Transportation-Related and Other Acronyms in Common Usage
Bold = Deemed to be particularly common in Caltrans Local Assistance
Last edited 10/04/18
Acronyms have become an increasingly prevalent part of western culture. They are used in almost all occupations as a form of communications shorthand. This list is an attempt to identify and explain those acronyms in common usage among transportation professionals in California.
The list was compiled by a former Caltrans employee over a number of years and is not an official Caltrans document. It is offered as an informational tool. Its presence on this website does not constitute advocacy or requirement of usage. If you have comments, questions or additions, please contact the Division of Local Assistance Training Coordinator. We will make corrections as appropriate.
A compiled list of acronyms encountered, mostly, in relation to work at Caltrans. If you have comments, corrections, or additions, forward to
Page 1of 27
Transportation-Related and Other Acronyms in Common Usage
Bold = Deemed to be particularly common in Caltrans Local Assistance
Last edited 10/04/18
Numerical
3CContinuing, Cooperative and Comprehensive planning
3EEducation, Enforcement & Encouragement (SR2S)
3RResurfacing, Restoration & Rehabilitation work
4RAll of the above, plus Reconstruction
404ACOE permit for waterway dredging or filling
A
AAAffirmative Action
AAEEAmerican Academy of Environmental Engineers
AA/EOAffirmative Action and Equal Opportunity
AAMASAsphalt Aggregate Mixture Analysis System
AAPArterial Analysis Package
AARAgency Action Request
AARPAmerican Association of Retired Persons
AASHTOAmerican Assoc. of State Highway Officials
AADTAverage Annual Daily Traffic (two way)
AADTTAverage Annual Daily Truck Traffic
ABAggregate Base
AB69Created RTPAs
AB1401988, Deddeh Act, revised the STIP process
AB4021977, Alquist/Ingalls Act, California Transportation Reform Act,
set up the STIP process & CTC
AB 8721999: Authorizes local agencies to spend Fed & State matching funds in current STIP for eligible work prior to allocation by CTC.
AB10121999: Main intent to reduce large cash balance in State Highway Account by accelerating project delivery. Contains use it or lose it language whereby funds not obligated within three years of allocation lapse and are distributed to other projects.
AB1475SR2S established in CA
AB29282000: Traffic Congestion Relief Act, $5 billion. Also establishes exchange of Fed RSTP & CMAQ funds for State transportation funds.
AB3929Transportation Enhancement Relief Act
ABAAppropriated Budget Authority
ABAGAssociation of Bay Area Governments
ABETAccreditation Board for Engineering
and Technology
ABMAir Blown Mortar
ABMEArea Bridge Maintenance Engineer
ABSAcroconitril-Butadiene-Styrene,
Antilock Braking System
ACAdvance Construction
A&CAbatement and Control
ACBAsphalt Concrete Base
ACEAlamont Commuter Express;
Rail Program – Stockton to San Jose
ACHPAdvisory Council on Historic Preservation
ACIAmerican Concrete Institute
ACOEArmy Corps of Engineers
ACPAsphalt Concrete Pavement,
Asbestos Cement Pipe
ACPAAmerican Concrete Pavement Assoc.
ACPPAAmerican Concrete Pressure Pipe Association
ACRAllocation Change Request
ACSPAutomated Capital Spending Plan
ACTAAlameda County Transportation Authority
ACWP Actual Cost of Work Performed
ADAAmericans with Disabilities Act,
Advance Deposit Application
(for local program reimbursements.)
ADAAGAmericans with Disabilities Act
Accessibility Guidelines
ADISAdvanced Driver Information System
ADMArrow Diagramming Method
ADMSArchived Data Management Subsystem (ITS)
ADRAlternative Dispute Resolution
AdSC Administrative Service Center
ADTAverage Daily Traffic
ADUSArchived Data User Service (ITS)
AEArea Engineer
A&EArchitectural & Engineering
AED Associated Equipment Distributors
AEMAcoustic Emission Monitoring
AEPAssociation of Environmental Professionals
AFDArchitecture Flow Diagram
AFOAnimal Feeding Operation
AFTAmerican Farmland Trust
AGCAssociation of General Contractors
AGTAutomated Guideway Transit
AHARAutomatic Highway Advisory Radio
AHSAutomated Highway System,
Average Highway Speed
AIArtificial Intelligence; active ingredient
Asphalt Institute
AIAAmerican Institute of Architects
AIACAmerican Indian Advisory Council
AI/EArchitectural Inventory/Evaluation form
AIDArchitecture Interconnect Diagram (ITS)
AIHAAmerican Industrial Health Association
AIMSAgency Information Management Strategy (TMS)
AIPAmerican Institute of Planners
AIRS Aerometric Information Retrieval System
ALGOLAlgebraic Oriented Language
ALOADSAutomated Location and Design System
ALAcceptable Level,
regulatory Action Level (water qual.)
