BPAC Committees
Development Review Committee
Dan Clever (chair)
Goals: Understand the Pedestrian Plan and its implementation recommendations; select & implement immediate and long term projects based upon the Pedestrian Plan; identify key contacts & opportunities; provide summary of actions to Executive Committee for Annual Report; assist BPAC with implementation of its annual goals.
Description: This committee ensures that new development in the city and county does not forget about the pedestrian and cyclist. The committee does this in four ways: 1) reviews site plans to ensure compliance with bike/ped elements of our development ordinance, 2) votes on site plans at the Development Review Board, 3) reviews zoning map changes and transportation plans to make sure they comply with adopted bike/ped policies, 4) suggests updates to our development ordianance so that it is in closer alignment with the adopted pedestrian and bicycle policy.
Bike Plan Implementation Committee
Scott Carter (chair)
Goals: Understand the Bike Plan and its implementation recommendations; select & implement immediate and long term projects based upon the Bike Plan; identify key contacts & opportunities; provide summary of actions to Executive Committee for Annual Report; assist BPAC with implementation of its annual goals.
Description: In 2006 the city and county adopted a comprehensive bike plan, and this subcommittee wants to be sure that the plan is implemented. We work with the city and state transportation officials to encourage development of bike facilities, monitor paving and maintenance schedules to see if bike facilities can be incorporated, provide suggestions for funding priorities, monitor development of multi-use trails, provide input on bike-related policies, remind officials and the public about the adopted bike plan.
Pedestrian Plan Implementation Committee
Greg Garneau (chair)
Goals: Understand the Pedestrian Plan and its implementation recommendations; select & implement immediate and long term projects based upon the Pedestrian Plan; identify key contacts & opportunities; provide summary of actions to Executive Committee for Annual Report; assist BPAC with implementation of its annual goals.
Communications Committee
Ken Kaye (chair)
Goals: Assemble advocacy message (website, materials for festivals) generated by BPAC and sub-committees; oversee dissemination of correspondence generated by BPAC; coordinate events; recruit and develop liaisons with BPAC; represent BPAC at City Council or County Commissioners meetings as appropriate; assist BPAC with implementation of its annual goals.
Description: The Communications Committee oversees the following activities:
- Online listserve
- BPAC's web site
- Production of brochures, banners, other promo materials
- Coordination of guest speakers
- Outreach to the community, including safety education and work with neighborhood and transportation advocates BPAC staffing and display at Durham events, including Earth Day, Centerfest, Festival for the Eno, Bike to Work Week, Farmer's Market
BPAC Goals and Committees Goals
BPAC Membership
Glossary of Bike and Pedestrian Commission Terms and Acronyms
| AASHTO | American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials | AASHTO develops guidelines and standards for roadway design, including bicycle and pedestrian facilities (http://www.aashto.org) |
| ADA | Americans with Disabilities Act | Federal law requiring construction that is publicly funded or open to the public to be accessible |
| ADT | Average Daily Traffic | Averaged count of traffic volume on a particular road or section of road |
| ATT | American Tobacco Trail | The Triangle-area rail-trail that currently covers 7 paved miles in the City of Durham and several unpaved miles in Durham County, as well as many miles constructed in Wake County. The trail is a popular regional bike facility, and is planned to span 22 miles from downtown Durham to western Wake County when complete. |
| BPAC | Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Commission | Durham City/County commission charged with advising the City Council and County Commissioners on transportation-related bicycle and pedestrian issues. |
| BOA | Board of Adjustment | Considers minor SUPs, variances and appeals of administrative decisions. |
| BOCC | Board of County Commissioners | The five-member body that is the legislative and policy-making body for the county of Durham. The BOCC is responsible for establishing general policies for the County; appointing the County Manager and members of various boards and commissions; enacting ordinances, resolutions and orders, reviewing the annual budget, and authorizing contracts on the County's behalf. The current chairperson of the Durham BOCC is Ellen Reckhow. The current Manager is Mike Ruffin. |
| BOT (NCDOT) | NCDOT Board of Transportation | The governing body of NCDOT. It is composed of delegates from each NCDOT division. Kenneth Spaulding is the representative for Division 5. Nina Szlosberg is an at-large representative who is from Division 5. |
| CAMPO | Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization | Wake County and all of its municipalities, Franklin, Johnston, Harnett, and Granville Counties are included in this MPO area. (see MPO for more detailed definition) |
| CAMPO BPSG | The Capital Area Bicycle and Pedestrian Stakeholders Group | Citizens, bicyclists, and planners interested in pedestrian and bicycle issues in Wake, Franklin, Johnston, Harnett, and Granville Counties. The BPSG acts as an advisory group to the Capital Area MPO CAT |
