TxDOT Glossary: A

A+B Bidding: A+B bidding, also known as cost-plus-time bidding, involves time (with an associated cost) in the low bid determination. Bids consist of two components:; 1.)The “A” component is the traditional bid for the contract items and is the dollar amount for all work to be performed under the contract.; 2.)The “B” component is a “bid” of the total number of calendar days required to complete the project, as estimated by the bidder. The bid for award consideration is based on a combination of the bid for the contract items and the associated cost of the time, according to the following formula: (A) + (B x Road User Cost per Day); The formula is only used to determine the lowest bid for award and is not used to determine payment to the contractor. A disincentive provision, that assesses road user costs, is incorporated into the contract to discourage the contractor from overrunning the time “bid” for the project. In addition, an incentive provision should be included to reward the contractor if the work is completed earlier than the time “bid.” A+B bidding should be considered for critical projects having high road user delay costs.

abandonment: Abandonment is the relinquishment of the public interest in right-of-way or activity thereon with no intention to reclaim or use again for highway purposes.

Abilene District: ABL; The Abilene District is a TxDOT district office including the following counties: Bordon, Callahan, Fisher, Haskell, Howard, Jones, Kent, Mitchell, Nolan, Scurry, Shackelford, Stonewall, and Taylor. Area offices are located in Abilene, Big Spring, Hamlin and Snyder. The Abilene District also has a Vehicle Title and Registration Regional Office in Abilene.; Inside TxDOT

abnormal end: ABEND; An Abnormal End is when a computer job cannot be allowed to continue running. Either the operating system or an operator may give an ABEND condition to a job on the computer. Messages and codes are used to inform the user about what the condition is and in some cases a remedy is indicated.

absorption: Absorption is the amount of either water or asphalt cement absorbed by aggregate. It is expressed as a percent of the oven-dry weight of the same aggregate sample.absorption moisture content; Absorption moisture content is the moisture content at saturated surface dry condition.; Manual of Testing Procedures

abuse: Abuse is defined as the intentional deviations from approved procedures.; Quality Assurance Program Manual

abutment: An abutment is the part of a bridge consisting of the cap, backwall, and wingwalls at the ends of a bridge which supports the superstructure, contains the earth in the approach fills, and directly receives the impact loads produced by traffic passing from the roadway onto the bridge.An abutment is a wall supporting the end of a bridge or span, and sustaining the pressure of the abutting earth.; Bridge Detailing Manual

acceleration lane: Acceleration lane is a speed-change lane, including tapered areas, for the purpose of enabling a vehicle entering a roadway to increase its speed to a rate at which it can more safely merge with through traffic.; Access Management Manual

acceptable appraisal report: An acceptable appraisal report is an appraisal report free from errors and omissions developed using methodology appropriate to the property being appraised.; Right of Way Collection

acceptable entry conditions: Acceptable entry conditions are those that must exist in a permit space to allow entry and to ensure that employees involved with a permit-required confined space entry can safely enter into and work within the space.; Occupational Safety Manual

Acceptance Program: An Acceptance Program is defined as all factors that comprise the State highway agency’s (SHA) determination of the quality of the product as specified in the contract requirements. These factors include verification sampling, testing, and inspection and may include results of quality control sampling and testing.; Quality Assurance Program Manual

access: Information Security Manual; Enterprise Data Management

access connection: Access connection is a facility for entry and/or exit such as a driveway, street, road, or highway that connects to the highways under the jurisdiction of the department or municipality.; Access Management Manual

access control: Access control is the enforcement of specified authorization rules based on positive identification of user and the systems or data they are permitted to access.

access criteria: Access criteria are sets of rules used as procedural controls to protect information resources. The objectives of access criteria are to protect data, software, and other information resources from unauthorized access and to facilitate authorized access for employees whose job functions require use of the information resource.; Information Security Manual

access path diagram: An access path diagram is a graphic representation of the data requirements for computer programs, consolidated into a common set of data paths used for the physical database design. As a result, when physical database structures are developed, the Database Analyst (DBA) can utilize the physical implementation options available to obtain the best possible system performance.; Enterprise Data Management

access rights: Access rights are the rights of ingress to and egress from a property that abuts upon a street or highway. Access is a private right as distinguishable from rights of the public. It is a well-established law in the United States that the right of access cannot be denied or unreasonably restricted unless other reasonable access is available or provided.

