TxDOT Glossary: E

early ROW release for utilities: Early ROW release for utilities is a type of highway project release from ROW Division which sets a date on which utility investigation charges and preliminary engineering charges, i.e., survey, may begin. However, no physical adjustment of an eligible utility’s facilities can be authorized or accomplished under this release. Acquisition of replacement ROW is not permitted.; ROW Utility Manual

earthwork: Earthwork includes the operations connected with excavating and placing embankments with soil, earth or rock.

easement: Easement refers to the right to use or control an area of the property of another for designated purposes.

economically disadvantaged county: As determined from data provided to TxDOT by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts at the beginning of each fiscal year, a county that meets the requirements of state law and Texas Administrative Code (TAC).

edge cracking: Edge cracking is pavement distress which frequently happens on narrow pavements at the same time drop-offs occur. This distress can be started by shrinkage of the asphalt at the edge of the pavement or shrinkage cracks in the base or subgrade. Edge loads tend to cause failure of this type of cracking by breaking off the pavement edge.; Maintenance Collection

educational seminar for state travel officials: An educational seminar for state travel officials is when travel directors from across the United States meet annually to discuss state and national tourism issues and concerns and to attend educational seminars.

effective date: Effective date is the date on which a contractor can begin to incur reimbursable costs under a contract.; Contract Management Manual

effluent: Effluent is the outflow or discharge from a sewer or sewage treatment equipment.

egress: Manual of Testing Procedures

El Paso District: ELP; The El Paso District is a TxDOT district office including the following counties: Brewster, Culberson, El Paso, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, and Presidio. The district has three area offices, including rural and urban El Paso offices and one in Alpine. The Anthony Travel Information Center and a Vehicle Titles and Registration Regional Office operate out of the district.; Inside TxDOT

El Protector: El Protector is a traffic safety program that targets primarily Hispanic youth.

elasticity: Elasticity is a property of a soil that causes it to be springy or flexible.

elastomeric material: Elastomeric material is a material, usually synthetic, having elastic properties similar to those of rubber.; Bearing pads made from compounds containing virgin neoprene and water stops made from natural rubber, synthetic rubber or polyvinyl chloride compounds (PVC).; Manual of Testing Procedures

Elderly and Persons with Disabilities: E/PwD or E/D; Federal Transit Administration program grant that provides funding for public transportation services to elderly persons and persons with disabilities. Codified at 49 USC 5310 and often called the Section 5310, E/PwD or E/D program.; Public Transportation Collection

electrical details: ED; Electrical details are TxDOT standard sheets showing specifications for electrical specifications. They are contained in the Traffic Operations Standard Plans.; Highway Illumination Manual

electrical service: Electrical service is the point of receiving power from utility company. Typical service voltages used on highway electrical systems are 120/240 VAC, 240/480 VAC, and 480 VAC.; Highway Illumination Manual

Electronic Communications Privacy Act: ECPA; The Electronic Communications Privacy Act is a law that makes it illegal to gain access to a computer system and its information when using an unauthorized or stolen password.; Information Technology and Services Manual

electronic data interchange: EDI; Electronic Data Interchange is the computer-to-computer exchange between trading partners of business data in standardized document formats.; Information Security Manual

electronic document management system: EDMS; An electronic document management system is an electronic document management application that supports the storage, indexing, retrieval, management, and archiving of documents (electronic files) in a controlled environment utilizing a storage subsystem and a catalog subsystem. Also called an enterprise document management system.; Records Management Manual

Electronic Message System: Electronic Message System is an electronic mail software system that provides for message transfer between computers or terminals of the mainframe or local area network (LAN).

electronic record: An electronic record is any information created, used and retained in a form that only a computer can process. Electronic records may reside on a hard disk, optical disk, CD-ROM or other storage media, such as diskettes or tapes.; Government Code §441.180(11); 13 TAC §6.91(5)

Electronic State Business Daily: ESBD; Electronic State Business Daily is an electronic bulletin board used by all state agencies to post procurement opportunities of $25,000 or more and provide notice of awards.; Purchasing Manual

electronic thermometer: An electronic thermometer is a device containing electrical circuitry and measures change in some property of a sensor to determine the temperature. Three common sensors are Resistance Temperature Detector (RTD), Thermistor, and Thermocouple.

