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CFTE Glossary
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DAB
(or D-A-B) Dial-a-bus: see "demand responsive."
Daily vehicle travel
The amount of vehicle travel (in thousands) accumulated over a 24-hour day, midnight to midnight, traversed along a public road by motorized vehicles, excluding construction equipment and farm tractors. Vehicle travel not occurring on public roads, such as that occurring on private land roads (in parking lots, shopping centers, etc.) must also be excluded.
DAR
(or D-A-R) Dial-a-ride: see "demand responsive."
Deadhead
Miles and hours that a vehicle travels when out of revenue service. This includes leaving and returning to the garage, changing routes, etc., and times when there is no reasonable expectation of carrying revenue passengers. However, it does not include charter service, school bus service, operator training, maintenance training, etc. For non-scheduled, non-fixed-route service (demand-responsive), deadhead mileage also includes the travel between the dispatching point and passenger pick-up or drop-off.
Deadheading
Operating without passengers.
Debt collection
Recovery of amounts due after routine follow-up fails. This activity includes the assessment of the debtor's ability to pay, the exploration of possible alternative arrangements to increase the debtor's ability to repay and other efforts to secure payment.
Debt
Synonymous with the term "claim.” It refers to an amount of money or property which has been determined by an appropriate federal official to be owed to the U.S. from any person, organization, or entity other than another federal agency. Included as debts are amounts due the U.S. from fees, duties, leases, rents, royalties, services, sales of real or personal property, overpayments, fines, penalties, damages, taxes, interest, forfeitures, and other sources.
Dedicated funds
Any funds raised specifically for transit puposes and which are dedicated at their source (e.g., sales taxes and property taxes), rather than through an allocation from the pool of general funds. Dedicated funds cannot be diverted for other uses.
Dedicated natural gas vehicle (NGV)
Vehicle which operates using only natural gas.
Deed Restriction
Deed restrictions regulate or preserve, in perpetuity, the uses of a property, based on a deed imposed by the owner of the property. Also known as restrictive covenants, deed restrictions are either recorded in deeds or with a subdivision plat. They have become a popular way for developers to regulate the size and location of structures, nature of improvements to a structure or landscaping and other uses of the property. All subsequent owners of the property are subject to these restrictions. Some developers of affordable housing have placed affordable housing under deed restrictions.
Deficiency
Portion of a loan which remains outstanding after pledged property has been liquidated (converted to cash) and applied to the outstanding balance.
Demand responsive
Non-fixed-route service utilizing vans or buses with passengers boarding and alighting at pre-arranged times at any location within the system's service area. Also called "dial-a-ride."
Demand-responsive system
Any system of transporting individuals, including the provision of designated public transportation service by public entities and the provision of transportation service by private entities, including, but not limited to, specific public transportation service which is not a fixed-route system.
Demonstration Grant
Funding that is awarded to demonstrate a new strategy in achieving a program’s objectives, to test innovative approaches in program delivery, or as an adjunct to applied research in a certain topic. Most demonstration grants are intended as one-time events, either to test a new program concept that may not be continued, or as seed money, whereby a successful demonstration can prove its long-term sustainability through other funding sources.
Density
The number of housing units, people, or square feet per unit in an area, usually measured by acres.
Density bonus
Density bonuses are increases in commercial floor to area ratio (FAR), typically provided to developers as a reward or incentive when they provide a public amenity including parks, plazas, and affordable housing. A density bonus allows a developer to construct a building beyond the intensity allowed by zoning.
Department of Transportation (U.S.)
The cabinet- level department of the federal government that is responsible for administration of federal transportation programs including public transportation, highways and railroads.
Design Guidelines
Design guidelines are regulations that govern the appearance of a development. Guidelines are typically used to create distinctive attractive places, and ensure that present and future development is context sensitive. Design guidelines add value to a community’s built environment by ensuring well-designed buildings, attractive and useful signage, appealing facades, and street orientation that is distinctive to the community. Guidelines can apply to a variety of community elements- residences, commercial and retail uses, lighting, signage, transit shelters, benches, sidewalks, public spaces etc.
Design-build
A procurement or project delivery arrangement whereby a single entity (a contractor with subconsultants, or team of contractors and engineers, often with subconsultants) is entrusted with both design and construction of a project. This contrasts with traditional procurement where one contract is bid for the design phase and then a second contract is bid for the construction phase of the project.
Deviated fixed-route service
Any system of transporting individuals, including the provision of designated public transportation service by public entities and the provision of transportation service by private entities, including, but not limited to, specific public transportation service which is not a fixed-route system.
DHHS
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Dial-a-ride
Another name for "demand responsive."
Diesel fuel
A fuel composed of distillates obtained in petroleum refining operation or blends of such distillates with residual oil used in motor vehicles. The boiling point and specific gravity are higher for diesel fuels than for gasoline.