ALPAnnual Leave Program
AMAmplitude Modulation, Anti Meridian
AMBAGAssociation of Monterey County Bay Area Govts
AMBER alertAmerica’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response
AMFAAlternative Motor Fuels Act
AMISAutomated Management Information System
AMPSAdvanced Mobile Phone System (ITS)
ANPRM Advanced Notice of Proposed Rule Making
ANSIAmerican National Standards Institute
ANWRArctic National Wildlife Refuge (Alaska)
AOAgency Object (3-digit code used in TRS,
also in WBS)
AOAActivity-on-Arrow
AONActivity-on-Node
APAAsphalt Pavement Alliance
APEArea of Potential Effect
APCDAir Pollution Control District
APDEAdvance Project Development Element
APECAutomated Procedures for Engin. Consultants
APEIArea of Potential Environmental Impact
APHAAmerican Public Health Association
APMArea Project Managers,
Assistant Project Manager
APNAssessor’s Parcel Number
ARRAAsphalt Recycling and Reclamation Assoc.
APSAdvance Planning Study;
Accessible Pedestrian Signals
APSEAAsian-Pacific State Employees Association
APTAccelerated Pavement Testing
APTAAmerican Public Transit Association
APTSAdvanced Public Transportation System (ITS)
APUauxiliary power units
APWAAmerican Public Works Association
AQCPAir Quality Control Program
AQCRAir-Quality Control Region
AQIAir Quality Index
AQMAAir-Quality Maintenance Area
AQMDAir Quality Management District
AQMPAir Quality Management Plan
ARAAutomatic Road Analyzer
ARBAir Resources Board
AR’sAttainment Regulations
AREAAmerican Railway Engineering Association
ARHMAsphalt-Rubber Hot Mix
ARHM-GGAsphalt-Rubber Hot Mix - Gap Graded
ARMAir Resources Management
ARTBAAmerican Road & Transportation Builders Assoc.
ARTSAdvanced Rural Transportation Systems
ASAggregate Subbase
ASAPAs-Soon-As-Possible
ASCAdmin. Services Center
Accounting Services Center
Agricultural Services Center
ASCEAmerican Society of Civil Engineers
ASCIIAmerican Standard Code of Info. Interchange
ASFAutomotive Safety Foundation
ASHRAEAmerican Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers
ASIAcceleration Severity Index
ASMEAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers
ASNTAmerican Society for Nondestructive Testing
ASPENAutomated Telephone Answering System
ASRArchaeological Survey Report;
(Evaluation of prehistoric archaeological resources in the project study area)
Alkali-silica reactivity
ASRPAluminum Spiral Rib Pipe
ASTAcceptance Samples and Tests
ASTMAmerican Society for Testing Materials
ATAAmerican Trucking Association
ATISAdvanced Traveler Information Systems
ATMSAdvanced Traffic Management Systems
ATPBAsphalt Treated Permeable Base
ATSACAutomated Traffic Surveillance & Control System
ATSDAdvanced Transportation System Development
ATSSAAmerican Traffic Safety Services Association
ATVAll Terrain Vehicle
AUAnimal Unit
AVCOAutomatic Vehicle Control Systems
AVCSAdvanced Vehicle Control Systems (ITS)
AVI Automated Vehicle Identification
AVLAuthorized Vehicle Lane;
Automated Vehicle Location (ITS)
AVOAutomated Vehicle Operation (ITS)
AVRAverage Vehicle Ridership
AWRAAmerican Water Resources Association
AWSAlternate Work ScheduleAmerican Welding Society
AWTAverage Weekday Traffic
AWWAAmerican Water Works Association
B
BACBlood Alcohol Concentration,
Budget at Completion
BACMBest Available Control Measures
BACTBest Available Control Technology
BADTBest Available Demonstrated Technology
BAGR Bridge Approach Guard Rail
BALI Basic Arterial Local Intersection
BAMSBid Analysis and Management System
BARMBasic Asphalt Recycling Manual
BARTBay Area Rapid Transit
BAS Bridge Approach Slab
BASS Black Advocates in State Service
BASIC Beginners All Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code
BATBest Available Technology,
Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training (DOL)
BB Beginning of Bridge
BBS Bulletin Board System,
Battery Backup System
BC Beginning of Curve
BCABenefit Cost Analysis
BCO Thin-Bonded Concrete Overlay
BCPBudget Change Proposal: Official request to D/Finance & Legislature to revise level or sources of funding.