| Capital Area Transit | The bus system for Raleigh. | |
| CBDG | Community Development Block Grant | Funding awarded to a municipality for improvements in low-income neighborhoods - can go for a range of facilities, including bicycle and pedestrian |
| CC | City Council | Durham City Council- Consists of 7 members. It is the legislative and policy-making body for the city of Durham. The Council is responsible for establishing general policies for the City; appointing the City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk and members of various boards and commissions; enacting ordinances, resolutions and orders, reviewing the annual budget, and authorizing contracts on the City's behalf. The current mayor is Bill Bell. The current City Manager is Patrick Baker. |
| CH-BPB | Chapel Hill Bike and Pedestrian Board | The Chapel Hill/Carrboro board that advises Chapel Hill Town Council on bike and pedestrian related matters. Regular meetings are held on the 4th Tuesday of every month at 7:00 pm, in the Chapel Hill Town Hall, First Floor Conference Room |
| CHT | Chapel Hill Transit | The bus system for Chapel Hill, Carrboro and UNC. |
| CIP | Capital Improvement Program | A government's 5-year budget plan for expenditures for capital projects (i.e., major projects other than recurring operations costs) |
| CMAQ | Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality | A section of ISTEA and TEA-21 which funds projects to improve air quality in non-attainment areas (Durham is one) - bike and ped projects eligible |
| COG | Council of Governments | Regional councils (16 in NC) that promote larger-scale planning - local governments are members and pay dues - Durham is in the Triangle J COG (TJCOG) made up of Wake, Orange, Johnston, Durham, Lee, and Chatham counties Committed Element Element of a development plan that is adopted as part of a zoning map change which is beyond the minimum requirements of the zoning ordinance and cannot be modified without a subsequent zoning map change. Comprehensive Plan |
| Comp Plan | Durham City/County Comprehensive Plan | Durham's statement of how we want to grow and develop. The Plan guides where and how private development should occur. It guides how the City and County should provide public facilities and services to support future growth. The Plan is long range in scope, focusing on the ultimate needs of the community rather than the pressing concerns of today. |
| DATA | Durham Area Transit Authority | The bus system for Durham city and county. |
| DBPT | Division of Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation (NCDOT) | The DBPT manages bicycle and pedestrian projects for the state, advises municipalities, creates state bicycle and pedestrian guidelines, and offers education and mapping materials |
| DCHC MPO | Durham/Chapel Hill/Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization: | The regional MPO of which Durham is a part. Made up of the following political bodies: City of Durham, County of Durham, Orange County, Town of Chapel Hill, Town of Carrboro, Town of Hillsboro, RTP, Chatham County. (see MPO for more detailed definition) |
| Development Plan | Development Plan | A type of plan that becomes part of the zoning map change approval for a property that provides guidance for preparation of subsequent site plans. May contain committed elements. There are specific rules (and arguments) about the level of detail necessary for development plans. Development plans (and zoning map changes) are reviewed & recommended by the Planning Commission and approved by the governing body. |
| Division 5 | Division 5 | NCDOT division that includes Durham, Franklin, Granville, Vance and Wake Counties. Maintenance and TIP funds are allocated according to division. Note that the MPO boundaries do not correspond. DOST Durham Open Space and Trails Commission Citizen advisory body to BOCC and CC on issues of open space and trails in Durham and Durham County - meets at 7:00 pm each third Wednesday. DOST is represented on BPAC through a liaison member. DOST provides a delegate to the DRB, and has a vote on all cases under the UDO. |
| DOST | Durham Open Space & Trails Commission | The City/County Advisory Committee charged with advising the City Council and County Commissioners on matters related to trail and greenway development and open space preservation. DOST is represented on BPAC through a liaison member. |
| DRB | Development Review Board | Group of staff from various departments in the City and County which reviews all site plans & subdivision plats for compliance with ordinance and code requirements - meets every other Friday morning. BPAC provides a delegate to this body, and has a vote on all cases filed under the UDO. Easement An allowance by a property owner for use by the public, a corporation or persons of an area for specific purposes. Easements are often granted for sewer lines, power lines or conservation uses. |
| EIS | Environmental Impact Statement | Analysis prior to development of potential impact of a project - required of major projects such as roads or transit systems |
| FHWA | Federal Highway Administration | An agency of the USDOT - actively involved in promoting safe facilities and education programs, including bike and ped |
| FTA | Federal Transit Administration | Federal agency which provides funding for planning, development, and improvement of public mass transportation systems |