access roadway: AR; An access roadway is a connection to a highway or freeway.

accessor ID: ACID; An accessor ID is the three-to-seven character identifier used to define a process, organizational element, or individual to CA-Top Secret. See department accessor identification.

accident: An accident is any occurrence involving a vehicle or motorized equipment which results in death, injury or property damage. Unless such vehicle is properly parked; it is intended that those occurrences which occur because of errors in judgment, technique of drivers, or maintenance, be considered accidents. See crash.; Occupational Safety Manual; Traffic Safety Program Manual

account: A record of debit and credit entries chronologically posted to a ledger page to cover transactions involving a particular item or a particular person, concern, or activity.; Finance Division

accounting codes: Accounting codes are a list of codes assigned to highway safety program areas by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).; Traffic Safety Program Manual

accounts payable: AP; Accounts payable means a liability account to record amounts owed by the fund between incurrence of the liability and preparation of the voucher for payment.

accounts receivable: AR; Accounts receivable means an asset account to record amounts due to the fund.

accounts receivable name: Person or entity owing on an account.; Finance Division

account total: Accumulation of charges and hours for one month, annually, or life-to-date for a specific account.; Finance Division

accrual basis: Accrual basis is an accounting system in which costs and revenues are recognized at the time they are incurred without regard to when cash is paid or received. The department uses a modified accrual basis that recognizes revenues when earned and expenditures when incurred.

accrued depreciation: Accrued depreciation is the credit due for expired service life of capital improvements.; ROW Utility Manual

accuracy: Accuracy is the error or deviation of the device’s indicated value from the true value. Error is often expressed as a percentage of the true value.; Manual of Testing Procedures

Achieving Service Excellence: ASE; Achieving Service Excellence is a course developed by the Travel Division to educate travel counselors working in the department’s Travel Information Centers. ASE is the first phase of the professional travel counselor certification program.

acquisition: Acquisition is the process of obtaining right of way by negotiation and/or eminent domain proceedings. Negotiation would involve getting the owner to convey, dedicate, or possibly option the property to the public agency. Just compensation must be paid in all acquisitions or takings.

acronym: An acronym is a word made up of first letters or parts of words of a compound term. At TxDOT, an acronym may also refer to a set of initials pronounced as individual letters.; radar - radio aid to detection and rangingFTE - full time equivalent; Enterprise Data Management

action plan: An action plan is a schedule of planned activities on a form that indicates in which month during the project period each activity will occur.

activity: An activity is the line item in the Appropriation Bill that identifies a portion of one of the programs of the department.

activity line item: ALI; An activity line item is a numerical code supplied by the Federal Transit Administration to identify an eligible expense budgeted within a grant.; Public Transportation Collection

actual cost advance funding agreement: An advance funding agreement is used when some portion of a project’s funding is derived from an outside source (third party) other than FHWA. The agreement is entered into between TxDOT and the third party. For an actual cost advance funding agreement, an initial payment is made based upon estimated cost of the work. After a final accounting of project costs, a final adjustment is made based on the actual cost of the project. The adjustment may increase or decrease the cost to the third party when compared to the original estimate. This is referred to as the “standard” funding arrangement in 43 TAC §15.52.

actual cost basis: Actual cost basis is the actual reasonable moving expenses that may be paid to a relocatee whose move is performed by a qualified mover. Also, actual cost of replacement housing.; Right of Way Collection

actual percent density: Actual percent density is the quotient obtained from the nuclear gauge density of a roadway core divided by the density of the same roadway mix compacted in the gyratory press times 100.; Manual of Testing Procedures

actual quantity item: An actual quantity item is an item where final quantities of work are determined by actual measurements taken in the field.

