TxDOT Glossary: F

face of rail: A face of rail is a vertical plane at or near railing which defines the clear roadway width of a bridge or roadway.; Bridge Design Manual

facilitated discussion: Facilitated discussion is an informal facilitated conversation between employees, or an employee and the appropriate supervisor or manager, to discuss workplace problems involving a trained mediator/facilitator as a neutral third party assigned by the Human Resources Division to guide the conversation toward a reasonable conclusion.; Human Resources Manual

facility: Equipment Manual

failed joints and cracks: Failed joints and cracks are a jointed concrete pavement (JCP) distress type which includes spalled joints or transverse cracks and asphalt patches of spalled joints or transverse cracks. Failed joints and cracks range from 0 to 999.; Pavement Management Information System(PMIS) Rater's Manual

failure stress: Failure stress is the stress in the specimen corresponding to the maximum deviator stress (principal stress difference) attained or by the deviator stress (principal stress difference) at 15% axial strain, whichever is obtained first during the performance of a test.; Manual of Testing Procedures

failures: Pavement Management Information System (PMIS) Rater's Manual

fail-over: Fail-over is the term that describes when some element within a technological architecture (usually a computer system) has the ability to safely and reliably compensate for its own operational failure by switching its processing load over to some other similar type of element within the architecture that has not been affected by the failure and that is able to assume the operations of the failed element.

Fair Labor Standards Act: FLSA; The Fair Labor Standards Act is a federal law that defines overtime and establishes standards for compensation of overtime.; Human Resources Manual

Fair Labor Standards Act overtime: FLSA overtime; Fair Labor Standards Act overtime is time worked over 40 hours in one work week by non-exempt employees. FLSA overtime is compensated at the rate of 1.5 hours of pay or FLSA compensatory time for each hour worked over 40 hours in the work week.; Human Resources Manual

Fair Labor Standards Act overtime pay rate: The FLSA overtime pay rate is a rate of pay one and one-half times regular pay.; Human Resources Manual

fair market rent: The fair market rent is the amount that a residential dwelling would earn if it were rented to another person under normal circumstances.; Right of Way Manual

falling weight deflectometer: FWD; A falling weight deflectometer is a non-destructive testing device which drops known weights on the pavement surface and uses electronic sensors to measure the resulting deflection a seven equally-spaced locations. FWD data is used in the Pavement Management Information System (PMIS) to measure the overall structural condition of pavement sections.; Pavement Management Information System (PMIS) Users Manual

family: A family is two or more individuals living together in a single family dwelling unit who:; Right of Way Manual

family of curves: The family of curves is a series of compaction curves depicting the varying moisture and dry density relationships of similar soils used on the same project.; Manual of Testing Procedures

Farmland Protection Policy Act Of 1981: FPPA; The Farmland Protection Policy Act of 1981 provides protection to farmland as defined in the law. Its purpose is to minimize the extent to which federal programs contribute to the unnecessary and irreversible conversion of farmland to nonagricultural uses, and to assure the federal programs are administered in a manner that to the extent practicable, will be compatible with state, local government and private programs and policies to protect farmlands.

farm operation: Farm operation means any activity conducted solely or primarily for the production of one or more agricultural products or commodities, including timber, for sale or home use, and customarily producing such products or commodities in sufficient quantities to be capable of contributing materially to the operator's support.; Right of Way Manual

farm or ranch to market road business route: See business farm to market road

farm to market road: FM; A farm to market road is a roadway so designated by the Texas Transportation Commission. A farm to market road spur is also a roadway so designated by the Texas Transportation Commission, which is designated within the description of the farm to market road.; Texas Reference Marker (TRM) System User's Manual

fatality rate: The fatality rate is the number of deaths per vehicle mile traveled.

fatigue: Fatigue is the tendency of materials to break under repeated stress.

feasibility study: FS; A study about a project's feasibility which is summarized in a document. The study addresses issues including the project's benefits, costs, effectiveness, alternatives considered, analysis of alternative selection, environmental effects, public opinions, and other factors.

federal aid funds: Federal aid funds are appropriated by the federal government to assist the department in constructing projects.