BCR Begin Curb Return
BCT Breakaway Cable Terminal
BCWP Budgeted Cost of Work Performed
BCWS Budgeted Cost of Work Scheduled
BEA 1990Budget Enforcement Act of 1990
BEAR Broad Emergency Assistance Radio (System)
BEES Basic Engineering Estimating System
BEPBusiness Enterprise Program
BERBridge Evaluation Report
BFRs Brominated Flame Retardants: widely used in plastics, foams, textiles, many electrical appliances, and building materials such as house walls, roofs and parking decks. Increasing amounts of BFR residues have been detected in humans and the environment.
BHT Business, Housing, and Transportation Agency
BIABureau of Indian Affairs;
Building Industry Association
BIOS Basic Input/Operating System
BIRBridge Inspection Report
BIT Binary Digit
BLABicycle Lane Account program (State)
BLM Bureau of Land Management
BMPBest Management Practice
BMSBridge Management System, process for achieving cost effective maintenance
BNFBackus- Naur Form (ITS)
BNSFBurlington Northern Santa Fe
BOBudget Obligations, Biological Opinion
BODBiochemical Oxygen Demand,
Biological Oxygen Demand
BOD5biochemical oxygen demand (as measured in the standard 5-day test)
BSOBuilding, Structures and Obstruction report (HPSR)
BPBefore Present, Boiling Point
BPMBeginning Post Mile.
= zero at south or west County line
BPR Business Process Review
(1997 study of project management in Caltrans)
BPR Bureau of Public Roads
BRTBus Rapid Transit (ITS)
BSR Beginning of Slope Rounding
BSW Back of Sidewalk
BTABicycle Transportation Account
BT&HBusiness, Transportation and Housing Agency
BTOS Basic Traffic Operations System
BTSBureau of Transportation Statistics
BUNBlood Urea Nitrogen
BVC Begin Vertical Curve
BW Barbed Wire
BWF Barbed Wire Fence
C
CAAFederal Clean Air Act (1970),
Cable Anchor Assembly
CAAAClean Air Act Amendment of 1990,
(1977 & 1970)
CAContract Authority, Certification Acceptance
CAATSCalif. Alliance for Advanced Transportation Systems
CACCalifornia Administrative Code,
Citizens Advisory Committee
CADComputer-Aided Drafting
CADDComputer-Aided Drafting and Design
CAERCommunity Awareness and Emergency Response
CAFOConcentrated Animal Feedlot;
Consent Agreement/Final Order
CAGCitizens Advisory Group
CAHControlled Access Highways
CALACTCalif. Association for Coordinated Transportation
CASASFMRACalifornia Association of Farm Managers and Rural Assessors
CALNETCalif. Integrated Telecom. System (8-….)
Cal/OSHACalif. Office of Safety and Health Administration
CAMCaltrans Administrative Manual,
Cooperative Agreement Manual
CAMPContinuous Air Monitoring Program
CANDECulvert Analysis and Design
CAOCorrective Action Order
CAPCorrugated Aluminum Pipe, Certification Acceptance Plan
Corrective Action Plan. Control Account Plan
Cost Allocation Procedure. Criteria Air Pollutant
CAPACorrugated Aluminum Pipe Arch
CAPMCapital Preventive Maintenance
CAQPCongestion and Air Quality Program
CARCaltrans Action Request, Cooperative Agreement Report
CARBCalifornia Air Resources Board
CARSCaltrans Auxiliary Radio System
CASConstruction area signs
CASAC Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee
CASE Computer Aided Software Engineering;
Computer Aided Systems Engineering (ITS)
CASPCalifornia Aviation System Plan;
Corrugated Aluminized Steel Pipe
CAT EXCategorical Exemption (State);
Categorical Exclusion (Federal)
CATIAClean Air and Transportation Improvement Act
CaTNAPCalifornia Traffic Noise Analysis Protocol (
CATVCable Television
CBCatch Basin, Citizens Band
CBACost Benefit Analysis
CBCCalifornia Bicycle Coalition,
California Building Code
CBDCentral Business District
CBMCCauses Beyond My Control (my coinage)
CBO Congressional Budget Office
CBRCalifornia Bearing Ratio
CBTPCommunity Based Transportation Planning grants
CCConstruction Complete
CCAConstruction Contract Acceptance
CCACalifornia Coastal Act of 1976
CCAACalif. Clean Air Act
CCAPACalifornia Chapter of the American Planning Association
CCBChange Control Board
CCCCalifornia Coastal Commission;
California Conservation Corps
CCIConstruction Cost Index
CCICCentral California Information Center
CCMPComprehensive Conservation and Manage. Plan
CCOContract Change Order
CCRCalifornia Code of Regulations
CCROCCalifornia Civil Rights Officers Council
CCSCalifornia Coordinate System;
Construction Control Survey
CCSFCCCity-County-State-Federal Cooperation Council
CCTVClosed Circuit TV
CDContract delegation (purchase order)
CDCCenters for Disease Control
CDFCalifornia Department of Forestry
CDBGCommunity Development Block Grant
CDFGCalif. Dept of Fish & Game
CDHCalifornia Division of Highways
CDLCalifornia Drivers License
CDMACode Division Multiple Access (ITS)
CDPDCellular Digital Packet Data (ITS)
CD(PO)Contract Delegation (Purchase Order)
CECategorical Exclusion (NEPA);
Categorical Exemption, (CEQA)
Construction Engineering
CEACareer Executive Assignment (Appointment)
CEACCounty Engineers Association of California;
Caltrans Employment Advisory Committee
CEBCConference
CECCalifornia Energy Commission;
Caltrans Encroachment Committee
CELSOCConsulting Engs. and Land Surveyors of Calif.