Adaptable Data Base: ADABAS; An adaptable Data Base is a commercially-available software package used for database computer functions. ADABAS stores information in accordance with prearranged identification keys for retrieval. ADABAS is the primary mainframe management system installed at the Texas Department of Transportation.

adapters: Adapters are devices that connect systems through circuits or channels which enable them to be.; Information Services Business Improvement Project Technology 1

added capacity project: An added capacity project is work proposed to add one or more through travel lanes to an existing facility.

addendum: An addendum is a document used to modify an original proposal and/or plans. Becomes a legal part of the bid proposal.; Letting Manual

additional cost: Additional cost is the extra cost of sampling in a remote location compared to sampling in a local city.

additive: An additive is a substance or agent added in small amounts to the basic ingredients of a mixture.

ad hoc reporting: Ad hoc reporting is local programming of customized reports by accessing the FIMS database and the FIMS database file definitions (Data Dictionary) when a standard FIMS report does not contain the needed information.; Finance Division

adjustment cost: Adjustment cost is the total cost of the utility adjustment, after deduction of applicable credits and eligibility ratio.; ROW Utility Manual

adjustment work: Adjustment work is the curative measures on remainder property. TxDOT does not perform such work due to inherent liability issues.; Right of Way Collection

administering division, district or office: An administering division, district or office is the office funding and/or responsible for administering the contract.; Contract Management Manual

administration: TxDOT administration includes the Executive Director, Deputy Executive Director, Assistant Executive Director for Engineering Operations, Assistant Executive Director for District Operations, Assistant Executive Director for Innovative Project Development, Assistant Executive Director for Support Operations, and Chief Financial Officer.

administrative documents currency list: The administrative documents currency list contains administrative documents whose content is current and is not yet incorporated into a policy or procedure manual.; Records Management Manual

Administrative Evaluation Report: AER; An Administrative Evaluation Report is TxDOT Form 1874.; Traffic Safety Program Manual

administrative license revocation or suspension: ALR; Administrative license revocation or suspension pertains to the immediate revocation of an driver’s license and replacement with a limited/temporary driver’s license if the offender either refuses or fails a breath test.

administrative qualification: Contract Management Manual; Engineering, Architectural and Surveying Services Manual

Administrative Services: ADS; Formerly one of the seven functional areas of TxDOT; included the (former Budget and) Finance Division, the General Services Division and the Information Systems Division.

administrative settlement: An administrative settlement is any settlement made or authorized to be made by the responsible acquiring official, which is in excess of the agencies approved value.; Right of Way Manual

administrator: An administrator is a person appointed by the probate court to settle the affairs of an individual dying without a will; "Administrix", if such a person is a woman.; Right of Way Manual

Adopt-a-Highway: AAH; Adopt-a-Highway is a volunteer program that allows approved groups to pick up litter in the right of way on a regular basis during a two year commitment. This program began in 1985 in the Tyler District.; Litter Prevention Manual

advanced highway advisory radio: AHAR; Advanced highway advisory radio is a system where special radio receivers tune themselves to stations carrying traffic, safety, or other information where necessary.; Traffic Operations

advanced compensatory time: Advanced compensatory time is compensatory time that is awarded and taken prior to having been earned (previously referred to as “negative compensatory time”). Available only to construction and maintenance staff under special circumstances.; Human Resources Manual

Advanced Traffic Management System: ATMS; The Advanced Traffic Management System is the TxDOT intelligent transportation system (ITS), which runs on the Windows NT operating system.; ATMS Operators Manual

advance warning equipment: Advance warning equipment is a device, with or without motive power, designed to display instructions or an advance warning to motorists of the presence of a vehicular traffic hazard requiring the exercise of care in approaching, overtaking, or passing. It includes arrow boards and changeable message boards.; Equipment Manual

adverse effect: Adverse effect is a determination reached as part of the Section 106 process. An undertaking is considered to have an "adverse effect" on a historic property if it diminishes the integrity of the property's location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling or association. An adverse effect may be direct or indirect. This determination is reached in consultation with the State Historic Preservation Officer. (See also no effect, no adverse effect and Section 106.); Environmental Manual

adverse personnel action: Adverse personnel action is an action that affects an employee’s compensation, promotion, demotion, transfer, work assignment or performance evaluation.; Human Resources Manual

adverse weather condition: Adverse weather condition is severe weather that causes unsafe conditions.; Travel Manual

