A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
Aggregate
The material used as the foundation of infrastructure. It typically consists of sand, gravel, crushed stone or recycled materials like crushed concrete.
Airport Capital Improvement Plan (ACIP)
Used to prioritize projects and allocate funding through the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program (AIP) and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) grants.
Alligator cracking
Cracks in an asphalt pavement surface forming a pattern that resembles an alligator's hide or chicken wire. The cracks indicate failure of the surface layer generally caused by repeated traffic loadings.
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)
A nonprofit, nonpartisan association that represents highway and transportation departments in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. It serves as a liaison between these departments and the federal government.
American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC)
A national organization serving as the business voice of the engineering industry. Its primary mission is to strengthen the business environment for its member firms through government advocacy, political action and business education.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
A federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities and guarantees equal access to employment, public services, accommodations, transportation and telecommunications.
Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)
The estimated mean daily traffic volume at a specified location or roadway.
Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE)
Agency that provides public engineering services in peace and war to strengthen national security, energize the economy and reduce risks from disasters.
Asset management (AM)
A strategic approach to linking data, goals, investment strategies, programs and projects into a systemic process to ensure achievement of a desired outcome.
At-risk road users
Road users who are overrepresented in traffic crashes, fatalities and injuries. This includes vulnerable road users but is not limited to that group.
Automated vehicle (AM)
A vehicle that uses on-board sensors, such as cameras, radar and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and software to take over some or all of the driving function from the human driver. If the vehicle has a high level of automation, where the human is not needed, it is often referred to as an autonomous or driverless vehicle.
American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM)
A globally recognized leader in the development and delivery of voluntary consensus standards. MDOT references many ASTM standards for the testing or measuring of many of the materials and end products that are a part of our transportation network.
Beginning mile point (BMP)
Within a linear referencing system (e.g., control section, physical road), denotes the associated mile point at the beginning of a segment of road.
Benefit-cost analysis (BCA)
A systematic process for identifying, quantifying and comparing expected benefits and costs of an investment, action or policy.
Bicycle
A device propelled by human power upon which a person may ride, having either two or three wheels in a tandem or tricycle arrangement, all of which are more than 14 inches in diameter.
Bike lane/bicycle lane
A portion of roadway that has been designated for preferential or exclusive use by bicyclists with pavement markings and signs, if used.
Bikeway
A generic term for any road, street, path or way in which some manner is specifically designated for bicycle travel, regardless of whether such facilities are designated for the exclusive use of bicycles or are to be shared with other transportation modes.
Bituminous asphalt/blacktop/pavement
A pavement comprising layers of aggregate mixed with a bituminous binder, such as asphalt, coal tars and natural tars.
Bottleneck
A localized section of highway that experiences reduced speeds and inherent delays due to a recurring operational influence or a nonrecurring impacting event.
Buffered bike lane
A bicycle lane accompanied by a designated buffer space, separating the bicycle lane from the adjacent travel lane.
Bus rapid transit (BRT)
A high-quality bus-based transit system that delivers fast and efficient service that may include dedicated lanes, busways, traffic signal priority, off-board fare collection, elevated platforms and enhanced stations.
Business loop (BL)
A type of business route that starts and ends at its parent interstate route and is designated by a special green version of the interstate route shield.
Business route (BR)
A route that connects to a parent US or M route and is designated by a "Business" banner above the U.S. or M route shield. Business routes usually lead into a downtown business district and usually but not always connect to the parent route at both ends.
Business spur (BS)
A business spur is a business route that starts (but does not end) at its parent interstate route and is designated by a special green version of the interstate route shield.
Cable median barrier
Consists of steel wire ropes mounted on posts, designed to prevent a vehicle from leaving the road and striking an object that would create a potentially more dangerous situation.
Cantilever sign support structure
Consists of a steel rigid structural element extending above the roadway and is supported at only one end with a concrete foundation. Cantilever structures are structural supports for static traffic signs.
Capital preventive maintenance (CPM)
A cost-effective treatment to an existing roadway system and its appurtenances that preserves the system, retards future deterioration and maintains or improves the functional condition of the system without significantly increasing structural capacity.
Carpool parking lot (CPL)
Provided for daily carpool/vanpool commuter parking. Not intended for residential, commercial or long-term parking exceeding 72 hours.
Categorical exclusion (CE)
A category of actions that do not have a significant impact on the human environment and for which, therefore, neither an environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement is required.
Chip seal
The application of a polymer modified asphalt emulsion with a cover aggregate. This is considered a Capital Preventive Maintenance treatment.
Clean Air Act (CAA)
Congressionally mandated act seeking to protect human health and the environment from emissions that pollute ambient, or outdoor, air. It requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish minimum national standards for air quality (National Ambient Air Quality Standards), and assigns primary responsibility to the states to assure compliance with the standards through the State Implementation Plan.
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
The codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the executive departments and agencies of the federal government.
Cold mill
Operation used to correct rutting in the existing hot-mix asphalt surface layer by removing the existing hot-mix asphalt surface. This is done where the rutting is not caused by a weak base and when the condition of the existing pavement has deteriorated to a point where it is not practical to correct the rutting problem by a more economical treatment.
Collector
These roads serve a critical role in the roadway network by gathering traffic from Local Roads and funneling them to the Arterial network. Collectors are divided into Major and Minor Collectors based on characteristics.
Commercial annual average daily traffic (CAADT)
The estimated mean daily traffic volume for commercial vehicles at a specified location or roadway.
Commercial motor vehicle (CMV)
Motor vehicle transporting passengers or property, designed to transport 16 or more passengers, weight is 26,001 pounds or more, or is carrying hazardous material.
Communication tower
Freestanding structures designed to support antennas for telecommunications and broadcasting, supporting various signals, including television, cellular phone, wireless Internet and radio.