element: An element is a generic term used to refer to a uniquely identifiable component within the core technology architecture whose interpretation is subject to its usage context.Computer system, domain, environment, etc.; Information Services Business Improvement Project Technology 1

elements data: Elements data are the supplemental electronic bridge inventory, inspection, and appraisal data taken for the Texas Bridge Management System (BMS). The Elements: Field Inspection and Coding Manual describes the step-by-step data entry requirements.; Bridge Inspection Manual

elevation: Elevation is the vertical distance of a point above or below some arbitrarily assumed level surface or datum. It is the point of known height above mean sea level measured in feet.

eligible cost: An eligible cost is an expenditure authorized in accordance with the terms and conditions of a contract or applicable law or regulation.; Contract Management Manual

eligible utility adjustment: A utility adjustment, required by a highway improvement project, that is eligible, in accordance with federal and state law, for cost reimbursement by TxDOT.

email: E-mail or electronic mail is a service that sends messages on computers via local or global net-works. E-mail that is sent from one computer system to another or over the Internet must pass through gateways both to leave the originating system and to enter the receiving system.; Source: Information Technology and Services Manual

email address: An email address is an address such as bclinton@whitehouse.com, or a universal resource locator (URL) such as http://www.dot.state.tx.us, or a host address where information can be found such as dot.state.tx.us; Information Technology and Services Manual

embankment: Emb; An embankment is a raised structure of soil, soil aggregate, rock or combination of the three. Materials used for fill section.

emergency: An emergency is any occurrence (including any failure of hazard control or monitoring equipment) or event internal or external to the permit space that could endanger entrants.; Occupational Safety Manual

Emergency Closings Report: The Emergency Closings report, generated through the Texas Reference Marker System, lists all route or route sections which are closed temporarily for various reasons, including flooding or hazardous material spills.; Texas Reference Marker (TRM) System User's Manual

Emergency Fuel Coordination Team: Emergency Fuel Coordination Team is comprised of a volunteer Industry Committee Lead, who is appointed by the Governor’s Office of Emergency Management, and a group of industry volunteers from the private sector and trade associations. The team is responsible for assisting the State in assuring a reliable fuel supply to support both the general and special needs population (including fuel for special needs buses) during an evacuation.; Maintenance Division

emergency medical technician: EMT; An emergency medical technician is a person specially trained in life-saving medical techniques specifically trauma-related. They are usually affiliated with ambulance service units in local police and fire departments and can provide pre-hospital care for trauma victims, many of whom are crash victims.

emergency purchase: An emergency purchase is a purchase of goods or services so badly needed that an agency will suffer financial or operational damage unless they are secured immediately. [TGC §2155.137, 1 TAC §113.11 (a) (2)]; Purchasing Manual

emergency standby time: Emergency standby time is standby time that is not scheduled but which arises out of an emergency, broadly defined as an unanticipated or unusual event requiring urgent or immediate action. When it is possible to do so, employees will be given advance notice that they will be placed on standby status.; Human Resources Manual

eminent domain: ED; Right of Way Manual

Employee Assistance Program: EAP; The employee assistance program is a program designed to assist employees and their immediate family members in dealing with emotional and personal problems — including alcohol, inhalant and drug abuse — that potentially affect an employee's work performance and safety.; Human Resources Manual

employee computing: Employee computing is any information service, typically application development and report generation, that the end user provides for himself or for a very small number of users. While the Information System staffs provide the enabling infrastructure, these employee computing services are not managed by the IS staffs.; Information Systems Business Project Retooling

employee PIN number: The employee PIN number is a 14-digit number that is unique to each employee. The number starts with a two, then the employee’s social security number, a check digit and three zeros.

Employee Status Form 102: The form used to document current employee status with regard to position and compensation level.; Human Resources Manual

emulsified asphalt: Emul Asph or EA; Emulsified asphalt is asphalt cement mixed with water to liquefy it. Since water and asphalt do not normally mix, an emulsifying agent issued. When the water evaporates, the emulsion is said to "break," and the asphalt hardens. Emulsions are either anionic (electronegatively charged) or cationic (electropositively charged), depending upon the emulsifying agent used.

encoding: Encoding is transferring data from one character structure to another, for example from handwriting on paper to computer input.

encroachment (right of way): Fixed private property (e.g., building, fence, wall, sign or other real property improvement or fixture) located in the public right of way or intruding into or invading upon the public right of way from the adjoining private property.

encryption: Encryption is a process for enciphering or encoding data to prevent illicit entry into a system.; Information Security Manual

encumbrances: Encumbrances are the obligations in the form of purchase orders or contracts for which a part of an appropriation is reserved. These cease to be encumbrances when they become expenditures or when they are canceled. Based on current procedures, purchase requisition is not an encumbrance.

endangered species: An endangered species is any species that is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.; Environmental Manual