CEMs Continuous Emissions Monitors
CEP Cumulative Exposure Project
CEQCouncil of Environmental Quality
(Federal Agency)
CEQACalifornia Environmental Quality Act (1970)
CERCLAComprehensive Environmental.Response, Compensation/Liab. Act
CERESCalif. Envir. Resources Evaluation System
CERFCivil Engineering Research Foundation
CERLConstruction Engineering Research Laboratory
CESACalif. Endangered Species Act
CEUContinuing Education Unit
CFCCost of Facilities Capital, Chlorofluorocarbons
CFDACatalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance
CFMChlorofluoromethanes
CFRCode of Federal Regulations
CFRAThe California Family Rights Act of 1992 is a State law administered and enforced by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing. CFRA was revised to conform to the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993.
CFRPCarbon-Fiber-Reinforced-Plastic
CFSCubic feet per second
CFUColony Forming Unit (water qual)
C&GCurb and Gutter
CGPConstruction General Permit (NPDES)
CH4Methane
CHINCalifornia Highway Information Network
CHPCalif. Highway Patrol
CHINCalifornia Highway Information Network:
1-800-427-7623, 999
or #999
CHRISCalif. Historical Resources Information System
CIACommunity Impact Assessment; Evaluates the impacts that a project may have on community, incl, neighborhoods and farmland.
CICCritical Intersection Control
CIDHCast-in-Drilled-Hole
CIMACCaltrans Improves Mobility Across California
CIPCapital Improvement Program – 7-year program to maintain or improve traffic LOS & transit performance and to mitigate impacts identified by the CMP;
Cast-in-Place; cast iron pipe
CIPCPcast-in-place concrete pipe
CIRCouncil on Intergovernmental Relations
Cold In Place (recycling of asphalt)
CITCalifornia Institute of Technology
CITABCalif. Information Technology Advisory Board
CIUController Interface Unit
CIWMBCalifornia Integrated Waste Management Board
C&L Certification and Licensing
CLASCalifornia Leave Accounting System
CLPContinuous Learning Program
CLUPComprehensive Land Use Plan
CMACongestion Management Agencies
CMAQCongestion Mitigation and Air Quality
CMBConcrete Median Barrier
CMC Construction Metrication Council
CMPCongestion Management Program, Plan;
Corridor Management Plan (Scenic Highways);
Corrugated Metal Pipe
CMSCongestion Management System, Changeable Message Signs
CMSA Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area
CMV commercial motor vehicles
CNDDBCalifornia Natural Diversity Data Base
CNGCompressed Natural Gas
CNLMCenter for Natural Lands Management.
CNPSCalifornia Native Plant Society (data base)
COCarbon Monoxide
COBClose of Business
COBOLCommon Business Oriented Language
COBRAConsolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act
COCOContractor-Owned/ Contractor-Operated
CODChemical Oxygen Demand
CODPCareer Opportunity Development Program
COECategory of Expenditure (budgetary grouping)
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
COFPAES Council on the Federal Procurement of Architectural and Engineering Services
COGCouncil of Governments (local, see LTA)
COHCoefficient Of Haze
COGOcoordinate geometry
COLCollector (Urban)
CongestionReduced speeds less than 35 MPH
for longer than 15 min.
