act 1993

Trans European Network

TEN

Strategic transport and communications networks across the European Union, designated because of their importance for the future development of Europe

Transport Act 1985

Act of Parliament that introduced deregulation of the bus industry

Transport Act 2000

Act of Parliament that introduced the LTP process, Quality Bus Partnerships and Quality Bus Contracts

Transport Assessment

TA

Method of analysing the effects on the transport network as a result of new development

Transport Economic Efficiency tables

TEE

Tool for presenting the results of cost benefit analysis of transport schemes based on the DfT’s standard software tools, TUBA, COBA and QUADRO

Transport User Benefits Appraisal

TUBA

DfT software tool for predicting a financial benefit or loss to users as a result of transport improvement schemes

Travel Plans

A package of measures tailored to the needs of individual employers or schools and aimed at promoting greener, cleaner travel choices by reducing reliance on the car

TravelWise

Generic term for measures to reduce society's dependence on car use by: raising awareness of environmental, health, economic and social effects of car use; changing attitudes towards car use; promoting more sustainable modes of travel, and lifestyles which require less travel; encouraging action to change travel behaviour and reduce unnecessary car use.

Trip Rates

A measure of the number of traffic/people movements to and from a location for a given trip rate parameter.

Trunk Roads

Strategic roads which, along with motorways, are managed on behalf of the government, by the Highways Agency rather than the local highway authority

Urban Traffic Management and Control

UTMC

An approach to the use of Intelligent Transport Systems sponsored by DfT which aims to manage traffic through a range of electronic and technical initiatives

Vulnerable Road User

A person who is not in a car or other motor vehicle

West Midlands

The standard planning region comprising the seven Metropolitan Authorities (Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton), the four Shire Counties (Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire) and the three Unitary Authorities (Herefordshire, Stoke-on-Trent and Telford & Wrekin)

Wheels to Work

A generic name for schemes to help young, unemployed and disadvantaged people get into work, by providing short-term scooter loans, or sometimes providing additional services, such as driving lessons

Workplace Car Park Charging

Scheme whereby a Local Authority levies a tax on private parking spaces provided by employers