Complete Streets (CS)
Roadways planned, designed and built to provide appropriate access to all legal users (inclusive of all transportation modes) in a manner that promotes safe and efficient movement of people and goods whether by car, truck, transit, assistive device, foot or bicycle. This is considered a Linear Referencing System.
Comprehensive Transportation Fund (CTF)
A state restricted fund for public transportation purposes created in section 10b of 1951 Public Act 51.
Congestion Management Process (CMP)
A systematic and regionally accepted approach for managing congestion that provides accurate, up-to-date information on transportation system performance and assesses alternative strategies for congestion management that meet state and local needs. A CMP is required in metropolitan areas with population exceeding 200,000, known as Transportation Management Areas (TMAs).
Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ)
A program that provides a funding source for state and local governments to fund transportation projects and programs to help meet the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA) and its amendments; codified at 23 United States Codes (USC) Section 149.
Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV)
A vehicle that employs both automated and connected technologies. These two technologies work together cooperatively to further enhance the safety benefits offered by each.
Connected Vehicle (CV)
A vehicle with equipment, applications or systems that use Vehicle to Everything (V2X) communications to address safety, system efficiency or mobility on our roadways.
Construction (CON)
The supervising, inspecting, actual building and incurrence of all costs incidental to the construction or reconstruction of a highway or any project eligible for assistance under United States Code (USC) Title 23.
Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS)
A collaborative, interdisciplinary approach that involves all stakeholders to provide a transportation facility that fits its physical setting and preserves scenic, aesthetic, historic and environmental resources, while maintaining safety and mobility.
Control section (CS)
A number assigned to a section of state trunkline that includes the mainline segments as well as any ramps or other facilities associated with that section. The first two digits represent the county in which the control section is located.
Count station
State highway and transportation agencies build, operate and maintain a system of traffic count stations to monitor roadway use by obtaining vehicle volume, vehicle class and vehicle weight information. Most Count Stations are temporary, while a small percentage of Continuous Count Stations collects data year-round.
County Road Association of Michigan (CRA)
A collective of 83 county road agencies and voice of the county road and bridge network, providing advocacy, education and communication resources.
Crack
A fracture of a pavement surface not necessarily extending through the entire thickness of the pavement.
Crack fill
This pavement maintenance treatment involves using a hot air lance or compressed air to blow out the debris in the crack, then filling with a sealant.
Crack seal
Reduces water and incompressible from entering the pavement structure, thus slowing the deterioration rate of the pavement. This process involves the sawing, cleaning and sealing of cracks in the concrete pavement.
Crosswalk
Any portion of a roadway at an intersection or elsewhere that is distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other markings on the surface.
Culvert
A structure that is usually designed hydraulically to convey surface runoff through an embankment. The span is less than 20 feet.
Curb ramp
A combined ramp and landing to accomplish a change in level at a curb. This element provides street and sidewalk access to pedestrians using wheelchairs, strollers or other devices with wheels.
Cure
A period of time following placement and finishing of a material such as concrete during which desirable engineering properties (such as strength) develop.
Delineator
A retroreflective device mounted on the side of the roadway in a series to indicate the alignment of the roadway, especially at night or in adverse weather.
Michigan Department of State (MDOS)
A State of Michigan agency that manages the transportation‑related regulatory, licensing and customer‑service functions that keep that system operating smoothly.
Design hourly volume (DHV)
The number of vehicles that travel through a segment of roadway during the design hour. The design hour is typically the 30th highest volume hour of the year.
Design-build (DB)
An alternative contracting method where MDOT enters into a single contract with a design-builder to design and build a transportation facility.
Diamond-grinding
A preventive maintenance treatment that uses closely-spaced diamond sawblades. Consists of removing surface irregularities from concrete pavements that are often caused by faulting, curling and warping of the slabs.
Distracted driving
Any non-driving activity that diverts the attention from the primary task of driving.
Distress index (DI)
The retired surface distress score that was last collected in 2019. The scale of DI begins at 0 for new pavements with no distresses and increases infinitely. The threshold value indicating the pavement is in poor condition is 50, equating to an RSL of 0.
Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI)
Intersection design that accommodates left-turn movements onto arterials and limited access highways while eliminating the need for a left-turn signal phase at the signalized ramp terminal intersection (also known as Double Crossover Diamond Interchange).
Dowel bar
Short, smooth steel bars that provide positive load transfer across pavement joints to greatly reduce critical deflections and stresses, thereby reducing the potential for pumping and faulting at joints, as well as slab cracking. They are embedded into the concrete and not visible from the roadway.
Downstream
A term that refers to a location that is encountered by traffic subsequent to an upstream location as it flows in an “upstream to downstream” direction.
Dynamic Message Sign (DMS)
Digital signs with changeable messages to alert drivers to inclement weather, crashes and other incidents. These are located along highways and roads to provide real-time information to drivers.
Dynamic message sign support structure
A standalone vertical support with horizontal arms that support electronic signs and access walkways. They are mounted on a concrete foundation with anchor bolts and often hold programmable electronic signs that are located along highways and roads to provide real-time information to drivers.
Dynamic Traffic Assignment (DTA)
A modeling approach that captures the relationship between dynamic route choice behaviors (path and start time) and transportation network characteristics.
E-bike
A device upon which an individual may ride that is equipped with a seat or saddle for use by the rider, fully operable pedals for human propulsion and an electric motor of not greater than 750 watts.
Early Preliminary Engineering (EPE)
Includes planning, environmental and engineering analysis prior to the formal design or preliminary engineering (PE) phase.
Economic Benefit Analysis (EBA)
Transportation-related economic analysis that considers the broad economic landscape and factors critical to transportation projects. These assessments are based on employment projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and economic outlook data for the United States and Michigan sourced from the Research Seminar in Quantitative Economics at the University of Michigan.
