Principles of Transportation Engineering – Vocabulary flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and definitions from the lecture notes on transportation engineering.

Transportation

Movement of people and/or goods from one place to another using fixed facilities and/or vehicles.

Economic development

Economic growth of a region supported by efficient transportation enabling production and distribution of goods.

Transportation Engineering

Application of technology and scientific principles to planning, design, operations, and management of transportation facilities to provide safe, rapid, comfortable, convenient, economical, and environmentally compatible movement of people and goods.

Planning (in Transportation Engineering)

Inventory of existing facilities, assessment of conditions and quality, operational performance, accidents, and future improvement using analytical methods.

Design

Process to meet project objectives, including horizontal/vertical alignments, intersection design, and bypass roads.

Construction

Building the designed facilities to address objectives identified in the planning phase.

Operations

Monitoring the performance of facilities to ensure effective and efficient use and operation.

Maintenance

Short- and long-term actions to keep facilities operational and protect the investment.

Transportation Planning

Process of assessing the current state, designing for future needs, and integrating budgets, goals, and policies; involves problem identification, evaluation of alternatives, and technical analysis.

Four basic questions of Transportation Planning

Where are we now? Where do we want to go? What will guide us? How will we get there?

Transportation System

The equipment and logistics for moving people and goods; aims to coordinate movement, reduce costs, and improve delivery times via timetabling and route management.

Timetable

Schedule indicating when each vehicle is expected to be at a given location.

Route plan

Plan coordinating vehicle movements to prevent bottlenecks and optimize flow.

Origin-Destination (O-D) pair

The starting point and destination of a trip used in planning analyses.

Multi-modal system

A transportation system that uses and integrates multiple modes (road, rail, air, water, etc.).

Modes of transportation

The major categories: roadways, railways, airways, waterways (plus other modes like pipelines and monorails).

Roadways/Highways

Major public roads usually connecting cities; high-capacity, flexible routes for diverse traffic.

Expressway

A highway with 2 or more lanes on each side, no at-grade intersections, and limited access (often toll-free or toll road in some cases).

Parkway

A major public road, often scenic or decorative, sometimes part of a highway and may include traffic signals.

National Primary road

Roads that directly connect major cities (populations around 100,000); metropolitan areas are not included.

National Secondary road

Roads that connect cities to National Primary roads, ports, airports, tourist centers, or provincial capitals.

National Tertiary road

Other roads under DPWH that perform local functions.

Provincial roads

Roads that connect cities and municipalities without traversing National Roads and link to major provincial infrastructure.

Municipal and City Roads

Roads within towns/urban centers that connect to provincial and national roads and provide inter-barangay access.

Barangay Roads

Local roads within barangays; part of local road network.

Bypasses

Roads that divert through traffic around built-up areas to reduce congestion and improve safety; may be tolled.

DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways)

responsible for planning, design, construction, and maintenance of national roads and bridges.

Gas tax

Primary dedicated source of funding for transportation projects.

DOTr (Department of Transportation)

Government department responsible for policy, planning, regulation, and coordination of transportation systems.

LTO (Land Transportation Office)

Agency promoting road safety; handles vehicle registration, driver licenses, fines, and license plates.

LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board)

Regulates land transport franchises and ensures safety standards.

LRTA (Light Rail Transit Authority)

Authority overseeing the Light Rail Transit projects (e.g., MRT/LRT) in Manila.

PNR (Philippine National Railways)

Nationwide railway system established to provide rail transport.

MIAA (Manila International Airport Authority)

Agency providing safe, efficient airport facilities at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

CAAP (Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines)

Regulatory body for civil aviation, setting rules and regulations for the industry.

CAB (Civil Aeronautics Board)

Regulates economic aspects of civil aviation and oversees mergers and operations of carriers.

PPA (Philippine Ports Authority)

Agency for planning and development of seaports and port infrastructure nationwide.

MARINA (Maritime Industry Authority)

Regulates and promotes the maritime industry and issues Certificates of Public Convenience.

PCG (Philippine Coast Guard)

Uniformed service enforcing laws at sea, ensuring safety and security of life and property.

OTS (Office for Transportation Security)

Single authority for transportation security across modes (air, sea, land, rail).

TRB (Toll Regulatory Board)

Regulates toll facilities and toll collection.

OTC (Office of Transportation Cooperatives)

Promotes integration and economies of scale for transport cooperatives.

National Transport Policy (IRR)

Policy framework guiding development of a safe, secure, reliable, efficient, intermodal, affordable, and environmentally sustainable transport system.

Transport policy

Set of constructs to achieve social, economic, and environmental objectives within the transport system, often tied to legislation.

Transport planning vs policy

Policy decides resource allocation; planning implements actions and may or may not involve legislation; policy is usually broader and legislative.