Health and Transportation Terminology

At a glance

Federal agencies, led by CDC, developed recommendations for improving health through transportation policy. Below are definitions of common terms in transportation policies.

Man putting a bike on the front of a bus.

Definitions

Terms used in CDC's Recommendations for Improving Health Through Transportation Policy.

Active transportation: Any self-propelled, human-powered mode of transportation.

Complete Streets: Roadways designed and operated to enable safe, attractive, and comfortable access and travel for all users. Road users may include, but are not limited to, pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit riders of all ages and abilities. Specific aspects of a complete street depend on the context of the roadway's location. The location may be urban or rural, have heavy traffic volume, include numerous pedestrian destinations, and more. Complete Streets may include:

  • Sidewalks and curb extensions.
  • Bike lanes or wide, paved shoulders.
  • Special bus lanes.
  • Comfortable and accessible transit stops.
  • Frequent crossing opportunities.
  • Median islands.
  • Accessible pedestrian signals.

Greenhouse gas emissions: Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). Some greenhouse gases such as CO2 occur naturally and are emitted to the atmosphere through natural processes and human activities. Other greenhouse gases are created and emitted solely through human activities. These include CH4, N2O, and fluorinated gases.

Health impact assessment: A method to judge a policy, program, or project for its potential effects—and distribution of those effects—on the population's health.

High occupancy vehicle lane: Exclusive road/traffic lane limited to buses, van/carpools, and emergency vehicles.

Highway Trust Fund: Established in 1956 to finance maintenance of the U.S. Interstate Highway System and certain other roads. Funds are from a federal fuel tax per gallon on gasoline and diesel fuel and related excise taxes. The fund has three accounts:

  • Highway Account.
  • Mass Transit Account.
  • Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund.

Public transportation: Regular and continuous transportation by bus, rail, or other way and available to everyone. Public transportation can be publicly or privately owned. Also known as "mass transportation," "mass transit," and "transit."

Safe Routes to Schools: A federal-aid program of the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration. The purposes are to:

  • Enable and encourage all children to walk and bicycle to school.
  • Make bicycling and walking to school a safer, more appealing transportation alternative.
  • Facilitate the planning, developing, and implementing of projects and activities to improve safety and reduce traffic, fuel consumption, and air pollution within the vicinity (about two miles) of primary and middle schools (grades K-8).

Safety audits and assessments: A method by which a policy, program, or project may be judged for its potential effects on the population's safety.

Shared-use paths: Paths physically separated from motor vehicle traffic by an open space or barrier. Paths are either within a highway right-of-way or an independent right-of-way. Shared-used paths are used by bicyclists, pedestrians, joggers, skaters, and other non-motorized travelers.

Transit-oriented development: Compact, mixed-use development near transit facilities with high-quality walking environments.

Vehicle miles traveled: A unit to measure vehicle travel made by a private vehicle, such as an automobile, van, truck, or motorcycle. Each mile traveled is counted as one vehicle mile no matter how many people are in the vehicle.