Endangered Species Act of 1973: The Endangered Species Act of 1973 was passed in order to check the precipitous decline of the plant and animal species in the United States. All federal agencies are charged with utilizing their authorities by carrying out programs for the conservation of threatened and endangered species and must insure that any action authorized, funded or carried out by them (or authorized agents) does not jeopardize the continued existence of these species or result in adverse modification of such species habitat.

end-of-month reporting: End-of-month reports are reports that reflect data accumulated since the last end-of-month update occurred.; Finance Division

end-of-year reporting: End-of-year reports are reports that reflect data accumulated since the last end-of-year update occurred. Generally the end-of-year is August 31.; Finance Division

end section: An end section is a flared metal attachment on the inlet and outlet of a culvert to prevent erosion of the roadbed, improve hydraulic efficiency, and improve appearance.

energized: Energized means being connected to an energy source or containing residual or stored energy.; Occupational Safety Manual

energy dissipater: An energy dissipater is a device used to reduce the energy of flowing water.

energy gradient: Energy gradient is a slope of a line joining the elevations of the energy head of a stream.

energy head: The energy head is the elevation of the hydraulic gradient at any section, plus the velocity head.

energy isolating device: Occupational Safety Manual

Energy Policy Act: EPACT; The Energy Policy Act pertains to cities with a population of 250,000 or more.

energy source: An energy source is any source of electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical or thermal energy.; Occupational Safety Manual

engineer: Engr; The engineer is the qualified, Texas-licensed, professional engineer having responsibility for ensuring the accuracy of the information contained in the bridge record. A pre-qualified consulting firm engaged by TxDOT to perform routine bridge inspections is also considered to be covered by the term engineer.; Bridge Inspection Manual

Engineering/CADD/GIS Architecture: The Engineering/CADD/GIS Architecture provides the framework, principles, guidelines, minimum standards and specifications, and policies/procedures to direct the process of acquiring, constructing, and enhancing TxDOT's engineering applications.; Information Systems Business Project Retooling

engineering controls: Engineering controls are controls that isolate or remove the bloodborne pathogens hazard from the workplace.Sharps disposal containers, self-sheathing needles.; Occupational Safety Manual

engineering programs: Engineering programs are computer software programs that have been developed to aid engineers performing calculations and problem solving needed for plan development.

engineering workstations: An engineering workstation is a mainframe and/or stand-alone computer system which utilizes a sophisticated network communication and multi-tasking operating system with high-resolution graphic monitor(s) for performing design and engineering functions.

engulfment: Engulfment is the surrounding and effective capture of a person by a liquid or finely divided (flowable) solid substance that can be aspirated to cause death by filling or plugging the respiratory system or that can exert enough force on the body to cause death by strangulation, constriction or crushing.; Occupational Safety Manual

enhancements, general: The enhancements, as a result of the highway project, which accrue to the community at large, to the area adjacent to the improvement, or to other property similarly situated as that taken but which property is not taken.; Real Estate Acquisition Guide for Local Public Agencies

enhancements, special: Those enhancements, as a result of the highway project, which accrue directly and solely to the advantage of the property remaining after a partial taking.; Real Estate Acquisition Guide for Local Public Agencies

enterprise computing: Any information service that spans multiple business areas and multiple districts/divisions/offices.

enterprise data: Enterprise data is any factual information used as a basis for reasoning, decision-making, discussion, or calculation that is shared across organizational boundaries and/or is important to the business organization, regardless of whether the data is automated or not, where it is located, how it is physically stored, or who has access.; Information Security Manual

entrained air: Entrained air is air bubbles in concrete.

entry: Entry is the action by which a person passes through an opening into a permit-required confined space. Entry includes ensuing work activities in that space and is considered to have occurred as soon as any part of the entrant’s body breaks the plane of an opening into the space.; Occupational Safety Manual

entry access log: An entry access log is any device or means that indicates date and time of entry or access to an information resource, the duration of such access, and the date and time of departure from such access.; Information Security Manual

entry permit: An entry permit is the written or printed document that is provided by the employer to allow and control entry into a permit space.; Occupational Safety Manual

entry supervisor: An entry supervisor is the person (such as the employer, foreman or crew chief) responsible for determining if acceptable entry conditions are present at a permit space where entry is planned, for authorizing entry and overseeing entry operations, and for terminating entry as required.; Occupational Safety Manual

environment: A combination of hardware, software and supporting services that cooperatively function to perform work.