Advisory Council on Historic Preservation: ACHP; The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation is an independent federal agency composed of 19 members charged with advising the President and Congress on historic preservation matters and administering the provisions of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Projects in Texas are reviewed at the Advisory Council's Washington, D. C. office.; Environmental Manual

aerial photogrammetry

aerial photography: Photos taken from the air at regular, spatial intervals and used in photo interpretation to provide much information about landforms. The topography is distorted, and until corrections are made for the distortion, measurements made from a photograph are not accurate. Aerial photographs can be used to produce aerial photogrammetry and digital orthophotography.

aerial sewer: An aerial sewer is an unburied sewer (generally sanitary type), supported on pedestals or bents to provide a suitable grade line.

affidavit: An affidavit is a certification, sworn before a notary public or other official.

agency fund: The Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) definition is a fund used to account for assets held in a custodial capacity for other entities or individuals.; Finance Division

agency item number: The agency item number is a location reference on the TxDOT records retention schedule used for indexing and citation of official state records described in the schedule. It consists of the using DDO’s functional account number, a three-letter acronym for the record type or responsible organizational unit, and a number signifying it’s sequence in the TxDOT records retention schedule.; Records Management Manual

agency number: An agency number is a three-digit number assigned to a state agency by the Comptroller of Public Accounts.The Texas Department of Transportation is agency number 601.; Finance Division

agency voucher: See "highway voucher."; Finance Division

agent: An agent is a person or entity legally acting on the behalf of another.; Right of Way Manual

agreement: An agreement is a meeting of the minds.; Contract Management Manual

aggregate: Manual of Testing Procedures

agitator tube: An agitator tube is a device for keeping liquids and solids-in-liquids in motion by mixing and stirring.; Manual of Testing Procedures

air voids: Air voids are the pockets of air trapped between the asphalt-coated particles of aggregate in an asphaltic concrete pavement.

A-line: On the plasticity chart, A-line is a sloped line beginning at PI = 4 and LL - 25.5f with an equation of Pi = 0l.73 (LL-20).; Manual of Testing Procedures

algorithm: An algorithm is a mathematical procedure used by encryption processes.; Information Security Manual

Algorithmic Language: ALGOL; Algorithmic Language is a scientific/engineering programming language very similar to FORTRAN.

alias: An alias is an approved alternate name for something, to be used when conditions make it impractical to use the official name.; Enterprise Data Management

alien lawfully present: Alien lawfully present is an unnaturalized or other non-citizen of the United States, lawfully registered with the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) under federal provisions.; Right of Way Collection

alignments: Alignments refer to the geometric design elements that define the horizontal and vertical configuration of the roadways.

allocation: ALLOC; Transportation Planning and Programming Collection

allocation CSJ: The allocation CJS is the control section job (CSJ) number that will receive cost allocation when construction-engineering charges are coded on input to the primary CSJ number.; Finance Division

allocation percent: The allocation percent is the percentage of input amount the control section job (CSJ) number will be allocated.; Finance Division

alligator cracking: Pavement Management Information System Users Manual; Maintenance Collection

allotment: Allotment is the number of FTEs (full time equivalents) that a district/division may have employed at one time.

alternate bid item: An alternate bid item is one that may be substituted for the primary item of work and bid on by the contractor. The alternate must be listed on the proposal and plans. The primary bid item and the alternate must be equivalent in quality and performance. The total estimated construction cost must be the same for the primary bid item and its alternative.; Design and Construction Information System Manual

alternate procedure: Alternate procedure is the term derives from 23CFR §645.119, Alternate Procedure, which allows a state transportation department “… to act in the relative position of the FHWA for reviewing and approving the arrangements, fees, estimates, plans, agreements, and other related matters” including “all actions necessary to advance and complete all types of utility work”, with certain exceptions; (refer to 23CFR §645.119, (b) (1), et seq.). The term, Alternate Procedure, as a Subprocess of “The Process”, has been renamed to Federal Utility Procedure to differentiate it from the Alternate Procedure relating to the CFR.; ROW Utility Manual

alternating current: A.C.; Alternating current means the current and voltage alternates from maximum positive to maximum negative in a sinusoidal pattern.; Highway Illumination Manual

alternative fuels: Alternative fuels are the following fuels recognized by statute for use in Texas: compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), methanol (M-85), ethanol (E-85) and electricity.; Equipment Manual