Embedded pole
Used to support span wires, signs, signals, lighting, cameras or other traffic appurtenances, generally located on non-freeway routes and installed at intersections.
Ending mile point (EMP)
Within a linear referencing system (e.g., control section, physical road), denotes the associated mile point at the end of a segment of road.
Engineering infrastructure
Emphasis area of the Michigan Strategic Highway Safety Plan(SHSP) focused on applying engineering principles, positive communication, outreach, opportunities, recognition and research activities to identify safety risks and subsequent countermeasures that reduce the number and severity of crashes.
Environmental Assessment (EA)
A concise public document for which a federal agency is responsible that serves to briefly provide sufficient evidence and analysis for determining whether to prepare an environmental impact statement or a finding of no significant impact, aid an agency's compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) when no environmental impact statement is necessary, and facilitate preparation of a statement when one is necessary.
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
A document that is prepared when an action is deemed to have a significant impact on the environment required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This must be prepared by the lead agencies, in cooperation with the applicant (if not a lead agency). The final EIS must identify the preferred alternative and evaluate all reasonable alternatives considered. It must also summarize public involvement and describe the mitigation measures to be incorporated into the proposed action.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
A U.S. government agency whose mission is to protect human health and the environment by regulating pollution and enforcing environmental laws.
Environmental Sensor Station (ESS) tower
Single vertical supports of built-up steel or aluminum supported on a concrete foundation with anchor bolts, designed to gather ESS data and camera images, which are then distributed over cellular communication to servers hosted by MDOT.
Fatality
Any injury which results in death within 30 days after the motor vehicle crash in which the injury occurred.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
An agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation responsible for regulating civil aviation to promote safety, encouraging and developing civil aeronautics, and operating a system of air traffic control and navigation.
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
An agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation that supports state and local governments in the design, construction and maintenance of the nation’s highway system (Federal Aid Highway Program) and various federally and tribal owned lands.
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)
An agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation responsible for regulating and promoting rail safety, funding rail infrastructure and conducting research to improve rail transportation.
Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
An agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation that supports transit systems nationwide, including buses, subways, light rail, commuter rail, trolleys and ferries, through funding and technical assistance. FTA also oversees safety protecting transit riders and workers, and helps develop the next generation of transit innovation through research.
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)
If the agency determines that the action will not have significant environmental impacts, the agency will issue a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). A FONSI is a document that presents the reasons why the agency has concluded that there are no significant environmental impacts projected to occur upon implementation of the action.
Fiscal Year (FY)
A 12-month accounting period that may not coincide with the calendar year. The State of Michigan’s fiscal year begins on Oct. 1 and ends on Sept. 30 of the following calendar year.
Five-Year Transportation Program (5YTP)
An annual documented produced by MDOT that outlines planned investments across all modes early in the planning process to support program delivery, encourage local coordination and provide opportunities for public engagement. Updated each year, it invites public input on progress toward an equitable, resilient and sustainable transportation system, as well as the challenges in achieving those goals.
Flex routes
A lane control system that uses overhead signs, cameras and electronic message boards to let drivers know when the upgraded shoulder is available for use as a travel lane during morning and afternoon peak travel periods.
Footpath
An unpaved travel way formed naturally by pedestrian use, often due to the lack of pedestrian facilities. Also known as “goat trails” or “desire lines.”
Frangible pole structure
These structures have a transformer base designed to break away at impact to protect the safety of motorists, typically used with light poles in areas with higher risks of collisions and within the roadway clear zones, pedestrian walkways or in close proximity to traffic.
Freeway
A divided arterial highway with full control of access and grade separations at intersections. Freeway includes the ramps.
Freight
Any good, product or raw material carried by a commercial means of transportation, including air, highway, rail, water and pipeline.
Fundamental Data Elements (FDE)
The minimum subset of the roadway and traffic data elements from the Federal Highway Administration's Model Inventory of Roadway Elements (MIRE) that are used to support a state's data-driven safety program.
Gantry
Structure used to straddle an object or workspace. Used to support signage along highways.
General Program Account (GPA)
Projects that are not regionally significant may be grouped together under one General Program Account (GPA) category to streamline Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and State TIP (STIP) development processes and minimize the need to amend the TIP and STIP. Currently, MDOT has 11 GPA categories for specific trunkline and local road and transit projects.
Geographic Information System (GIS)
A system that combines geography with computer systems to capture, store, analyze and display location-based data. In simple terms, it is a map linked to a database.
Global Positioning System (GPS)
A satellite based, passive, three-dimensional navigational system operated and maintained by the Department of Defense (DOD) having the primary purpose of supporting tactical and strategic military operations.
Grade-separated crossing
A facility, such as an overpass, underpass, skywalk or tunnel, that allows pedestrians and motor vehicles to cross each other at different levels.
Grooving
A treatment in which narrow grooves are sawcut into the pavement surface, typically in the direction of traffic, and typically 0.75-inches apart.
Guardrail (GR)
A safety barrier intended to shield a motorist who has left the roadway.
Headway
The time interval between successive vehicles in a traffic stream.
High-Friction Surface Treatment (HFST)
The application of very high-quality aggregate to the pavement using a polymer binder to restore and/or maintain pavement friction at existing or potentially high crash areas. The higher pavement friction helps motorists maintain better control in both dry and wet driving conditions.
High Mast Lighting Tower (HMLT)
Tall, vertical light poles mounted on a concrete foundation with anchor bolts, with heights ranging from 60 to 200 feet. HMLTs are designed to support powerful lighting fixtures at a considerable height above ground, delivering adequate and uniform illumination over a vast area and along roadways.
High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV)
Any motor vehicle carrying no fewer than two occupants, including the driver of the vehicle.
High-Risk Rural Road (HRRR)
Any roadway functionally classified as a rural major or minor collector, or rural local road with significant safety risks.