federal-aid highways: Federal-aid highways refers to an umbrella term generally referring to all activities funded through the FHWA and administered by the states’ highway or transportation agencies or, in some cases, by local transportation agencies.; Transportation Planning and Programming Collection

Federal-Aid Primary System: See Primary Highway System.; Right of Way Manual

Federal Aviation Administration: FAA; The Federal Aviation Administration is a federal agency assigned the responsibility of ensuring that the facilities, equipment, and human resources needed for a safe, efficient, and affordable airport and airway network are available to serve the needs of civil aviation.

federal discretionary program: The federal discretionary program is special set-aside funds to be included as line item discretionary projects designated by the United States Congress.; Transportation Planning and Programming Collection

Federal Emergency Management Agency: FEMA; Maintenance Collection

federal funding source: A federal funding source is the federal agency or federal department which provides funds to the Texas Department of Transportation.; Contract Management Manual

Federal Highway Administration: FHWA; The Federal Highway Administration administers Federal-Aid System Emergency Relief (ER) Funds for emergency and permanent repairs to facilities on the federal-aid system. This includes city and county roads functionally classified Rural Major Collector or above. Temporary operations, emergency repairs, and preliminary engineering including consultant work may proceed without prior FHWA authorization.; Maintenance Collection

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration: FMCSA; The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is an agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation whose primary mission is to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving large trucks and buses. Among other duties, its responsibilities include commercial driver’s licenses, drug and alcohol regulations for motor carriers, and vehicle manufacturing specifications.; Public Transportation Collection

Federal Project Authorization and Agreement: FPAA; ROW Utility Manual

Federal Transit Administration: FTA; The Federal Transit Administration is the federal agency primarily responsible for public mass transportation. The FTA was formerly known as the Urban Mass Transportation Administration (UMTA). It operates under the authority of the Federal Transit Act. The FTA was established as a component of the US Department of Transportation.

federal Treasury list: T-list; The federal Treasury list lists companies authorized to bond contracts to its underwriting limitation.; Letting Manual

fee owner: A fee owner is a person having absolute ownership of property to him/herself, his/her heirs and assigns forever. (Also referred to as Owner of Fee Title); Right of Way Manual

fee ownership: Fee ownership is the right or interest that an individual has in lands and chattels to the exclusion of all others. Although technically the term means a right of interest in things rather than the things themselves, common usage makes it applicable to things rather than to the right or interest.

fee schedule: Fee schedule is an attachment to the contract that sets forth the performing entity’s overhead rate, fixed-fee (profit), and direct costs (including wage rates per personnel and miscellaneous expenses) to be used in calculating the maximum amount payable for the contract or work authorization.; Contract Management Manual

femme sole: A femme sole is literally, an unmarried female; a single woman or a woman judicially separated from her husband.; Right of Way Manual

fetch: Fetch is an execute only command (in Top Secret); the program cannot be viewed.

fiber distributed data interface: FDDI; Fiber distributed data interface is a type of network communications medium that is based upon fiber optic technology and which uses light waves as the signal transport medium.

fiberglass reinforced plastic: FRP; Fiberglass reinforced plastic is used for roadside sign supports.

field: A field is a specified area in a record for a particular type of data such as a name field or an automobile license plate number. A field is usually given a specific size by allocating a number of character positions.

field drive: Field drive is a limited use driveway for the occasional/infrequent use by equipment used for the purpose of cultivating, planting, and harvesting or maintenance of agricultural land, or by equipment used for ancillary mineral production.; Access Management Manual

field notes: Field notes, as referred to in right of way work, are the property description included in an instrument of conveyance. They are written to enable a surveyor to locate on the ground the land being conveyed.; Right of Way Collection

fifth-wheel trailer: A fifth-wheel trailer is a semi-trailer that requires a truck tractor equipped with a lower fifth-wheel to accept and hold the kingpin of the semi-trailer.; Equipment Manual

file server: A file server is a computer containing files that may be shared by everyone connected to a LAN. A file server usually has software rules for allowing LAN users to get into and out of the files and databases it stores.; Source: Information Security Manual

file transfer protocol: FTP; File transfer protocol is a client/server protocol for exchanging files with a host computer.; Information Security Manual

file transfer protocol pull: FTP pull; A file transfer protocol pull is a process by which a file(s) is transferred to an entity external to TxDOT. A TxDOT employee will establish a connection to the outside entity and push the desired file to it, after which the connection and FTP service are terminated.; Information Security Manual

file transfer protocol push: File transfer protocol push is the process by which a file(s) is transferred to an entity external to TxDOT. An FTP server is set up providing the FTP service. This server waits for outside entities to connect to it and prompts the user with a list of available files, which they can select and download.; Information Security Manual

