Glossary

Describing the return trip of a transportation vehicle (rail, truck, or container). Backhaul often refers to a lower revenue-generating leg of a shipment haul, because the vehicle is either empty or partially loaded.

Crushed angular stone used to distribute the heavy loads of moving locomotives and their freight, facilitate drainage, and reduce vegetation growth along a railroad bed.

A flood with a predicted frequency and elevation that serves as the basis for making policy decisions regarding floodplain use and development.

The area of freeway between interchanges or weaving areas. Where the term “Freeway” refers to a divided highway with full access control and 2 or more lanes in each direction for the exclusive purpose of moving traffic, consisting of 1. “Basic Freeway Sections”, 2. “Weaving Areas”, and 3. “Ramp Junctions”. A Basic Freeway Section serves no access function and is separated from on and off ramps. It is often called a “Pipeline” or “Main Pipeline”.

The methods, measures, designs, performance standards, maintenance procedures, and other management practices intended to prevent or reduce adverse impacts.

A program of the USDA, the Better Backroads Program has been in existence since 1997, focusing on correction of road-related erosion problems for towns. Promotion of the program is handled via technical and financial assistance.

Same as ‘Waybill’.

Property bounded on one side by a street and on the other three sides by a street, railroad right-of-way, public park, waterway, or any combination thereof.

The portion of a block that abuts a single street.

Initiated with a workshop at the University of Vermont campus in June 2007, the charge of the Commission on Innovative Finance is to provide a set of recommendations regarding viable innovative finance strategies to advance the regions’ transportation needs, including all modes (especially public transportation)as well as the necessary connections with our land use, economic, environmental and quality of life needs. The Commission has since drafted recommendations to be phased into policy over time.

See Zoning Board of Adjustment

A wooden or metallic post installed at the entrance of a bikepath or pedestrian way intended to restrict motor vehicle access.

A metaphorical expression indicating a narrowing or reduction of roadway capacity due to; construction, maintenance, congestion, accidents, infrastructure (e.g. bridges, tunnels, reduced lanes, etc.).

Non-containerized freight, or the process of breaking down cargo from a shipping container

Federal funding program for rehabilitation and reconstruction of bridges.

A redevelopment site believed to contain pollution from a previous land use that limits the reuse of the site.

A special area of a lot set aside for the purpose of reducing the Adverse Impacts that a land use on a lot has on nearby land uses. A buffer may be in addition to required Setback distances and may be required to contain a Screen or landscaping.

A structure with a roof supported by columns or walls used to shelter persons or property.

The total area of a Lot covered by a building measured on a horizontal plane at the building mean grade level. It may exclude building appurtenances (such as steps, projecting windows, and uncovered porches).

Police Power regulations that govern the design, construction and/or maintenance of a building or structure. Uniform building codes prepared by national panels of experts govern specific issues (such as structural design, electrical systems, plumbing systems, sanitation systems, heating, cooling and ventilation systems, fire prevention, and the occupancy of buildings).

The maximum decimal percentage permitted by a zoning bylaw for a Land Use calculated by dividing the total Building Area of all Principal Buildings and Accessory Buildings (and sometimes the areas of all other impervious surfaces) on a Lot by the total area of the lot upon which the land use is located.

The net volume of cubic space that is available for the construction of a building or structure, when Setbacks, Building Height, and Bulk Regulations are met.

The maximum height (measured in feet or building stories) that a building or structure may be; often measured from the average grade at the base of the building to the peak of the roof (or sometimes to the eaves).

The minimum distance that a building or structure may be located from the front of a property, often measured from the Street Line.

Official permission for the construction, repair, alteration or addition to a structure issued prior to construction when the applicant has demonstrated compliance with all applicable bylaws.

A form of analysis predicting the total amount of development that could possibly occur in a given area under existing or proposed legal constraints (e.g. zoning ordinance) and environmental constraints (e.g. wetlands, floodplains, steep slopes, etc.).

The physical features of Land Development (such as Buildings, Streets, and Structures). See Natural Area.

The maximum volume that a building or structure may have. The pre-scribed Floor-Area-Ratio (FAR), combined with the maximum Building Height, act as Bulk Regulations.

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) was established by the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991. BTS administers federal transportation data collection, analysis, and reporting resources.

Burlington International Airport is the preeminent Airport in the State of Vermont, located in South Burlington and owned by the City of Burlington.

Fixed-route bus system operating on its own exclusive “Right of Way”.

24 VSA 4303 (4): Municipal regulations applicable to land development adopted under the authority of Chapter 117 (including Zoning, Subdivision Regulations, shore land and flood hazard bylaws, Official Map, and a Capital Budget and Program ).

America’s Byways is a registered umbrella term used to promote a collection of distinct and diverse roads, designated by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation as a National Scenic Byway. Further, there are also state-designated Byways in Vermont, which may or may not have national designation.