High-risk behaviors
Preventable driving behaviors that lead to user errors and result in traffic crashes. These include distracted driving, impaired driving and not wearing a seatbelt.
Highway (HWY)
Any road (whether a federal highway, state highway, city street, rural road or otherwise) in the United States that is not a private roadway.
Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS)
National-level highway information system that includes data on the extent, condition, performance, use and operating characteristics of the nation's highways. The data is used extensively at the federal level in the analysis of highway system condition and performance, but more importantly in the appropriation of federal highway dollars and in support of federal efforts to secure increased transportation funding.
Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP)
Core federal-aid program with the purpose to achieve a significant reduction in traffic fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads, including non-state-owned roads and roads on tribal land.
Highway Trust Fund (HTF)
Federal accounting mechanism that receives revenue mainly from transportation-related excise taxes and provides a dedicated source of funding for surface transportation.
Hot-mix asphalt (HMA)
Manufactured in a central mixing facility (typically called a hot-mix plant) and consists of high-quality aggregate and asphalt cement.
Impaired driver
A person operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
Intelligent Transportation System (ITS)
A combination of electronics, telecommunications and information technology used in the transportation sector for improving safety and travel times on the transportation system.
Interchange
A system of interconnecting roadways providing for traffic movement between two or more highways that do not intersect at grade.
Intermodal terminal
A location where links between different transportation modes and networks connect.
International Roughness Index (IRI)
Statistics calculated from a single longitudinal profile measured with a road profiler in both the inside and outside wheelpaths of the pavement. The average of these two IRI statistics is reported as the roughness of the pavement section.
Intersection crash
A crash that occurs at an intersection or is influenced by an intersection.
Interstate
Interstates are the highest classification of arterials, designed and built with mobility and long-distance travel in mind.
Interstate highway system
System consisting of routes of highest importance to the nation, built to the uniform geometric and construction standards of 23 United States Code (USC). 109(h), which connect, as directly as practicable, the principal metropolitan areas, cities and industrial centers, including important routes into, through and around urban areas, serve the national defense and, to the greatest extent possible, connect at suitable border points with routes of continental importance in Canada and Mexico.
Job number (JN)
A number assigned by MDOT to uniquely identify all of the work activities required to be performed to prepare or maintain a specific transportation system component.
Key Performance Indicators (KPI)
A subset of the most critical outcome metrics used for strategic decision-making and monitoring progress toward strategic department-level objectives and goals. Strategy indicators are intentionally limited to the select few.
Lane departure crash
A crash resulting from a vehicle crossing an edge line, center line or otherwise leaving the traveled way.
Lane miles
One mile of roadway that is intended for driving.
Leading Pedestrian Interval (LPI)
A traffic signal timing adjustment whereby pedestrians receive a “Walk” signal several seconds before vehicles receive a green light. This allows the pedestrian to establish their presence in the crosswalk before vehicles turn the corner and enter the crosswalk, encouraging vehicles to yield to the pedestrian.
Level of Service (LOS)
A collection of measures of automobile congestion and travel time delay. LOS is intended to represent a traveler's perception of the quality of service provided by an individual intersection or roadway segment, as measured by the standard of free-flowing automobile traffic.
Level of travel time reliability (LOTTR)
The percent of person-miles traveled on the relevant National Highway System (NHS) areas, interstate and non-interstate, that are reliable.
Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA)
An engineering economic analysis tool that allows transportation officials to quantify the differential costs of alternative investment options for a given project.
Life cycle planning and management
An investment approach that considers maintenance, renewal, replacement or repair options through an asset's service life with the intent to maximize the benefit provided by the asset at the minimum practicable cost.
Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR)
An active remote-sensing method that creates 3D point cloud datasets from emitted pulses of light. The LiDAR unit emits pulses of light that reflect from objects and return to the unit’s sensor. The difference in time between each light pulse emitted and returned creates a location in space. Each location is in x, y, z coordinates, called a “point” and when combined together, called a “point cloud.”
Limited access
A freeway, highway or street especially designed or designated 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 by reason of the fact that their property abuts upon such limited access facility, or for any other reason to accomplish the purpose of a limited access facility.
Linear Referencing System (LRS)
The method for storing geographic locations by using relative positions along a measured linear feature. Distance measures are used to locate events along the line.
Local Agency Program (LAP)
Administers the local allocation of federal and state aid programs (road, special funding and bridge). The program is responsible for the development of statewide processes for the implementation of all required state and federal regulations as it relates to local agencies.
Local road
Locally classified roads account for the largest percentage of all roadways in terms of mileage. Once all Arterial and Collector roadways are identified, all remaining roadways are classified as Local Roads.
Lock (In shipping channel)
A channel where the water is raised or lowered to allow boats to travel between water bodies with different elevations.
Maintenance
Preservation of the entire highway, including surfaces, shoulders, roadsides, structures and such traffic control devices as are necessary for its safe and efficient utilization.
Marine terminal
Parcels of land, generally adjacent to the waterway, that have adequate structures and equipment to load, unload or store marine cargoes or passengers.
Mast arms
Steel pole structures with one or more horizontal beams or arms that extend from the vertical support structure and are commonly used to hold traffic signals, luminaries, signs, cameras and other appurtenances. The steel pole is supported on a drilled shaft concrete foundation with anchor bolts.
Median island
An island in the center of a road that physically separates the directional flow of traffic that provides pedestrians with a place of refuge, reducing the crossing distance and simplifies a crossing by creating two short crossings. Also known as pedestrian refuge islands.
Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)
Federal transportation legislation requires that an MPO be designated for each urbanized area with a population of more than 50,000 people in order to carry out the metropolitan transportation planning process, as a condition of federal aid.
Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT)
The State of Michigan executive branch department responsible for Michigan’s nearly 10,000-mile state highway system, comprised of all M, I and U.S.-routes. It is the backbone of Michigan’s 120,000-mile highway, road and street network.
Michigan Transportation Fund (MTF)
Fund created by Public Act 51 of 1951 and where revenues collected through highway user fees (state motor fuels taxes, vehicle registration fees and other miscellaneous automobile-related taxes) are deposited.
Micromobility
Small, low-speed human or electric-powered transportation devices, including but not limited to bicycles, scooters or other small, lightweight wheeled conveyances.
Microsurfacing
A mixture of polymer-modified asphalt emulsion, mineral aggregate, mineral filler, water and other additives, properly proportioned, mixed and spread on a paved surface. Unlike slurry seal, microsurfacing can be used on high-volume roadways to correct wheel path rutting and provide a skid resistant pavement surface.
Mile point (MP)
Serves the important function of sequencing the intersections along the physical road in a linear referencing system. Even if the mile points change, the relative order of the mile points for any two intersection physical road numbers along a physical road never change in the referencing system except to correct an error.
Milling
Entails removal of the pavement surface using a milling machine, which can remove up to 50 millimeters (2 inches) in thickness in a single pass.
Minor Arterial (MA)
Provides service for trips of moderate length, serves geographic areas that are smaller than their higher arterial counterparts and offers connectivity to the higher arterial system. In an urban context, they interconnect and augment the higher arterial system, provide intra-community continuity and may carry local bus routes.
Mission
A concise declaration of an organization’s purpose, explaining why it exists, who it services and the impact it aims to create. MDOT’s mission is to “Serve and connect people, communities and the economy through transportation.”
Model Inventory of Roadway Elements (MIRE)
A comprehensive list of roadway and traffic data elements and accompanying data dictionary that serves as a robust inventory model to support data-driven safety decision-making such as those presented in the Highway Safety Manual.
Mobility management
An innovative approach for managing and delivering coordinated transportation services to customers, including older adults, people with disabilities and individuals of low income.
M-route
The Michigan State Highway System consists of roads numbered within Michigan and signed with an M-route shield. M routes are under the jurisdiction of MDOT.
National Bridge Inventory (NBI)
Bridge inventory information collected by each state transportation department, federal agency and tribal government is reported to the FHWA, as requested, in accordance with the National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS) reporting requirements. The resulting information is maintained in the National Bridge Inventory (NBI) database, which enables state- and national-level analyses and reporting, supports federal funding programs, and facilitates the identification of freight and defense-critical corridors and connectors.
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA)
A federal law that requires MDOT to assess the environmental impacts of proposed actions. Often considered an "umbrella law" as it provides the framework for compliance with all environmental laws.
National Functional Classification (NFC)
An MDOT term for the Highway Functional Classification values. FHWA developed the Highway Functional Classification method for all public roads. The higher functions emphasize mobility, the lower functions have more property access. The values from the highest mobility function down to the lowest include interstate, other freeways, other principal arterials, minor arterials, major collectors, minor collectors and local.
National Highway System (NHS)
Includes the Interstate Highway System as well as other roads important to the nation's economy, defense and mobility. The NHS was developed by the US Department of Transportation in cooperation with the states, local officials and metropolitan planning organizations.
National Network (NTN)
A road network on which states must allow conventional combinations of commercial vehicles. It includes the Interstate System and portions of the Federal-aid Primary System that link principal cities and densely developed areas. These routes are high volume, utilized extensively by large vehicles for interstate commerce and do not have any unusual characteristics causing current or anticipated safety problems.
Noise barrier wall
A wall constructed along a roadway to reduce the noise level in areas behind the wall. May also be referred to as "noise wall" or "sound wall."
Non-frangible pole structure
Not considered breakaway structures and are used outside of roadway clear zones or are shielded typically by a guardrail to protect motorists. The steel or aluminum pole is mounted directly on a concrete foundation with anchor bolts. The non-frangible poles may support a variety of luminaires and different types of pole attachments and connections.
Non-motorized
Transportation modes including biking, walking, equestrian and horse-drawn vehicles as well as other non-powered transportation devices.
Obligation
A legal commitment: the federal/state government’s promise to pay for the federal/state share of a project’s eligible cost. This commitment occurs when FHWA or MDOT approves the project and executes the project agreement
Older drivers
Drivers age 65 and older.
Other freeways
These roadways have directional travel lanes, which are usually separated by some type of physical barrier, and their access and egress points are usually limited to on- and off-ramp locations.
Other principal arterials
These roadways serve major centers of metropolitan areas, provide a high degree of mobility and can also provide mobility through rural areas. Unlike their access-controlled counterparts, abutting land uses can be served directly. Forms of access for Other Principal Arterial roadways include driveways to specific parcels and at-grade intersections with other roadways.
Overbanding
A Capital Preventive Maintenance (CPM) treatment consists of cleaning all the primary and secondary cracks in the HMA pavement surface and placing an overband crack fill asphalt rubber product. This reduces the amount of water and incompressible material entering the pavement structure.
Pavement load transfer
The ability of a joint or crack in a concrete pavement to transfer load from one slab to the next through shear action. Load transfer influences the magnitude of deflections in the slabs under loading and the distribution of stresses in the slabs.
Pavement Management System (PMS)
The set of tools, methods and data that assist decision-makers in their attempt to maximize strategies for providing, evaluating and maintaining NHS bridge and pavement assets in a serviceable condition over a period of time.
Pavement markings
Painted or applied line(s) or legend placed on any travel surface for regulating, guiding or warning traffic.
Pavement patch
Involves selectively repairing portions of the pavement where the slabs are generally in good condition but corners or joints are broken. The depth of the patch could be full depth or partial depth.