FTP Site: On the Internet, a file transfer protocol site is the computer system that maintains files for downloading (see Anonymous FTP Site and FTP); Information Security Manual

fill: Fill is the embankment material placed above natural ground line.

filter fabric: Material Specifications

filter material: Filter material is a porous type backfill, usually used surrounding perforated pipe underdrains, which intercepts water flow and directs it into the pipe.

FIMS journal voucher: A Financial Information Management System (FIMS) journal voucher is the TxDOT accounting transaction to distribute or redistribute costs and to make adjustments.; Finance Division

final applicant: A final applicant is a person who is given a conditional offer of initial employment, or a department employee who is conditionally approved for a transfer or promotion.; Human Resources Manual

final audit: This is an audit that is performed after all costs have been incurred, all products or services have been received and approved, and the contract is ready for close out.; Contract Management Manual

final cost proposal: Final cost proposal is an attachment to the contract or work authorization that shows the calculation of all direct and indirect costs in determining the maximum amount payable for the contract or work authorization.; Contract Management Manual

Final Environmental Impact Statement: FEIS; An environmental document that is prepared following the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), which includes the results of the public involvement process and agency input on the DEIS. This document summarizes the substantive comments on social, economic, environmental, and engineering issues made as a result of the public involvement process, and documents compliance with all requirements.

final plans: Final plans are the as-built construction plans that reflect the project as actually constructed.

final stabilization: Final stabilization is when all soil disturbing activities at the site have been completed, and uniform vegetative cover with a density of 70% of the pre-project condition for unpaved areas and areas not covered by permanent structures has been established or equivalent permanent measures such as use of rip rap, gabions, soil retention blanket or other geotextiles, have been employed.

Finance Division: FIN; The Finance Division (formerly the Budget and Finance Division; BUD) manages TxDOT’s accounting, contracts, financial planning, payments and oversees strategic planning activities.; Inside TxDOT

Financial Allocation Monitoring System: FAMS; The Financial Allocation Monitoring System is an accounting system for forecasting programmed allocations by highway safety program areas.

Financial Information Management System: FIMS; The Financial Information Management System, managed by the Finance Division, is the TxDOT accounting system. FIMS is made up of approximately 35 segments and 700 programs.; Finance Division

finding of no significant impact: FONSI; A finding of no significant impact is a decision document by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for federally-funded projects (as defined by 23 CFR 771.121), or by the Environmental Affairs Division (ENV) for projects with state-only funding (as defined by 43 TAC 2.11(f)), that indicates that no significant social, economic or environmental project impacts have been identified. The FONSI follows approval of the environmental assessment and appropriate public involvement.

fine aggregate: Fine aggregate is the portion of the aggregate passing the 2.00 mm (No. 10) sieve for Bituminous Concrete or passing the 4.75 mm (No. 4) sieve for Portland Cement Concrete. NOTE: This definition has been approved by the Specification Committee.; Manual of Testing Procedures

fines: Fines is a collective term referring to fine aggregate and mineral filler in an asphalt mixture.

firewall: A firewall is a hardware or software boundary that prevents unauthorized users from accessing restricted files on a network.; Information Security Manual

firmware: Firmware is an application recorded in permanent or semi-permanent computer memory.; Source: Information Security Manual

fiscal year: FY; A fiscal year is an accounting or expenditure period of 12 months. For the federal government, this would be October 1 through September 30. Texas’ state fiscal year is from September 1 to August 31.; Voucher Manual

fixed fee: Fixed fee is the performing entity’s profit that is typically negotiated between 10%-15% of the total estimated labor and overhead in the final cost proposal; the fixed-fee percentage may vary from each project depending on the complexity of the project and the degree of risk assumed by the performing entity.; Contract Management Manual