COPCapital Outlay Projects
CORBACommon Object Request Broker Architecture (ITS)
COSCapital Outlay Support
COTRContracting Officer Technical Representative (ITS)
COZEEPCOnstruction Zone Enhanced Enforcement Program or Patrol
CPCapital Projects
CPCConsolidated Planning Committee (STANCOG)
CPF Combined Pay Factor
CPFFCost-Plus-Fixed-Fee
CPHCalifornia Permit Handbook
CPICost Performance Index
CPIFCost-Plus-Incentive-Fee
CPMCritical Path Method
CPMCCapital Projects Management Council
CPRCardio-Pulminary Resusitation
CPRCCalifornia Public Resources Code
CPSDCapital Project Skill Development
CPUCentral Processing Unit
CPUCCalif. Public Utilities Commission
CRACCold Recycled AC
CRAPConstruction Records and Procedures
CRBContract Review Board
CRCPContinuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement
CRDACooperative Research and Development Agreement
CRHPCalifornia Register of Historic Places
CRIPCost Reduction Incentive Proposal
CRLFCalifornia Red Legged Frog
CRPConservation Reserve Program;
Combined Road Plans
CRSIConcrete Reinforcing Steel Institute
CRTCathode Ray Tube
CRVCalifornia Redemption Value
CSACCalifornia State Association of Counties;
California Supervisors Association of California
CSDContext Sensitive Design
CSEACalifornia State Employees Association
CSHCCalif. Streets & Highways Code
CSICommon Sense Initiative;
Compliance Sampling Inspection
CSIPCorridor Safety Improvement Program
CSOCombined Sewer Overflow
CSPCorrugated Steel Pipe;
Communication Service Provider (ITS)
CSPACorrugated Steel Pipe Arch
CSRCCalifornia Special Reference Center
(global positioning technologies)
CSSContext Sensitive Solutions(involving all stakeholders in the development of a project to ensure that a project fits its physical setting and preserves scenic, aesthetic, historic and environmental resources while maintaining safety and mobility.
CSTICalifornia Specialized Training Institute
CSUSCalifornia State University, Stanislaus; Sac.
CSWCConstruction Storm Water Coordinator
CTCaltransCensus Tract
CTAACommunity Transportation Assoc. of America
CTAPCooperative Training Assistance Program (Fed)
CTBCement Treated Base
CTCCalifornia Transportation Commission;
Nine appointed members
CTECenter For Transportation And The Environment
CTO Compensatory Time Off
CTPCalifornia Transportation Plan
CTIFSCalif. Transportation Infrastructure Funding System
CTIPSCalifornia Transportation Improvement Plan System. A computer database used by CT & MPOs to input & track Fed. Funded transportation projects. See LPAMS
CTISCalifornia Transportation Investment Strategy
CTPBCement Treated Permeable Base
CTRCalifornia Toxics Rule
C-TRISCalif. Transportation Research Info. System (UCB)
CTSCommuter Transportation Services
CTSACoordinated Service Transportation Agency
CUFCommercially Useful Function (DBE)
CVCost Variance
CVASCommercial Vehicle Administration Subsystem (ITS)
CVCSCommercial Vehicle Check Subsystem (ITS)
CVHASCooperative Vehicle-Highway Automation Systems
CVISNCommercial Vehicle Info. Systems and Networks (ITS)
CVOCommercial Vehicle Operations (ITS)
CVSCommercial Vehicle Subsystem (ITS)
CWAClean Water Act
CWDCorridor Wide Display System (ITS)
CWNSClean Water Needs Survey
CYCalendar Year
CYACover Your Assets (not CT); California Youth Authority
CZMACoastal Zone Management Act
CZARACoastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments
D
DABDigital Audio Broadcast (ITS)
DACDisability Advisory Council
DAFDamage Assessment Form
DAMP Drainage Analysis & Modeling Program
DARDefense Access Roads
DARTS Dynamic Arterial Responsive Traffic Signal System
DATDiagnostic Acceptance Testing
DAT.COMDirector’s Advisory Team for Communication
DBA Doing Business As, Decibels, "A" Scale
DBEDisadvantaged Business Enterprise
DBELODisadvantaged Business Enterprise Liaison Officer
DBMS Data Base Management System
D/CDemand Capacity ratio
DCIUDiscrimination Complaint Investigation Unit
DCP Dynamic Cone Penetrometer
DCSData Collection System
DCU Discrimination Complaint Unit
DDDistrict Director; Data Dictionary (ITS)
DDC District Division Chief
DDD Deputy District Director
DDEData Dictionary Element (ITS)
DDTDichloroDiphenylTrichloroethane
DEBDistrict Environmental Branch