| GIS | Geographic Information System | Database and mapping software (in Durham, Planning uses ArcInfo and ArcView; Transportation uses CAD) Governing Body In Durham this is the umbrella term that can refer to either the city council or board of county commissioners (BOCC), depending on the context. |
| Gutter Pan | Gutter Pan | The area of concrete that extends out from the curb and incorporates drain grates. Usually around 2' in width. These can be dangerous to ride on if the pavement is not flush with the edge. |
| ISTEA | Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act | Groundbreaking federal legislation that authorized a percentage of transportation money to go to alternative transportation - since reauthorized as TEA-21. |
| LAB | League of American Bicyclists | National bicycle advocacy group headquartered in Washington, DC |
| LBS | Local Bike Shop | Often refers to a locally-owned bike shop |
| LOS | Level of Service | A measure of the facility of traffic flow - LOS standards are just being developed for bicycle and pedestrian traffic |
| LRTP | Long Range Transportation Plan | The MPO's fiscally-constrained outlook for transportation facilities to be planned and constructed over the next 30 years. The LRTP is updated every three years |
| LTOL | Left Turn Only lane. | |
| Milling | Milling | The process of removing/scraping the top layer of existing pavement surface prior to applying fresh pavement. |
| MPO | Metropolitan Planning Organization | The Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro MPO (DCHC MPO) is one of 17 MPO's in NC (Raleigh is in CAMPO, the Capital Area MPO). The most important purpose of this organization is to submit a list for priority funding and policies to the state Department of Transportation (DOT), called the Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP). DOT is supposed to follow this list when they decide what projects to construct. The MPO is made up of two committees, the TCC and the TAC. The TCC is the Technical Coordinating Committee and is made up of staff people from the various towns and counties in the MPO, and they make recommendations to the TAC. The TAC is made up of elected officials from the various towns and counties, and they make the ultimate decisions for the MPO. |
| MTIP | Metropolitan TIP | The MPO version of the Transportation Improvement Program. The MPO presents its prioritized TIP list to the State, to negotiate with their STIP for a final TIP product. |
| MUTCD | Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices | The holy writ for traffic signals, signs, and pavement markings - used by all transportation departments |
| NCDOT | North Carolina Department of Transportation | The central office for NCDOT is in Raleigh - there are also 14 districts in the state, each with its own office and local engineer. Durham is in District 5. Counties are not allowed to build or maintain roads in North Carolina so most rural infrastructure is dependent upon the state. And, though municipalities may build and maintain roads, many major arteries are state roads so any improvements may go through the state funding process (see TIP for more detail on this process). |
| NEPA | National Environmental Policy Act | 1969 federal law requiring any project with federal funding or approval must examine impacts on environment, and consider alternatives, before a decision is made |
| NHTSA | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration | Agency responsible for safety awareness and education programs - publishes materials for use with all ages and groups |
| Planning Commission | Planning Commission | The responsibilities of the Durham City/County Planning Commission are to propose, review and make recommendations on City or County wide plans; to review and make recommendations on Planning policies, Comprehensive Plan Amendments, Zoning Map Changes, proposed changes to development ordinances and Planning Department work program. The Commission is comprised of 14 members appointed by the City Council or Board of County Commissioners, and meets at 6pm on the second Tuesday of each month in City Council Chambers (on the first floor of City Hall). |
| PW | Public Works | A department of the city of Durham that incorporates Engineering, the Transportation Division, DATA, street maintenance, and storm water services. The current director is Kathryn Kalb. |
| ROW | Right of Way | A strip of land acquired by reservation, dedication, prescription or condemnation and intended to be occupied by a roadway, railroad, trail or public utility. RTOL Right Turn Only Lane |
| SAFETEA-LU | Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act - A Legacy for Users | The most recent federal transportation bill, passed in 2005, under which a federal Safe Routes to School program was established, in addition to continuation of federal funding and regulations of other transportation planning/construction activities. |
| Site Plan (minor/major) | Site Plan (minor/major) | An accurately scaled plan for development that shows existing conditions on a site as well as depicting details of the proposed development. Must be in compliance with zoning and design ordinances, as well as any associated development plans. Minor site plans request no change to the standards of an ordinance and do not involve a major SUP. These are reviewed and approved by the DRB. Major site plans are those that request modifications to standards of an ordinance, involve development within a floodway, use the high density option within a critical area of watershed overlay, or require a major SUP. These are reviewed & recommended by the DRB, but approved by the governing body. |