fixed guideway: A fixed guideway is any public transportation facility which utilizes and occupies a designated right-of-way or rails including (but not limited to) rapid rail, light rail, commuter rail, busways, automated guideway transit, and people movers.; Transportation Planning and Programming Collection

fixed payment: A fixed payment is a relocation payment derived:; Right of Way Manual

fixed route: A fixed route is a transportation service provided on a repetitive, fixed schedule along a specific route with vehicles stopping to pick up and discharge passengers at designated locations.; Public Transportation Collection

fixed sum 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 a fixed sum advance funding agreement, a fixed funding amount is based upon the engineer’s estimate and no adjustment is made unless there are changed site conditions, the work requested by the third party is ineligible for federal participation, or unless an adjustment is agreed to by the parties. This is referred to as the “alternate” funding arrangement in 43 TAC §15.52 and requires the approval of the executive director or his designee.

flame: A flame is a very impolite email message or Usenet news group posting that contains a highly charged, personal attack against another person or group.; Information Technology and Services Manual

flashing beacon: A flashing beacon is a section of a standard signal head, or similar type device, having yellow or red lens in each face, which is illuminated by rapid intermittent flashes.

fleet operator: Fleet operator is an entity that owns or operates more than 15 vehicles and generates 30 or more used or scrap tires per calendar year.; Equipment Manual

Flexible Advanced Computer Traffic Signal System: FACTS; A Flexible Advanced Computer Traffic Signal System is a traffic responsive battery of computer control programs operated in real traffic by traffic detection devices linked in to a responsive mini-/microcomputer.

flexible base: A flexible base is made from natural or mechanically processed materials that has been compacted to a specified density. A foundation course of reasonable well-graded aggregate material and soil binder that is used as a roadway base. It may or may not be treated with hydrated lime, Portland cement or asphalt.

flexible funding: Flexible funding are funds which can be transferred or "flexed" from one federal agency to another.; Public Transportation Collection

flexible pavement: A pavement structure that maintains intimate contact with and distributes loads to the subgrade and depends on aggregate interlock, particle friction, and cohesion for stability.; Pavement Management Information System Users Manual

floodlight: A floodlight is an aimable luminaire generally employed for spot or wide-angle lighting.; Highway Illumination Manual

floodplain: A floodplain is the lowland and relatively flat areas adjoining inland and coastal water including flood prone areas of offshore island, including at a minimum, the area subject to a one percent or greater chance of flooding in any given year.

flow chart: A flow chart is a graphical representation of a sequence of operations using symbols.

flow line: A flow line is the profile of the low point on the inside of a drainage structure or channel.

flow of control: Flow of control is where the reply is essential to the flow of operation for the automated process.

flume: A flume is an open channel or conduit of metal, concrete or wood, on a prepared grade, trestle, or bridge.

flushing: Flushing is an Asphaltic Concrete Pavement (ACP) distress type in which the upward movement of asphalt in a pavement results in a film of asphalt forming on the pavement surface. It appears in patches of dark smooth surface, usually in the wheel tracks. Bleeding usually occurs in hot weather. Flushing ranges from 0 (none) to 3 (most).; Pavement Management Information System (PMIS) Rater's Manual

fly ash: Fly ash is the finely divided residue from the combustion of ground or powdered coal or lignite that is transported from the firebox through the boiler by flue gases. NOTE: This definition has been approved by the Specification Committee.; Manual of Testing Procedures

fog seal: Fog seal is bituminous material sprayed directly on the surface of the existing pavement. Application of this sealing material directly in the cracks of the pavement surface prevents moisture damage.; Maintenance Operations Manual

footcandle: (FC); English unit of measurement for the illumi-nation (E) on a surface. (See �lux for metric.) One footcandle is the illumination on a surface that is one foot from and perpendicular to a uniform point source of one candela. Combining the inverse square law and the cosine law, the formula for footcandles (FC) is:; where CD is the candlepower, A is the angle of incidence of the light beam, and D is the distance of the surface from the light source.; Highway Illumination Manual

footing: A footing is an enlargement at the lower end of a foundation or column to distribute the load.; Geotechnical Manual

force account labor: Labor performed by non-contracted forces such as city, county, or state employees.