Diesel multiple unit (DMU)
A bidirectional, diesel-fueled, articulated rail vehicle designed to operate on standard U.S. rail lines.
Direct Development Toward Existing Communities
Directing development to existing communities refers to the act of encouraging reinvestment and redevelopment of communities that possess previous investment of infrastructure and development. Directing development to existing communities strengthens the tax base, ensures a closer proximity of a range of jobs and services, increases the efficiency of already developed land and infrastructure, and reduces development pressure in edge areas, thereby preserving more open space, and, in some cases, strengthening rural communities.
Direct loan obligation
A legal or binding agreement by a Federal agency to make a direct loan when specified conditions are fulfilled by the borrower. Acquisitions of federally guaranteed non-Federal loans in satisfaction of default or other guarantee claims are not recorded as direct loan obligations.
Direct Loan Subsidy Cost
Estimated long-term cost to the federal government of direct loans calculated on a present value basis, excluding administrative costs. The cost is the present value of present value of estimated net cash outflows at the time the direct loans are discharged. The discount rate used on the calculation is the average interest rate (yield) on marketable Treasury securities of similar maturity to the loan, applicable to the time when the loans are disbursed.
Direct loan
A disbursement of funds by the Government to a non-Federal borrower under a contract that requires repayment of such funds with or without interest. The term includes the purchase of, or participation in, a loan made by a non-Federal lender. The term also includes the sale of a Government asset on credit terms of more than 90 days duration. The term does not include the acquisition of Federally guaranteed non-Federal loans in satisfaction of default or other guarantee claims or the price-support loans of the Commodity Credit Corporation.
Disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE)
A business owned and operated by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Socially and economically disadvantaged individuals include African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Asian Pacific Americans or Asian Indian Americans and any other minorities or individuals found to be disadvantaged by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) under Section 8 (a) of the Small Business Act.
Discharge
Satisfying a debt as a legal obligation through the performance of the obligation(s) imposed under the debt instrument, such as to pay the debt in full, or through another action such as a compromise.
Discretionary Grant
Financial assistance that is awarded on the basis of competitive merits from among proposals that are submitted. Even in cases where projects are identified, or earmarked, by members of Congress, grant-making agencies generally will require recipients to file applications and abide by the procedures of what was designed as a competitive grant-making process.
Discretionary spending
A federal budgetary terms that refers to any funds whose distribution in not automatic. Discretionary spending encompasses programs controlled by annual appropriations bills and is subject to the constraints imposed by the discretionary spending limits set in the balanced budget law.
Disincentives for SOV Commuting
Governments may price parking through actions such as: imposing or increasing fees and surcharges for solo drivers or long term users of public parking facilities; giving price preference to car and vanpoolers, or taxing the providers of parking.
Distinctive and Attractive Places
Distinctive and attractive places are regions, and towns, communities whose architectural and natural elements reflect the interests of all residents, reinforces and contribute to community cohesiveness. Such places set standards for development and construction that respond to community values of architectural beauty and distinctiveness, as well as expand choices in housing and transportation. Ultimately such places retain their economic vitality and value over time, in the process making an efficient use of infrastructure and natural resources.
DMU
See: “Diesel multiple unit”
DOE
U.S. Department of Energy
Door-to-Door Service
A form of paratransit service which includes passenger assistance between the vehicle and the door of his or her home or other destination. A higher level of service than curb-to-curb, yet not as specialized as door-through-door service (where the driver actually provides assistance within the origin or destination).
DOT
Department of Transportation. This can be either a state DOT or the U.S. Department of Transportation
Double-deck bus
High-capacity bus having two levels of seating, one over the other, connected by one or more stairways. Total bus height usually is 13 feet to 14.5 feet, and typical passenger seating capacity ranges from 40 to 80 people.
Downtime
The amount of time a vehicle or equipment is out of service for repair.
Downtown area redevelopment plans
Downtown redevelopment projects are plans to redevelop large areas in the central business district or downtowns of cities. They often consist of a variety of programs or tools to redevelop an area, e.g. brownfield redevelopment, incentives to build mixed-use centers, and infill housing. The local government may use incentives or relax regulations to encourage development in these areas.
Downtown people mover (DPM)
A type of automated guideway transit vehicle operating on a loop or shuttle route within the central business district of a city.
DPM
See: "Downtown people mover"
Drug and Alcohol Testing Regulations
DOT implemented the Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act in December 1992. The act requires drug and alcohol tests for all safety-sensitive employees of agencies receiving Section 5307, 5309 or 5311 funding (Section 5310 agencies are not included), including drivers, maintenance workers, dispatchers and supervisors.
Dwell time
The scheduled time a vehicle or train is allowed to discharge and take on passengers at a stop, including opening and closing doors.
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