[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 6]
[Revised as of October 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR611.5]

[Page 29-30]
 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
                             TRANSPORTATION
 
PART 611--MAJOR CAPITAL INVESTMENT PROJECTS--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 611.5  Definitions.

    The definitions established by Titles 12 and 49 of the United States 
Code, the Council on Environmental Quality's regulation at 40 CFR parts 
1500-1508, and FHWA-FTA regulations at 23 CFR parts 450 and 771 are 
applicable. In addition, the following definitions apply:
    Alternatives analysis is a corridor level analysis which evaluates 
all reasonable mode and alignment alternatives for addressing a 
transportation problem, and results in the adoption of a locally 
preferred alternative by the appropriate State and local agencies and 
official boards through a public process.
    Baseline alternative is the alternative against which the proposed 
new starts project is compared to develop project justification 
measures. Relative to the no build alternative, it should include 
transit improvements lower in cost than the new start which result in a 
better ratio of measures of transit mobility compared to cost than the 
no build alternative.
    BRT means bus rapid transit.
    Bus Rapid Transit refers to coordinated improvements in a transit 
system's infrastructure, equipment, operations, and technology that give 
preferential treatment to buses on fixed guideways and urban roadways. 
The intention of Bus Rapid Transit is to reduce bus travel time, improve 
service reliability, increase the convenience of users, and ultimately, 
increase bus ridership.
    Extension to existing fixed-guideway system means a project to 
extend an existing fixed guideway system.
    FFGA means a Full Funding Grant Agreement.
    Final Design is the final phase of project development, and includes 
(but is not limited to) the preparation of final construction plans 
(including construction management plans), detailed specifications, 
construction cost estimates, and bid documents.
    Fixed guideway system means a mass transportation facility which 
utilizes and occupies a separate right-of-way, or rail line, for the 
exclusive use of mass transportation and other high occupancy vehicles, 
or uses a fixed catenary system and a right of way usable by other forms 
of transportation. This includes, but is not limited to, rapid rail, 
light rail, commuter rail, automated guideway transit, people movers, 
ferry boat service, and fixed-guideway facilities for buses (such as bus 
rapid transit) and other high occupancy vehicles. A new fixed guideway 
system means a newly-constructed fixed guideway system in a corridor or 
alignment where no such system exists.
    FTA means the Federal Transit Administration.

[[Page 30]]

    Full Funding Grant Agreement means an instrument that defines the 
scope of a project, the Federal financial contribution, and other terms 
and conditions.
    Major transit investment means any project that involves the 
construction of a new fixed guideway system or extension of an existing 
fixed guideway system for use by mass transit vehicles.
    NEPA process means those procedures necessary to meet the 
requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as 
amended (NEPA), at 23 CFR part 771; the NEPA process is completed when a 
Record of Decision (ROD) or Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) is 
issued.
    New start means a new fixed guideway system, or an extension to an 
existing fixed guideway system.
    Preliminary Engineering is the process by which the scope of the 
proposed project is finalized, estimates of project costs, benefits and 
impacts are refined, NEPA requirements are completed, project management 
plans and fleet management plans are further developed, and local 
funding commitments are put in place.
    Secretary means the Secretary of Transportation.
    TEA-21 means the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century.