force account work: Force account work is prescribed work paid for on the basis of the actual costs and appropriate additions.

force majeure: Force majeure is a superior or irresistible force; a cause that is outside the control of the parties and could not be avoided by exercise of due care.; Contract Management Manual

forced treatment: Forced treatment is a Pavement Management Information System (PMIS) term which refers to a user-selected treatment applied to a Management Section, regardless of the type of treatment (if any) recommended by the Needs Estimate report.; Pavement Management Information System (PMIS) Users Manual

ford: A ford is a shallow place where a stream may be crossed by traffic.

forecast year: The forecast year is the year 20 to 25 years beyond the base year for which travel demand modeling is performed.; Traffic Data and Analysis Manual

Form W-4: Form W-4 is a form filled out by employees indicating marital status and number of exemptions claimed for calculating federal income tax.

FORTRAN: FORTRAN is probably the very first high-level programming language originated during the 1950's and is still used today for scientific applications.; Technology Services Division

Fort Worth District: FTW; The Fort Worth District is a TxDOT district office including the following counties: Erath, Hood, Jack, Johnson, Palo Pinto, Parker, Somervell, Tarrant and Wise. Area offices are located in Erath, North and South Tarrant, Palo Pinto, Parker and Wise. The district also has a Vehicle Titles and Registration Regional Office.; Inside TxDOT

foundation: The foundation is that portion of a structure (usually below the surface of the ground) which distributes the pressure to the soil or to artificial supports. Footing has similar meaning.; Geotechnical Manual

frame relay: Frame relay is a wide-area communications service that can be used to inter-network most locations found within major world-wide urban areas.

frangible: Readily or easily broken.; Highway Illumination Manual

free outlet (as pertaining to critical flow): A free outlet exists when the backwater does not diminish the discharge of a conduit.

freestanding workplace: A freestanding workplace is a business establishment that is physically separated from other establishments in that it does not use driveways associated with other businesses and its driveways are not used as a street or shortcut to a street.; Traffic Data and Analysis Manual

free (surface) moisture: Free surface moisture is the moisture in excess of that required for saturated surface dry (SSD) condition in aggregate.

freeboard: A freeboard is the vertical distance between the level of the water surface, usually corresponding to design flow and a point of interest such as a low chord of a bridge beam or specific location on the roadway grade.

freeway: Right of Way Manual

frequency, recurrence interval: Flood frequency, also referred to as exceedance interval, is the recurrence interval between actual occurrences of a hydrological event of a given or greater magnitude; the percent chance of occurrence, or probability, is the reciprocal of flood frequency (e.g. a 2 percent chance flood is the reciprocal statement of a 50-year flood).

frequently asked questions: FAQ; Frequently asked questions is a list of questions and answers that commonly are asked in a forum. The FAQ for a forum or news group should be read before posting a question to the group.; Information Technology and Services Manual

friable: Friable means that it is easily crumbled or pulverized.

frontage road: A frontage road is a local street or road along an arterial highway allowing control of access and service to adjacent areas and property. A frontage road may also be referred to as a service road.; Access Management Manual

Front End: A front end performs edits on transactions that are too time-consuming for online use.; Materials And Supplies Management System Manual

front slope: The front slope is the ratio defining slope of roadway between sub-grade crown and the ditch on either side of the roadway.

FTP pull: See file transfer protocol pull.

FTP push: See file transfer protocol push.

Full Funding Grant Agreement: FFGA; A Federal Transit Administration FFGA defines the project, including cost and schedule; commits to a maximum level of federal financial assistance (subject to Congressional appropriations); establishes the terms and conditions of federal financial participation; covers the period of time for completion of the project; and helps to manage the project in accordance with federal law. The FFGA assures the applicant of predictable federal financial support for the project (subject to Congressional appropriations) while placing a ceiling on the amount of that federal support.; Public Transportation Collection

full median opening: Full median opening is an opening, in a nontraversable median, that allows all turning movements from the highway and the adjacent connection, as well as crossing movements.; Access Management Manual

full ROW release: Full ROW release is a type of highway project release from ROW Division which allows all ROW acquisition, utility, relocation, and necessary property management work to be performed.; ROW Utility Manual

full time equivalent: FTE; Full time equivalent is the term used to measure work hours paid compared to the standard work hours in a time period (not the same as number of employees). One employee who gets paid for more that the standard work hours in a time period is measured as more than one FTE.

