Accessibility

(a) General "ease of reaching" opportunities such as jobs, leisure, education, shopping, etc. or the "ease of being reached"; and
(b) physical ability at the micro level relating to the ability to access infrastructure, including vehicles.

Affordability

The cost of transport relative to disposable income; the capability of individuals or households to allocate available expenditure to transport cost.

Appraisal

It has always been necessary to justify major schemes using strictly economic criteria, but the new Transport White Paper introduced a new requirement to show how measures will contribute towards the stated objectives. Appraisal of different proposals is to be carried out in a consistent manner and must show the impact on factors such as the environment, users and nearby residents.

Benchmarking

Comparisons of similar data sets in order to identify best practise and areas for improvement.

Best Value

An established performance management framework to deliver continuous improvement for all services; a clear commitment to the "4 Cs", i.e. Challenge, Compare, Consult and Compete.

BRB

British Railways Board.

BTP

British Transport Police.

Bus Improvement Programme

Proposal for investment in new shelters and passenger information at important (on street) nodes of the bus network.

Capital programme

A series of projects funded from the capital fund over a fixed period of time. Capital projects are usually those which result in a tangible asset, such as buildings or equipment.

CCTV

Closed Circuit Television. A system of local cameras to enable monitoring of traffic to assist traffic control or systems used to enable security monitoring of particular sites such as car parks and travel stations.

CfIT

Commission for Integrated Transport.

Corridor

Main travel routes and surrounding alternative routes.

COSLA

Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.

DBFO

Design, Build, Finance and Operate. A method under the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) launched by the Government with the aim of reducing Government spending and, which transfers the risk and responsibility for major schemes to the private sector.

DDA

Disability Discrimination Act.

Deflectograph

A machine survey method which measures deflection of the carriageway surface under load to enable calculation of residual life and maintenance overlay requirement.

DETR

Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Dial-a-bus

A pre-booked door-to-door service for disabled or elderly people who are unable to use public transport for all or certain journeys.

DPTAC

Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee. The Committee makes recommendations on the transport needs of disabled people. Several recommendations have been made regarding the design of new buses and the Council's policy is to encourage operators to order vehicles meeting these recommendations.

EC

European Commission.

EPOMM

European Platform on Mobility Management. A European forum for the dissemination of best practice in mobility Management ( i.e. promoting real alternatives to car use)

ERDF

European Regional Development Fund. A grant is paid by the European Union from its regional development fund to assist projects in certain specified areas.