Pavement reconstruction
Typically involves removing and replacing the entire pavement structure. Sometimes the aggregate materials may be left in place and incorporated in the new pavement structure. Reconstruction projects have a design life of 20 years or more. This fix is typically applied to pavements with a remaining service life of two years or less.
Pavement rehabilitation
A fix that improves, salvages and/or reconditions an existing pavement. Rehabilitation fixes are typically applied to pavements with a remaining service life of two years or less.
Pavement working crack
Cracks that experience considerable horizontal or vertical movement as a result of temperature change or traffic loading. In general, movement greater than or equal to 3 millimeters.
Physical gore
A longitudinal point where a physical barrier or the lack of a paved surface inhibits road users from crossing from a ramp or channelized turn lane or channelized entering lane to the adjacent through lane(s) or vice versa.
Physical Road Number (PR)
Numeric identifiers assigned to represent segments of the road, rail and nonmotorized transportation network in an LRS, physically traversable by wheeled vehicles. All public road segments 26 feet or more will receive a PR.
Plan
Provides a framework that identifies system needs and outlines the strategies, investment priorities and performance expectations required to achieve the transportation system’s goals and objectives within a defined timeframe.
Platoon
A group of vehicles or pedestrians traveling together as a group, either voluntarily or involuntarily, because of traffic signal controls, geometrics or other factors.
Port
Places generally located alongside navigable water (e.g., oceans, rivers, or lakes) with facilities for the loading and unloading of passengers or cargo from ships, ferries and other commercial vessels. These facilities may be operated by different entities, including state or local public port authorities, private terminal operators and federal agencies.
Pothole
A depression in the pavement surface that forms when water gets through the road surface into the gravel beneath it. When that water freezes, it expands and pushes the pavement up. When the ground thaws, vehicles push the pavement back down, breaking it and forming a pothole.
Preliminary Engineering (PE)
The location, design and related work preparatory to the advancement of a project to physical construction.
Program
A coordinated and structured approach used to develop, prioritize and deliver projects within approved funding and schedule constraints, ensuring measurable progress toward the plan’s goals and objectives.
Protected intersection
A design where bicyclists do not merge in with car traffic at any point. The bicycle lane is extended around the intersection, protected at each corner by a corner island that also serves to tighten the turn radius. Bicyclists who want to cross the street pull up past the crosswalk into a bike queue area that, combined with signal phasing, gives them a head start when the light turns green. The curb extensions narrow the roadway so that both bicyclists and pedestrians have a shorter crossing distance and are more visible to drivers, especially those preparing to make a turn.
Public road
Any road under the jurisdiction of and maintained by a public authority and open to public travel.
No definitions.
Rail-grade crossing
Type of intersection where a road crosses an at-grade railroad
Raised crosswalk
Raised above the surface of the roadway. Raised crosswalks enhance the visibility of the crosswalk users and encourage slower traffic. Signs and pavement markings are often included.
Ramp meters
Traffic signals installed on freeway on ramps to control the frequency at which vehicles enter the flow of traffic on the freeway. Ramp metering reduces overall freeway congestion by managing the amount of traffic entering the freeway and by breaking up platoons that make it difficult to merge onto the freeway.
Rate of fatalities
Ratio of the total number of fatalities to the number of vehicle miles traveled (VMT) (expressed in 100 million VMT) in a calendar year.
Rate of serious injuries
Ratio of the total number of serious injuries to the number of vehicle miles traveled (expressed in 100 million vehicle miles of travel) in a calendar year.
Regional Planning Agency (RPA)
Sometimes referred to as a council of government, it is a multi-service entity with state- and locally-defined boundaries that delivers a variety of federal, state and local programs while carrying out its function as a planning organization, technical assistance provider, and “visionary” to its member local governments. Technical assistance includes contracting with MDOT to provide transportation planning and program support ensure federal policies and programs in the rural areas of Michigan are adhered to.
Regional Traffic Safety Plan (RTSP)
Framework for addressing a region’s key safety needs and reducing fatalities and serious injuries on all its roads.
Request for Action (RFA)
Bridge and ancillary structures process used by multiple work areas and organizations to document critical findings and to resolve any actions that should be completed prior to the next scheduled routine inspection. RFAs have varying degrees of urgency requiring ongoing prioritization and monitoring of implementation by the state.
Resilience
The ability to anticipate, prepare for and adapt to changing conditions and withstand, respond to and recover rapidly from disruption.
Retaining wall
Earth retaining structure, often located along a highway, that retains and stabilizes unstable soil mass by means of lateral support or reinforcement. Generally, one end of the retaining wall is attached to either soil, a bridge abutment or other structure(s) and the other to soil.
Right of way (ROW)
A general term denoting land, property or interest therein, usually in a strip, acquired for or devoted to transportation purposes.
Right-sizing
A fundamental re-sizing (either larger or smaller) of existing roadway assets to better fit current and emerging needs over time. This includes developing a right-sizing policy to manage/reduce life-cycle costs and achieve best and highest use of assets and revenues.
Risk
The positive or negative effects of uncertainty or variability upon agency objectives.
Risk management
The processes and framework for managing potential risks, including identifying, analyzing, evaluating and addressing the risks to assets and system performance.
Roadway
The portion of a highway improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular travel.
Road diet
The process of reconfiguring the lanes (number of lanes) of a road, often results in the creation of space for bicycle lanes, paved shoulders, refuge islands or other facilities.
Roundabout
A circular intersection design increasingly being used by MDOT where drivers yield to vehicles already circulating. Roundabouts have been proven to reduce traffic delays and overall congestion.
Route miles
A measurement of road length without regard to number of lanes or division.
Rubblize
The process of disintegrating concrete pavement or structures using hydraulic breakers, jackhammers, or specialized machinery to produce rubble suitable as a base course for hot-mix asphalt.
