TranspoFairfax

Transportation Projects • People • Funding

Transportation Acronym Guide

A plain-language guide to common transportation acronyms used in planning, funding, transit, rail, roadway, safety, and regional coordination.

Purpose

Transportation discussions often use acronyms that can make public information difficult to follow. This guide helps residents understand the agencies, programs, and terms that appear in project pages, meetings, reports, and funding documents.

Agencies & Organizations

AcronymMeaning
FCDOTFairfax County Department of Transportation
VDOTVirginia Department of Transportation
WMATAWashington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
VREVirginia Railway Express
VPRAVirginia Passenger Rail Authority
DRPTVirginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation
NVTANorthern Virginia Transportation Authority
NVTCNorthern Virginia Transportation Commission
MWCOGMetropolitan Washington Council of Governments
TPBTransportation Planning Board
FHWAFederal Highway Administration
FTAFederal Transit Administration
FRAFederal Railroad Administration

Planning, Funding & Policy

AcronymMeaning
TPPTransportation Priorities Plan
CIPCapital Improvement Program
TIPTransportation Improvement Program
STIPStatewide Transportation Improvement Program
MPOMetropolitan Planning Organization
NEPANational Environmental Policy Act
ROWRight-of-Way
PEPreliminary Engineering
RFPRequest for Proposals
NTPNotice to Proceed

Transit, Rail & Roadway Terms

AcronymMeaning
BRTBus Rapid Transit
TODTransit-Oriented Development
TRVTransforming Rail in Virginia
HOVHigh Occupancy Vehicle
HOTHigh Occupancy Toll
TDMTransportation Demand Management
VMTVehicle Miles Traveled
LOSLevel of Service
AADTAnnual Average Daily Traffic

Pedestrian, Bicycle & Safety

AcronymMeaning
RRFBRectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon
SUPShared-Use Path
ADAAmericans with Disabilities Act
MUTCDManual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
SRTSSafe Routes to School
TACTransportation Advisory Collaboration

Common TranspoFairfax Acronyms

  • BRT: Bus Rapid Transit
  • FCDOT: Fairfax County Department of Transportation
  • VDOT: Virginia Department of Transportation
  • NVTA: Northern Virginia Transportation Authority
  • RRFB: Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon
  • TAC: Transportation Advisory Collaboration
  • TPP: Transportation Priorities Plan
  • VRE: Virginia Railway Express
  • VPRA: Virginia Passenger Rail Authority

Related Resources

← Back to TranspoFairfax Glossary Resources Hub