Amarillo District: AMA; The Amarillo District is a TxDOT district office including the following counties: Armstrong, Carson, Dallam, Deaf Smith, Gray, Hansford, Hartley, Hemphill, Hutchinson, Lipscomb, Moore, Ochiltree, Oldham, Potter, Randall, Roberts, and Sherman. Area offices are located in Amarillo, Borger, Canyon, and Pampa. TxDOT also operates a Travel Information Center in the district.; Inside TxDOT

amendment: An amendment is a permanent change in one or more of the elements of the contract.; Contract Management Manual

amendment number: A sequential number assigned to an amendment.; Finance Division

American Association of State Highway Officials: AASHO; The American Association of State Highway Officials, the predecessor to AASHTO, has been terminated, but its past work is still used as a reference.

American Association of State Highway Officials Road Test: AASHO Road Test; The AASHO Road Test was a large-scale road test conceived and sponsored by AASHO in the early 1950s to determine significant relationships between pavement performance and pavement design when roads are subjected to various loads.; Pavement Management Information System User's Manual

American Public Transit Association: APTA; The American Public Transportation Association is a national transit trade association.; Public Transportation Collection

American Railway Engineering Association: AREA; See American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association.

American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association: AREMA; An association for the development and advancement of both technical and practical knowledge and recommended practices pertaining to the design, construction, and maintenance of railway infrastructure. Formed October 1, 1997, as the result of a merger of the American Railway Bridge and Building Association, the American Railway Engineering Association, and the Roadmasters and Maintenance of Way Association.; ridge Detailing Manual

American Society for Testing and Materials: ASTM; The American Society for Testing and Materials is often referred to in specifications and standards documents.

American Standard Code for Information Interchange: ASCII; American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) is a standardized 7-bit code that includes control characters such as carriage returns and tabs, along with text.; Information Technology and Services Manual

Americans with Disabilities Act Accessible Vehicle: ADA Accessible Vehicle; An ADA Accessible Vehicle complies with the accessibility requirements of 49CFR Part 38, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibility Specifications for Transportation Vehicles.; Public Transportation Collection

Americans with Disabilities Act Complementary Paratransit Service: ADA Complementary Paratransit Service; ADA Complementary Paratransit Service, required by 49CFR Part 37. Each public entity operating a fixed route system must provide paratransit or other special service to individuals with disabilities. This service must be comparable to the level of service provided to individuals without disabilities who use the fixed route system and must be available within a ¾ mile radius of the routes.; Public Transportation Collection

ampere I: Ampere I is the unit of current strength (flow of electrons); Illumination Manual

analog: Analog is a term for a tone grayscale or color image. For better understanding of this effect, look at a black-and-white conventionally produced graphic, not digital (for example, a conventional photograph or a painting or drawing done by hand on paper).; Communications Manual

analysis period: Analysis period is the period of time for which the economic analysis is to be made; ordinarily will include at least one rehabilitation activity.; Pavement Design Manual

angle of repose: The angle of repose is the angle which the sloping face of a bank of loose earth, gravel, or other material makes with the horizontal.; Occupational Safety Manual

annexation: Annexation - A fixture, architecturally part of an improvement, whose individual utility would cease if separated from the improvement.; Right of Way Collection

Anonymous File Transfer Protocol: An anonymous FTP is the use of File Transfer Protocol (FTP) with user identification of “anonymous.”; Information Security Manual

Anonymous File Transfer Protocol Site: An anonymous FTP site is an Internet site that contains files that can be downloaded by anyone using FTP. The directory for an anonymous FTP site is isolated from the rest of the system and generally does not accept uploads from users (see FTP and FTP Site).; Information Security Manual

annual average daily traffic: AADT; Traffic Data and Analysis Manual

annual budget

annual flood: An annual flood is the highest peak discharge in a water year.