Rumble strips
A textured or grooved pavement treatment designed to create noise and vibration to alert motorists of a need to change their path or speed. Longitudinal rumble strips are sometimes used on or along shoulders or center lines of highways to alert motorists who stray from the appropriate traveled way. Transverse rumble strips are placed on the roadway surface in the travel lane, perpendicular to the direction of travel.
Rural Task Force (RTF)
A program that provides federal dollars to rural counties with a population less than 400,000 (78 out of 83 counties in Michigan). These dollars must be spent in their geographic areas; both road and transit capital projects are eligible.
Safe Routes to School (SRTS)
An international movement (now a federal program) to make it safe, convenient and fun for children, including those with disabilities, to bicycle and walk to school.
Safe System Approach (SSA)
Founded on the principle that all humans make mistakes and that human bodies have a limited ability to tolerate crash impacts. It is a redundant system that strives to eliminate fatalities and serious injuries by reducing risks and anticipating mistakes.
Safety culture
Shared values, actions and behaviors that demonstrate a commitment to safety over competing goals.
Scoping
Identifying the need, determining the goals and developing the items of work, costs and risks associated for a future project or corridor.
Separated bike lane
A bicycle facility separated from other modes of travel by a vertical element such as on-street parking, bollards/delineators, curbing or grade-separation. Separated bike lanes can be one direction or bi-directional.
Serious injury
Any injury, other than fatal, which incapacitates a person from continuing normal physical activity that was capable prior to the crash.
Share the Road
A program that teaches the public, truck and bus drivers how to safely share the road and respect everyone’s rights.
Shared-use pathway
A bikeway physically separated from motor vehicle traffic by an open space or barrier, either within the highway right of way or an independent right of way. Shared-use paths also may be used by pedestrians, skaters, wheelchair users, joggers and other nonmotorized users. Most shared-use paths are designed for two-way travel. Also known as multi-use pathways.
Shoulder
The portion of the roadway contiguous with the traveled way that accommodates stopped vehicles, emergency use and lateral support of sub-base, base and surface courses. Shoulders, where paved, are often used by bicyclists.
Sidepath
A shared-use path located within highway right of way that is adjacent and parallel to a roadway.
Sidewalk
That portion of a street or highway right of way, beyond the curb or edge of roadway pavement, that is intended for use by pedestrians.
Single-Point Urban Interchange (SPUI)
A type of diamond interchange that offers improved traffic-carrying ability, safer operation and reduced right of way needs under certain conditions when compared to other interchange configurations. The distinguishing feature of this interchange is the convergence of all through- and left-turning movements into a single, signalized intersection area.
Small Urban Program
A program that provides federal Surface Transportation Program (STP) funding to areas with a population of 5,000 to 49,999.
Speed bump
A small sharply raised section of road that encourages reduction in vehicle speeds by causing discomfort when driven over at excessive speeds.
Spun concrete pole
High mast prestressed precast concrete poles used to support Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) infrastructure such as cameras and radar detectors. They do not have standard concrete foundations and are embedded in soil and sometimes the addition of a cast in place concrete skirt.
State Long-Range Transportation Plan (SLRTP)
A 25-year plan that defines the long-term direction for the future of a state’s transportation network for all users.
State Transportation Commission (STC)
The policy-making body for all state transportation programs. It is comprised of six members appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the state senate.
State trunkline
All roads under MDOT jurisdiction, including all I, M and U.S. routes, Interstate business loops and spurs, US business routes, M business routes, connector routes and unsigned state trunkline in Michigan.
State Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP)
A federally mandated planning document that includes a list of surface transportation projects to be funded with federal funds. The document covers a period of four years and is updated every three years. The STIP project list covers the non-urbanized area in Michigan. Urbanized areas with a census designated population of 50,000 or more people are covered by a metropolitan planning organization. Each MPO is responsible for producing its own TIP.
Surface Transportation Authorization
A congressionally enacted law that grants the federal government the authority to fund and operate surface transportation programs. These laws typically span five to six years, and are eligible for reauthorization to continue federal funding for transportation programs, update policy priorities, and adjust funding levels.
Steel strain pole
Standalone vertical pole made of steel that supports signals, lighting, cameras or other traffic devices with a span wire support system to hold the wires, cables and other equipment. They are built in a variety of configurations and may be round or multi-sided and are supported on a drilled shaft concrete foundation. Steel strain poles, unlike embedded poles that are placed in soil, use anchor bolts to transfer load from the pole to the concrete foundation.
Strategic corridor
An integrated, multimodal system serving the movement of people, services and goods that are vital to the economy. They link the state’s key activity centers (concentrations of people, jobs, educational and medical services, freight and intermodal facilities, tourist attractions and other similar destinations) to each other.
Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP)
A data-driven, four-year comprehensive plan whose purpose is to identify key safety needs and guide investment decisions to eliminate highway fatalities and serious injuries.
Surface spalling
Cracking, breaking, chipping or fraying of concrete slab edges at joints and cracks, a common distress in jointed concrete pavements.
Temporary Traffic Control Plan (TTC)
Describes measures to be used for facilitating road users through a work zone or an incident area. TTC plans play a vital role in facilitating road user flow when a work zone, incident or other event temporarily disrupts normal road user flow.
Thin overlay
A dense graded, small nominal maximum aggregate size asphalt mixture placed at a thickness of less than 1.5 inches using conventional asphalt production and placement operations.
Toward Zero Deaths (TZD)
National strategy of highway safety advocating for the elimination of deaths and serious injuries on our roads.
Traffic calming
The primary purpose of traffic calming is to support the livability and vitality of residential and commercial areas through improvements in nonmotorist safety, mobility and comfort. These objectives are typically achieved by reducing vehicle speeds or volumes on a single street or a street network. Traffic calming measures consist of horizontal, vertical, lane narrowing, roadside and other features that use self-enforcing physical or psycho-perception means to produce desired effects.