Environmental Affairs Division: ENV; The Environmental Affairs Division is responsible for central coordination and oversight of all TxDOT environmental activities. It is also a liaison with state and federal resource agencies, the public, and other groups.; Inside TxDOT

environmental assessment: EA; An environmental assessment is a document performed for a project in which the significance of impacts on the environment is not clearly exhibited. The EA may lead to either a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) or an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

environmental commitment: Environmental commitment is any agreed-upon commitments to avoid, minimize or compensate for a social, economic or environmental impact. See also mitigation.; Environmental Manual

environmental document: An environmental document is a decision-making document which incorporates environmental studies, coordination and consultation efforts and engineering elements. This includes categorical exclusions, environmental assessments and environmental impact statements.; Environmental Manual

environmental impact statement: EIS; An environmental impact statement is a document which is prepared when significant project impacts are evident or identified after analysis in the Environmental Assessment (EA). The EIS requires both a draft and final statement and extensive public involvement.

environmental justice: EJ; Environmental justice is a process that focuses on the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies, as defined by the Environmental Protection Agency, by requiring the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income.; Public Transportation Collection

Environmental Protection Agency: EPA; The Environmental Protection Agency is a federal agency responsible for developing and administering NPDES regulations. The EPA is the federal agency primarily responsible for environmental protection, including air quality.; Transportation Planning and Programming Collection

environmental site assessment: ESA; An environmental site assessment is a study to determine the presence or likely presence of any hazardous substances or petroleum products on a property under conditions that indicate an existing release, a part release, or a material threat of a release of any hazardous substances or petroleum products into structures on the property or into the ground, groundwater, or surface water of the property. Three ESA phases are described below:; A Transaction Screen Process (ASTM E-1528) – consists of asking questions of owners and occupants of the property, observing site conditions at the property, and conducting limited research regarding certain government records and certain standard historical sources.; A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ASTM E-1527) – is closely related to the transaction screening process, but has to be performed by an environmental professional and includes extensive historic and current records review.; A Phase II Environmental Site Assessment – includes intrusive surveys into the ground in a contaminated area to determine the extent of contamination, type, and concentration of material, and to estimate the expected underground movement of the material. The Level II ESA results are used to develop a conceptual remediation plan and associated costs.

epoxy coated reinforcing steel: Epoxy coated reinforcing steel is steel (bar, fabric, wire) coated with a fusion bonded epoxy powder.; Manual of Testing Procedure

Equal Employment Opportunity: EEO; Equal employment opportunity is a policy whereby all employees, applicants for employment and recipients of benefits and services are treated equally without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or age.; Human Resources Manual

equalizer: An equalizer is a culvert placed where there is no channel but where it is desirable to have standing water at equal elevations on both sides of a fill.

equation: An equation is those points on the highway centerline in which it is necessary to make one station number equal to another station number.

equipment: Occupational Safety Manual; Public Transportation Collection

Equipment Operations System: EOS; Equipment Operations System is the automated system for electronically recording, maintaining and reporting information about the capitalized major equipment fleet.

equivalent single axle loads: ESAL; Equivalent Single Axle Load (18KIP) is a measure developed for pavement design. This measure is an estimate of the number of equivalent 18,000 pound single axle loads expected to traverse a section of pavement during the pavement design life.; Traffic Data and Analysis Manual

erosion: 1. Erosion is the process of wearing away of the land surface by running water, wind, ice, or other geological agents, including such processes as gravitational creep.; 2. Erosion is the detachment and movement of soil or rock fragments by water, wind, ice, or gravity. (i.e. accelerated, geological, gully, natural, rill, sheet, splash, impact, etc.)

erosion control: Erosion control includes protection of soil from dislocation by water, wind, or other agents.

errors and omissions: Errors and omissions means a contract clause that requires the performing entity to correct any work or service it performs that does not meet specifications even if the department previously accepted and paid for the service or work it provided.; Contract Management Manual

essential duties: Essential duties are the job duties that are fundamental to the position and must be performed.; Human Resources Manual

estimate: An estimate is the approximate quantity and cost of materials, construction items, and labor required for a specific construction project.

estimated delivery: Estimated delivery is the date when goods are estimated to be received.; Finance Division

estimate number: An estimate number is a sequential number assigned to a construction estimate to ensure all preceding estimates for a given construction project have been processed.

estimate and quantity sheets: E&Q sheets; Estimate and Quantity sheets provide a list of all the pay items and estimated quantities in the contract. The E & Q sheets are plotted plan tracing sheets that must be in the construction plans. They also provides a space for final quantities once a project has been completed.; PS and E Preparation Manual

