BRAC - Acronym for base realignment and closure. It is the process that the
Department of Defense has used to reorganize it's installation infrastructure to
more efficiently and effectively support its forces and increase operational readiness.

Bike and Pedestrian Trail - A new or improved lanes or paths used by
bicyclists or persons traveling by foot including mobility impaired person using
a wheelchair.

Botanic Garden - a formal garden open to the public containing interesting rare
and unusual plants.

Brownfield - abandoned or idled or under used industrial and commercial
facilities where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived
environmental contamination.

Business Improvement District (BID) - a public/private partnership I which
property and business owners of a defined area elect to make a collective
contribution to the maintenance, development and marketing/promotion of
their commercial district.

Chamber of Commerce - An association of businesspersons and merchants
for the promotion of commercial interests in the community.

Community Development - The practices and academic disciplines of civic
leaders, activists, involved citizens and professionals improving various
aspects of local communities.

Depot - a train station that is usually a freight stop instead of a passenger station.

Economic Development - The development of economic wealth for a town, city,
state or region for the well being of it's citizens.

Golf Course - A large landscaped area for playing golf.

Historic District - A designated area where the buildings are considered
to have significant historic character. The historic district designation makes
the area eligible for federal assistance programs.

Historic Preservation - Maintaining the historic built environment and controlling
the surrounding environment. The historic environment
includes districts, site, buildings, structures, objects and landscapes that are
significant in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering or culture.

Intermodal - The ability to connect between different modes of transportation.

Lifestyle Shopping Center - a shopping center or mixed-use commercial
development that combines the traditional retail functions of a shopping mall
but with a leisure amenities oriented toward upscale consumers.

Liveable Communities - A community that has affordable and appropriate housing,
supportive community features services and transportation
mobility options, which facilitate personal independence and the
engagement of residents in civic and social life.

Loft - A large adaptable open space in a factory, warehouse, commercial space
or residence with high ceiling, large windows, concrete floors and ceilings.

Main Street - A primary retail street of a village, town or small city.

Master Plan - A document that describes an overall development concept that is
used to guide private and public development.

Metropolitan Planning Organization - A regional policy body, required in
urbanized areas with populations over 50,000 that is responsible for
the planning requirements of federal highway and transit legislation.

Mixed Use Development - The practice of using more than one type of use in a
building or set of buildings.

Multi-Family Housing - Multiple separate housing units usually containing
more than 5 units within one building.

Multi-modal - The availability of multiple different transportation modes
within a system or corridor.

National Scenic Byways - A road recognized by the U.S. Department of
Transportation for its archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational,
and/or scenic qualities.

Observatory - A location used for observing terrestrial and/or celestial events.

Park and Ride - A parking lot or garage where passengers can park their
automobiles while using mass transit.

Pedestrian Friendly - Description of an environment that is pleasant and
inviting for people on foot offering sensory appeal, safety, site amenities,
lighting and accessibility to buildings and diverse activities.

Plaza - An open urban public space.

Pocket Park - a small area available to the public that is often of environmental,
rather than recreational importance.

Promenade - A raised walkway area.

Public Park - An area of open space used for recreational purposes.

Rails to Trail - Former railway track area that has been converted to
pedestrian, bicycle, skating; equestrian and/or light modernized vehicles pathways.

Rapid transit - A subway-type transit railway operated on exclusive rights of
way with high level platform stations on elevated or at grade level track
separated from other traffic.

Revitalization - Bringing again into activity and prominence

SAFETEA-LU
(Safe. Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act - A Legacy for Users)
- A highway bill that governs Federal Transportation
spending in the United States through 2010.

Site Amenities - Furniture and accessories (benches, seating, trash receptacles,
drinking fountains, planters, kiosks, clocks, newspaper dispensers
or telephones) placed on the sidewalks for the convenience of pedestrians.

Streetscape - The visual character of a street as determined by structures,
greenery, open space and other natural and man-made components.

State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) - A staged, multi-year,
state-wide multimodal/inter-modal program of transportation projects.

Tax Incremental Finance (TIF ) - A financial tool used by municipalities and
governmental districts to use future tax gains to finance current improvements
that will generate those gains.

Transit - Bus or rail service that operates on established schedules along
designated routes or lines with specific stops.

Transit Oriented Development (TOD) - A residential or commercial area
designed to maximize access to public transportation.

Transportation and Community and System Preservation Pilot Program (TCSP)
- A grant program that provides funding for the planning, implementation and
research and investigation to address the relationship between transportation,
community and system .

Transportation Enhancements - Community funding opportunities to expand
transportation choices and other investments that increase recreational
opportunity and access. The funds may also be used to contribute toward the
revitalization of local and regional economies by restoring historic buildings,
renovating streetscapes or providing transportation museums and visitors centers.

Urban Planning - The discipline of land use planning which deals with the physical,
social, and economic development of metropolitan regions,
municipalities and neighborhoods.

Visitor Center - A tourist information center providing visitors to a location
with information on the areas attractions, lodgings, maps and other items
relevant to tourism.

Waterfront - Land alongside a body of water, or the dockland district of a town.

Welcome Center - A rest area with a visitor center, located after the entrance
from one state to another state, usually along an interstate highway.