Traffic counts
MDOT collects traffic data, in the form of traffic counts, on all trunkline (federal-aid) roads and works with individual local agencies (cities/villages, counties, metropolitan planning organizations and regional planning agencies) to collect traffic data for non-trunkline roads. There are two primary types of traffic counts that are used by MDOT: short counts (generally 48-hour collection periods) and continuous counts (continuous year-round).
Traffic signal cycle length
The time required for one complete sequence of signal indications.
Trail
A non-descriptive general term referring to off-roadway facilities but with no standardized definition. Often used interchangeably with “pathway” or “path,” the term “trail” should generally be avoided as it may refer to a range of facilities, including a coarse, unpaved hiking/biking route, a paved shared-use facility or a facility intended to serve people on horseback.
Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP)
A competitive grant program that uses federal transportation funds designated by Congress for specific activities that enhance the intermodal transportation system and provide safe alternative transportation options.
Transportation Asset Management (TAM)
A process to strategically manage our transportation system in a cost-effective and efficient manner.
Transportation Asset Management Council (TAMC)
A legislative body comprised of professionals from county road commissions, cities, county commissions, townships, regional and metropolitan planning organizations, and the state transportation department. Its mission is to promote asset management principles and practices, inform investment decisions among Michigan's agencies, and develop and support excellence in asset management.
Transportation Asset Management Plan (TAMP)
A strategic, risk-based document required for state departments of transportation to manage infrastructure (primarily bridges and pavements) on the National Highway System (NHS). It utilizes lifecycle planning, performance measures and financial analysis to optimize, maintain and repair assets in a cost-effective manner.
Transportation Count Database System (TCDS)
A powerful tool for the traffic engineer or planner to organize an agency's traffic count data. It provides access to upload data from a traffic counter; view graphs, lists and reports of historic traffic count data; search for count data using either the database or the Google map; and print or export data to your desktop.
Transportation Economic Development Fund (TEDF)
MDOT’s Office of Economic Development administers this fund and coordinates extensively with the Michigan Economic Development Corp. and local road agencies to provide necessary infrastructure improvements across the state. These investments are critical to the movement of people and products, getting workers to their jobs, materials to growers and manufacturers, and finished goods to consumers.
Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)
Each metropolitan planning organization is required to develop a Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), a list of upcoming transportation projects covering a period of at least four years. The TIP must be developed in cooperation with the state and public transit providers.
Transportation Management Area (TMA)
All urbanized areas with populations greater than 200,000. MPOs within a TMA are subject to special transportation planning and programming requirements.
Transportation network
Consists of physical elements, modes, services, management systems and operational strategies that enable the transport of people and goods.
Transportation Performance Management (TPM)
A strategic approach that uses system information to make investment and policy decisions to achieve national performance goals
Transportation Service Center (TSC)
MDOT's TSCs are designed to respond to the transportation needs of local communities. TSCs issue permits, perform road and bridge construction and maintenance, and respond to urgent transportation needs. TSC staff also advise local residents about state and federal funding opportunities and provide road and travel information.
Transportation system
A concept that includes the transportation network plus operational, organizational and functional components. Encompasses vehicles, users, technologies, policies and management strategies that make the network function. Focuses on how the entire system operates to move people and goods efficiently and safely.
Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO)
An integrated program to optimize the performance of existing multimodal infrastructure by implementing systems, services, and projects to maximize capacity and improve the security, safety and reliability of the transportation system.
Travel Demand Model (TDM)
A software tool that uses mathematical algorithms to forecast future travel for a specific region to support transportation planning and scenario testing.
Travel time reliability
The consistency or dependability of travel times from day to day or across different times of the day. This is measured for freight as Truck Travel Time Reliability.
Triennial Highway Safety Plan (3HSP)
Triennial plan identifying program activities supported by federal funds undertaken to reduce traffic crashes, fatalities and injuries.
Truss sign support structure
Consists of a steel rigid structural element spanning across the roadway with supporting columns at both ends with concrete foundations. Truss structures are structural supports for static traffic signs.
U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS)
An interconnected network of roads and/or paved shared-use pathways that are officially designated by the American Association of State and Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and connect one state with another, a state with an international boarder or two U.S. Bicycle Routes. In Michigan, U.S. Bicycle Routes are intended for long-distance touring bicyclists who are comfortable riding with traffic. U.S. Bicycle Routes are mapped and may or may not be signed.
United States Code (USC)
A consolidation and codification by subject matter of the general and permanent laws of the United States.
Urban area
Any area with a population over 5,000 is considered an urban area by FHWA. Small Urban Areas have a population from 5,000 to 49,999. Urbanized areas have a population of 50,000 and above.
United States Department of Transportation (USDOT)
A federal executive cabinet department responsible for planning and coordinating federal transportation projects. It also sets safety regulations for all major modes of transportation.
US-route
The United States Numbered Highway System consists of roads numbered within the contiguous United States and signed with a US-route shield. All US routes in Michigan are under the jurisdiction of MDOT.
Vehicle miles traveled (VMT)
Indicates how many vehicles have traveled over the distance of a route, for a data-reporting year, when reported as annual VMT. Can also be reported on a daily basis as DVMT (Daily Vehicle Miles Traveled)
Vulnerable road user (VRU)
Any road user such as a pedestrian, bicyclist, motorcyclist, or other non-motorized user who is unprotected by an outside shield and thus at a higher risk of injury in the event of a collision.
Weigh station
A set of scales located alongside a freeway that verifies that trucks and buses are within the legal weight limit.
Work zone
A portion of a street or highway open to vehicular traffic and adjacent to a barrier, berm, lane or shoulder of a street or highway within which construction, maintenance, public utility work, reconstruction, repair, resurfacing or surveying is being conducted by one or more individuals.
No definitions.
No definitions.
No definitions.