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evaluation matrix: An evaluation matrix is the form used to determine total points accumulated by a bidder based on qualifications.; Right of Way Manual

eviction proceedings: Eviction proceedings are legal proceedings – pursuant to Property Code, §24.005 – providing for the eviction of persons occupying property acquired by the State but who, after being notified, refuse to vacate the property.; Right of Way Collection

excavation: Excavation is the act of cutting, digging, or scooping to remove material.

excepted parcels: Excepted parcels are parcels that are excluded from an agreement between a local public agency (LPA) and TxDOT. TxDOT appraises and acquires the parcels on its own without involvement by, or reimbursement to, the LPA.; Right of Way Collection

exception: Exception is the part of the highway or road that does not require work to be done on a given project.

exception code: An exception code is a two-digit code managers use to specify requirements such as excess, hazardous item, etc.; Materials And Supplies Management System Manual

execution date: Execution date is the date on which a party signs a contract.; Contract Management Manual

Executive Director: EXD; The Executive Director of the Texas Department of Transportation or his designee is the top official of the agency.

executor: An executor is a person appointed by the probate court to carry out the terms of a will; "Executrix" if such person is a woman.; Right of Way Manual

exempt damages: Exempt damages are damages to the remainder of a partially acquired parcel exclusive of fencing. Also called special damages.; Right of Way Collection

exempt employee: An exempt employee is an employee who is exempt from the overtime provisions of the FLSA as an executive, administrative, or professional employee.; Human Resources Manual

existing retained right: Existing retained right is the right of a property owner, retained through agreement with the State, to cross a existing highway or roadway.; Right of Way Collection

exit interview: An exit interview is the final interview that the supervisor and others have with the employee when they terminate employment with the department.; Human Resources Manual

expansion joint: An expansion joint provides for expansion of a rigid slab without damage to itself, adjacent slabs, or structures.

expenditure: An expenditure is the incurrence of a liability for goods or services received. Encumbrances are not expenditures. Expenditures differ from costs in that costs are consumption of resources which may have previously been recognized as expenditures. Expenditures are recognized based on receipt of the goods or services.

expenditure contract: An expenditure contract is a contract that at any time in the contract period generates a TxDOT obligation for the expenditure of funds to the contractor as consideration for the performance/service by the contractor to fulfill the financial terms of the contract.; Contract Management Manual

expenditure transfer voucher: An expenditure transfer voucher is an accounting document used to make journal adjustment between funds, agencies and appropriation accounts, or to reflect the change of an expenditure or revenue object in the Uniform Statewide Accounting System (SAS).; Finance Division

expert witness: An expert witness is one who testifies to value having qualified as a full-fledged appraiser.; Real Estate Acquisition Guide for Local Public Agencies

expired password: An expired password is a password whose interval (time a password is valid), threshold (number of wrong password entries), or history (number of times before the same password can be reused) has been violated. An expired password must be changed before sign-on can be completed.; Information Security Manual

exposure incident: An exposure incident is a specific eye, mouth, other mucous membrane, non-intact skin, or parenteral contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials that results from the performance of an employee’s duties.; Occupational Safety Manual

expressway: An expressway is a divided arterial highway for through traffic. An expressway has full or partial control of access and generally has grade separations at major intersections.

extended binary coded decimal interchange code: EBCDIC; An extended binary coded decimal interchange code is an 8-bit coding scheme using an 8-bit byte that gives 256 possible coding combinations for character representation in a computer.

Extended Text Compositor: ETC; The Extended Text Compositor is an interactive word processing system that executes under Remote Operational System Conversational Online Environment (ROSCOE) or Customer Information Control System (CICS) and is available from every Cathode Ray Tube in the Department's network. ETC operates on the central mainframe as well as the Regional.

external stations: External stations are roadway points at which vehicles can enter and leave the urban area. Thus, external stations are located where a transportation facility crosses the study area boundary.; Traffic Data and Analysis Manual

external-local trip: An external-local trip is a trip originating at a point outside the urban area boundary and destined to a point inside the urban area.; Traffic Data and Analysis Manual

external-through trip: An external-through trip is a trip beginning and ending at a point outside the urban area, but which travels through the urban area.; Traffic Data and Analysis Manual

extranet: Extranet is a private network that uses the Internet protocol and the public telecommunication system to securely share part of a business’s information or operations with suppliers, vendors, partners, customers or other businesses. An extranet requires security and privacy and therefore requires firewall server management, the issuance and use of digital certificates or similar means of user authentication, encryption of messages, and the use of virtual private networks (VPN) that tunnel through the public network.; Information Security Manual