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CFTE Glossary
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Impervious Area
A hard surface area (e.g., parking lot) that prevents or retards the entry of water into the soil, thus causing water to run off the surface in greater quantities and at an increased rate of flow.
Imperviousness Overlay Zoning
One form of the overlay zoning process. Environmental aspects of future imperviousness are estimated based on the future zoning build-out conditions. Estimated impacts are compared with watershed protection goals to determine the limit for total impervious surfaces in the watershed. Imperviousness overlay zoning areas are then used to define subdivision layout options that conform to the total imperviousness limit.
Incentive Zoning
Provides for give and take compromise on zoning restrictions, allowing for more flexibility to provide environmental protection. Incentive zoning allows a developer to exceed a zoning ordinance's limitations if the developer agrees to fulfill conditions specified in the ordinance. The developer may be allowed to exceed height limits by a specified amount in exchange for providing open spaces or plazas adjacent to the building.
Incident
Collisions, derailments, personal casualties, fires and property damage in excess of $1000, associated with transit agency revenue vehicles; all other facilities on the transit property; and service vehicles, maintenance areas and rights-of-way. For an incident to be reportable, it must involve a transit vehicle or occur on transit property and result in death, injury or property damage in excess of $1000.
Inclined plane vehicle
Special type of passenger vehicle operating up and down slopes on rails via a cable mechanism. Also, a railway operating over exclusive right-of-way on steep grades with unpowered vehicles propelled by moving cables attached to the vehicles and powered by engines or motors at a central location not on board the vehicle.
Inclusionary zoning
Inclusionary zoning requires that some portion of every new housing development beyond a given threshold size (e.g., 50 units) is offered at a price that will be affordable to low income residents. The specifics of inclusionary zoning programs differ across jurisdictions. Programs typically ask or require developers to contribute to a community's affordable housing stock in exchange for development rights or zoning variances. Some programs are mandatory, while others provide incentives. Some involve cash contributions to an affordable housing fund, while others involve the construction of affordable units within the development. Some waive regulatory requirements, such as parking space, or reimburse impact fees for developments.
Increased Densities
Many communities are increasing general plan and zoning densities to allow for higher density residential development. This is the most basic technique for increasing the potential supply of housing. The definition of "higher density" can vary, depending on the existing density characteristics of the community. The goal is to increase the potential inventory of housing sites without expanding into surrounding agricultural, open space or other lands.
Infill area
In land-use and transit planning, an area containing one or more vacant parcels of land surrounded by urban or suburban development.
Infill development
In land-use and transit planning, development of vacant parcels in urbanized or suburbanized areas. Development of this type typically brings the density of the area closer to that allowed by the existing zoning regulations.
Infrastructure
Water and sewer lines, roads, urban transit lines, schools and other public facilities needed to support urban areas.
Initiative (Legislation)
A measure that has been placed on the election ballot as a result of voter signatures that, if approved, has the same force and effect as a legislative action.
Institutional Investor
A financial institution such as a mutual fund, insurance company, or pension fund that purchases securities in large quantities.
Insurance
Type of guarantee in which any agency pledges the use of accumulated insurance premiums to offset the cost of default on the part of borrowers. "Loan insurance" is considered the equivalent of a "loan guarantee."
Intelligent Transportation Systems
The application of advanced electronics and communication technologies to enhance the capacity and efficiency of surface transportation systems, including traveler information, public transportation, and commercial vehicle operations.
Intelligent Vehicle Highway Systems (IVHS)
Automated systems of highway transportation designed to improve traffic monitoring and management. IVHS include: Advanced Public Transportation Systems (APTS), Automatic Vehicle Location System (AVLS) and "smart vehicles" which assist drivers with planning, perception, analysis and decision-making.
Intercity bus
A bus with front doors only, high-backed seats, separate luggage compartments and usually with toilet facilities for use in high-speed, long-distance service.