fully allocated cost: Fully allocated cost is the result of a financial planning technique that accounts for all costs of providing transit service, usually expressed as cost per mile or cost per hour.; Grants Management Manual

function codes: Function codes (Segments 70-79 in the Financial Information Management System) describe the activity engaged in when TxDOT resources are being consumed (expenditures), and in some instances the methods used. In addition, the group of accounts known as Functional Accounts (Segment 71) include specific activities in their titles (e.g., District Maintenance Management). Other terms also used for Segment 71 functional accounts are “funded accounts” and “detail accounts.” Segment 71 functional accounts should be used only when the expenditure is not related to Segment 70 or Segments 72-79 accounts.

functional accounts: Functional accounts are Segment 71 accounts in FIMS. Segment 71 is used only for those costs that are not reasonably identifiable to a project, roadway or clearing account.; Finance Division

functional area (intersection): See �intersection functional area.

functional class: Functional class is a description of a highway segment’s design purpose (interstate, freeway, expressway, arterial, collector or local) and location (urban or rural). Among other things, functional class defines a highway segment’s eligibility for Federal funding.; Pavement Management Information System (PMIS) Users Manual

functional classification: Functional classification is the process by which streets and highways are grouped into classes, or systems, according to the character of service that they are intended to serve; a system that classifies roadways according to traffic flow from the movement function to the access function. At one extreme is the fully access controlled freeway that provides no local access function to the cul-de-sac that provides no through movement.; Traffic Data and Analysis Manual

functional job description: FJD; A functional job description is a description that defines the duties and responsibilities of a job. A functional job description specifies the appropriate state classification title for each job and includes differences between it and the job immediately above and below it on the classification ladder. A functional job description also includes the appropriate Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) exemption status and the minimum qualification requirements an applicant must meet to be considered for the job (see also “business job description,” which replaced this term in July, 1998).

functionally equivalent dwelling: A functionally equivalent dwelling is a replacement dwelling which is equivalent to the displacement dwelling with regard to the number of rooms, living area, location, and square footage.; Right of Way Manual

Functional Manual System: The Functional Manual System is a set of books about TxDOT policy and procedures based on functional areas and user needs rather than by divisions. Manuals are comprehensive within each functional category and written in easy-to-understand style. The focus of each manual is on the end user. Most manuals include procedures from several divisions.

functional profile: A functional profile is an accessor identification (ACID) and all associated authorizations for a specific job function, project, or application.

Functional Review of Austin Divisions: FRAD; A four-year study (1986-1990) of TxDOT divisions that identified weaknesses in policy development, communication and implementation.

functional title classification system: FC; The functional title classification system is an internal system for naming jobs used by the Texas Department of Transportation (see “business title classification system,” which replaced this term in July, 1998).

fund: Fund is a department accounting entity with a self-balancing set of accounts recording cash and other assets together with all related liabilities, encumbrances, reserves, and fund balances which are segregated for the purpose of carrying on specific activities or attaining certain objectives.; Finance Division

fund balance: A fund balance is the excess of the assets of a fund over its liabilities and reserves. In a case of funds subject to budgetary accounting prior to the end of a fiscal period, it represents the excess of the fund’s assets and estimated revenues for the period over its liabilities, reserves, and appropriations for the period. Fund equity is the excess of assets over liabilities.; Finance Division

fund indicator: FI; A fund indicator identifies participating/non-participating work categories used with posting generated by Customer Information System (CIS) interface for contractor payments; Materials And Supplies Management System Manual

fund number: A fund number is a four-digit code assigned by the Comptroller of Public Accounts to a specific fund; Fund 006 is the State Highway Fund.

fund source: The fund source is the source from which receivables will be created as a result of costs charged to a project.; Finance Division

future average daily traffic: future ADT; Future average daily traffic is average daily traffic calculated over a 20 year period. Current and projected ADTs must be given in order to calculate the future ADT.; Safe Routes to School Program Guidelines