| SOV | Single Occupancy Vehicle | One car, one person |
| STP-DA | Surface Transportation Program - Direct Attributable | An MPO's funding from ISTEA and TEA-21 for small local enhancement projects (the American Tobacco Trail, for instance, received STP-DA funds) |
| STPP | Surface Transportation Policy Project | Research and Advocacy resource on transportation issues (http://www.transact.org) Subdivision Plat Plan for a parcel of land which is to be subdivided. Subdivision is the division of a parcel into two or more lots or building sites for the purposes of sale or development, or any division of land involving the dedication of a new street or change in existing streets. Plats are reviewed and approved by the DRB. |
| STIP | Statewide TIP | the State's version of the TIP, which includes projects for funding throughout NC. The STIP and MTIP must be negotiated to reach final TIP list, or risk transportation conformity lapse under which federal monies are denied to projects covered in the non-conforming area. |
| STP-DA | Surface Transportation Program-Direct Allocation | Federal funding for small transportation projects, allocated directly through the MPO. Often a source of funding for local/regional bike and pedestrian projects, such as the American Tobacco Trail. |
| SUP (major/minor) | Special Use Permit | Permit for a special designated use within the zoning district of the development in question. These are detailed in section 5.1 of the UDO. Minor SUPs are reviewed and approved by the BOA. Major SUPs are reviewed and approved by the governing body. |
| TAC | Transportation Advisory Committee | The TAC is the governing board of the MPO - it consists of elected officials from the local governments in the MPO area plus the area's member of the BOT (Board of Transportation) and they make the ultimate decisions for the MPO. |
| TCC | Transportation Coordinating Committee | The TCC is the technical advisory committee to the TAC - it consists of staff from transportation, planning, and local transit agencies from the various towns and counties in the MPO, and they make recommendations to the TAC. |
| TDM | Traffic Demand Management | A toolbox of techniques for reducing traffic congestion, from carpooling to HOV lanes to telecommuting |
| TEA-21 | Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century | Federal act providing states with funding and guidelines for "enhancements" to transportation, including bicycle and pedestrian facilities (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/tea21/sumcov.htm) passed in 1998 |
| TIA | Traffic Impact Analysis | Required for development plans, site plans, or plats that can be anticipated to generate at least 150 vehicle trips at peak hour. |
| TIP | Transportation Improvement Program | The TIP is a statewide list of new roads and road improvement needs which is updated annually by the NCDOT, based on recommendations from the MPO's - the TIP is revised every two years, but contains items budgeted for seven years out - bicycle and pedestrian facilities may be "incidental" or "independent" projects within the TIP. TIP funds allocated according to NCDOT divisions (see Division 5). If local jurisdictions want to place projects in the TIP, they must get them into local and regional priority lists (through the MPO) for ranking. Ranked projects throughout the MPO compete for inclusion in the MTIP, and the STIP includes competing projects from across the State. If you want a particular project built, the first step is to get it on the regional priority list for the TIP, then move it up the list as high as possible |
| TJCOG | Triangle J Council of Governments | See COG |
| Transportation Division (Durham) | Transportation Division (Durham) | The division that is part of Durham's PW department. It oversees Transportation Planning, Transit, Taxis, Traffic Operations and Services. The current manager is Mark Ahrendsen. The Durham Bike/Ped coordinator reports to this division. |
| TRTC | Triangle Rails to Trails Conservancy | Non-profit group that promotes the acquisition of abandoned rail corridors in the area, and their conversion to interim trail use. The ATT has been their key project. |
| TTA | Triangle Transit Authority | Inter-municipal bus system and managers/builders of a possible rail system in the Triangle. |
| UDO | Unified Development Ordinance | The first major overhaul of Durham's City/County development regulations in more than 30 years. The UDO replaces the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances and works in tandem with the newly adopted Comprehensive Plan to strengthen Durham's development regulations. It was reviewed by elected officials, staff, citizen groups, and business interests through public meetings and hearings since 2003, and was adopted in 2005. The UDO contains zoning and subdivision ordinances, design standards, the purposes and roles of the various planning review bodies, as well as the entire development application process. |
| UGA | Urban Growth Area | The portions of Durham, Orange and Wake counties indicated in the Comprehensive Plan that are expected to receive urban services and develop urban character within 20-30 years that are not in the rural tier. |
| WOL | Wide Outside Lane | The lane closest to the edge of the road that is typically no less than 14' wide. Though there are no bike lane or edge line stripes, the extra width allows some space for bikes. |