Intercity bus transportation
Establishments primarily engaged in furnishing bus transportation, over regular routes and on regular schedules, the operations of which are principally outside a single municipality and its suburban areas.
Intercity rail
Passenger train service provided by Amtrak.
Interest
Sum paid or calculated for the use of capital. Financing interest is the charge assessed as a cost of extending credit as distinguished from additional interest which is the charge assessed on delinquent debts in order to compensate the federal government for the time value of money owed and not paid when due. Additional interest is accrued and assessed from the date of delinquency.
Interest arbitration
The process of arriving at the terms of a new collective bargaining agreement, by asking an impartial third party to make rulings after both labor and management have presented their cases.
Interest method
Method used to amortize the premium or discount of an investment in bonds, or to amortize the subsidy cost allowance of direct loans. Under this method, the amortization amount of the subsidy cost allowance equals the effective interest minus the nominal interest of the direct loans. The effective interest equals the present value of the direct loans times the effective interest rate (the discount rate). The nominal interest equals the nominal amount (face amount) of the direct loans times the stated interest rate (the rate stated in the loan agreements).
Interest Subsidy
The net present value cost to the federal government of providing credit assistance (e.g., direct loans or loan guarantees) at a rate below the rate of U.S. Treasury securities issued for a comparable term. Also a subsidy provided by a financial institutions (such as multi-lateral lenders, state infrastructure banks, or export credit agencies)f to lower overall financing costs for project sponsors. With this tool, project sponsors repay loans at less than current market rates. Market rates may be determined by the cost of borrowing through conventional issues of comparable duration.
Interjurisdictional Agreement
An agreement between local governments on development plans, standards, and infrastructure extensions in locations of mutual interest.
Intermodal passenger terminal
An existing railroad passenger terminal which has been or may be modified as necessary to accommodate several modes of transportation, including intercity rail service and some or all of the following: intercity bus, commuter rail, intra-city rail transit and bus transportation, airport limousine service, airline ticket offices, rent-a-car facilities, taxicabs, private parking and other transportation services.
Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act o
Legislation which amended and extended former legislation authorizing approximately $155 billion for highways, highway safety and mass transportation for the five-year period from 1992 to 1997. The 1991 law that reauthorized the federal surface transportation program for six years. ISTEA heralded a new era in surface transportation because of the emphasis on "intermodalism," the unprecedented increases in authorized spending for transit, the ability to use some highway funds for transit (and vice versa) and the increased reliance on regional planning agencies to weigh transportation options and make decisions utilizing public participation.
Intermodalism
Use of more than one type of transportation. Typically used in three contexts: 1) most specifically, it refers to technologies that provide the seamless movement of goods and/or people by more than one mode of transportation. 2) more broadly, intermodalism refers to the provision of connections between different modes, such as adequate connections between transit and highways, waterways railroads and airports. 3) In its broadest interpretation, intermodalism refers to a holistic view of transportation in which individual modes work together or within their own niches to provide users with the best choices of service, and in which the consequences on all modes are considered in the of policies for each individual mode. This view also has been called balanced, integrated or comprehensive transportation in the past.
Investment Grade
Describes the top four rating categories of relatively secure bonds suitable for a conservative investor. Standard & Poor's rating service looks upon all bonds between the AAA and BBB ratings as investment grade. Generally speaking, any bonds rated below BBB are considered to have speculative features and are deemed sub-investment grade or junk bonds.
IPLAN
A term developed by the New Jersey Office of State Planning to describe their strategy to support compact development and redevelopment, and locate the most efficient use of infrastructure and other systems. IPLAN encourages development in population centers, such as urban centers, towns, regional centers, villages, and hamlets.
ISTEA
See: "Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991."
ITA
International Taxicab Association
ITAB
Intermodal Transportation Advisory Board
ITRE
Institute for Transportation Research and Education at North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C.
ITS
Intelligent transportation system
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