apparent joint spacing: Apparent joint spacing is a Pavement Management Information System term which is the approximate average spacing between transverse joints on a Jointed Concrete Pavement, whether they were originally constructed or not. Apparent joint spacing ranges from 15 to 75 feet.; Pavement Management Information System Rater's Manual

apparent specific gravity: Apparent specific gravity is the ratio of the weight in air of a given volume of the water impermeable portion of a permeable material at a stated temperature to the weight in air of an equal volume of distilled water at a stated temperature.; Manual of Testing Procedures

application: An application is a software system that supports a business activity by providing access to stored data and the ability to manipulate and use that data.

application architecture: The application architecture identifies the application systems needed to support the business needs and data requirements of the department. It is a model of all applications (existing and future) required to support the actions of the business, with an emphasis on sharing information resources.; Information Systems Business Project Retooling

application developer: An application developer is a professional engaged in the creation of computer applications.; Enterprise Data Management

application development architecture: The application development architecture provides the framework, principles, guidelines, minimum standards/specifications, and policies/procedures for application development and maintenance. It is a subset of the Technology Architecture and includes those elements directly related to the application development process.; Information Systems Business Project Retooling

application programming interface: API; Application programming Interface is a standard protocol enabling one process such as an application program to interact with another process such as a database network.; Enterprise Data Management

application project manager: An application project manager is the programmer responsible for the development or maintenance of the application.

application security administrator: Application security administrator is a TxDOT employee responsible for providing security and administrative services for a specific system or application in the production environment. The application security administrator should not be a regular user on the system or application.; Information Security Manual

application server: An application server is a computing platform whose primary function is to provide application-oriented services to users within the business environment.; Information Services Business Improvement Project Technology 1

applicator: An applicator is a facility which performs the epoxy coating of reinforcing steel bar, fabric, or wire.; Manual of Testing Procedures

apportionment: Apportionment is a term which refers to a statutorily-prescribed division or assignment of funds. An apportionment is based on prescribed formulas in the law and consists of dividing authorized obligation authority for a specific program among the states. Examples include Interstate Maintenance (IM), National Highway system (NHS), Surface Transportation Program (STP), Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ), and Bridge Replacement and Repair (BRR) programs.; Transportation Planning and Programming Collection

appraisal (ROW): Right of Way Manual

appraisal problem: Appraisal problem is a narrative discussion regarding items or situations that affect the appraisal of the acquisition.; Right of Way Collection

approach nose: An approach nose is the end of an island, or neutral area between two roadways, which faces approaching traffic that passes on one side or both sides.

approach slab: An approach slab is a reinforced concrete slab constructed between a bridge abutment and the adjacent roadway that absorbs the impact of loads produced by traffic passing from the roadway onto the bridge and to the roadway.

appropriated adjustments: Appropriated adjustments are revisions to the original appropriation amount.; Finance Division

appropriation (state or federal): Finance Division

appropriation account: An appropriation account is an accounting entity established by the comptroller and identified by an appropriation number. It records the total amount appropriated for a purpose, which is established by the legislature, adjustments to that amount, the amounts expended, and any remaining or lapsed amounts.

Appropriation Bill: The Appropriation Bill is the basic law of the legislature that authorizes the expenditure of state funds. The bill cannot authorize any expenditure of public money unless there is statutory authority for such expenditure. The Texas Constitution limits the appropriations in this bill to two years.

appropriation number: APPROP. XXXX; The appropriation number is the number that identifies the appropriation line item with which the cost center is associated (Ref. FIMS Code Chart 81).; Finance Division

appropriation year: AY; The appropriation year is the year that the legal authorization for the charge was granted by the legislature.; Finance Division

approved appraiser: An approved appraiser is an appraiser approved by the Appraiser Approval Committee who is qualified to provide appraisal services for the department.

apron(s): Aprons are the floor or lining to protect a surface of the waterway from erosion.