8.0
GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Active Transportation: Non-motorized travel, including walking, cycling, roller-blading and movements with mobility devices. The active transportation network includes sidewalks, crosswalks, designated road lanes and off-road trails to accommodate active transportation. Anchor Hub: Mobility hubs that have strategic importance due to their relationship with urban growth centres (UGCs), as well as Pearson Airport and Union Station due to their roles as the GTHA’s primary international gateways. Urban growth centres are identified in the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe as focal areas for directing significant high-density employment and population growth, major transit infrastructure, and a mix of land uses such as commercial, recreational, cultural, entertainment, institutional and public services. As such, they contain current or planned major regional destinations such as major institutions, employment centres, town centres or regional shopping centres, and they have significant potential to attract and accommodate new growth and development. Anchor Hubs have the potential to transform the regional urban structure and act as anchors of the regional transportation system. Anchor Hubs are identified in Schedules 1 and 2 of the RTP. (For more information see the backgrounder “Mobility Hubs, December 2008”).

Alternative Financing and Procurement (AFP): The use of private sector involvement to design, finance and/or build infrastructure while ensuring appropriate public control.

Arterial Road: A high-volume urban road with at least four lanes, having a typical speed limit of 50 to 60 km/hour and typical spacing between traffic signals of 200 to 400 metres. The typical volume of an arterial road is less than 20,000 vehicles/day and it connects to collector roads, other arterial roads and expressways.

Automated Guided Transit (AGT): A type of rapid transit that uses a fully grade-separated rightof- way, which can be elevated or located in a segregated at-grade corridor. The complete separation from traffic, including at intersections, allows for the use of fully automated vehicles as well as higher service frequency, speed, capacity, reliability and service flexibility than non-grade separated Light Rail Transit (LRT). The capacity of AGT is typically 10,000 to 25,000 passengers per hour, peak direction. Average speed: 20 to 35 km/h with stations one to two km apart depending on area density. Example: Vancouver Skytrain.

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT): Similar to light rail transit operating predominantly in protected rights-ofway, separate from other traffic, but using advanced bus technology. Also includes buses operating in mixed traffic on controlled-access expressways that employ congestion management such as tolls, thereby allowing the buses to maintain high average speeds. The capacity of BRT is typically 2,000 to 10,000 passengers per hour, peak direction. Average speed: 15 to 40 km/h depending on station spacing, with higher speeds possible on grade-separated rights-of-way on controlled access highways. Example: Vancouver 98B Line (Richmond section), Ottawa Transitway system.

Controlled-Access Expressway: A high-speed, high-capacity highway with at least four lanes and grade-separated with access to the facility limited to ramps and interchanges. A controlled-access expressway has a typical speed limit of 60 to 100 km/h with daily traffic greater than 20,000 vehicles. Dedicated Walking or Bicycling Facility: A sidewalk, path or traffic lane that is reserved for use by pedestrians and/or bicyclists only.

Express Rail: High-speed trains, typically electric, serving primarily longer-distance regional trips with two-way all-day service. Regional Express service could have a capacity of 25,000 to 40,000 passengers per hour in the peak direction with trains operating in completely separated rights-of-way, with as little as 5 minutes between trains. Average speed: 50 to 80 km/h with stations two to five km apart. Example: Paris Region Réseau Express Regional (RER).

Gateway Hub: All mobility hubs that are not Anchor Hubs. Gateway Hubs are identified in Schedules 1 and 2 of the RTP. (For more information see the backgrounder “Mobility Hubs, December 2008”).

Greater Golden Horseshoe: The geographic area designated as the Greater Golden Horseshoe Growth Plan Area in Ontario Regulation 416/05.

Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA): The metropolitan region encompassing the City of Toronto, the four surrounding Regional Municipalities (Durham, Halton, Peel and York) and the City of Hamilton.

Headway: The scheduled time between successive transit vehicles on a given route.

High Occupancy Toll (HOT) Lane: On an expressway, an HOT lane is a High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane which single drivers are also allowed to use by paying a toll. Tolls can vary depending on time of day and demand, in order to regulate the flow of traffic. HOT lanes allow for a better utilization of HOV lanes while generating revenue. HOT lanes can also be opened to buses.

High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lane: A roadway lane designated for use only by vehicles with a specified minimum number of occupants, usually two or three. HOV lanes can also be opened to buses.

High-Order Transit: Includes all forms of rapid transit (see definition below). The term Higher-Order Transit is often used interchangeably.

Intelligent Transportation System (ITS): The use of real-time computer/communications/ information technology for advanced, traffic-responsive, area-wide traffic control and to provide information which allows transportation providers to optimize transportation system operations and enable travellers to use the system more efficiently and effectively, while also increasing their convenience and ease of travelling.

Intensification Corridors: Intensification areas along major roads, arterials or higher-order transit corridors that have the potential to provide a focus for higher density mixed-use development consistent with planned transit service levels. [Source: Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, 2006.]

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design): A green building rating system, since expanded to rate neighbourhood development. Buildings can qualify for four levels of certification related to environmentally sustainable construction. Certification is granted by the Green Building Council based on an application documenting compliance with the rating system requirements, as well as paying registration and certification fees.

Light Rail Transit (LRT): Streetcar trains (up to three or four cars per train) operating on protected rights-of-way adjacent to or in the medians of roadways or rail rights-of-way. Generally at-grade, possibly with some sections operating in mixed-traffic and/or in tunnels. Electric power is normally via an overhead trolley or pantograph. Capacity of 2,000 to 10,000 passengers per hour in the peak direction, with higher capacities where there are significant stretches of completely segregated rights-of-way. Average speed: 15 to 35 km/h depending on station spacing and extent of grade separation. Examples: Calgary and Edmonton LRT systems.

Major Transit Station Areas: The area including and around any existing or planned higher-order transit station within a settlement area, or the area including and around a major bus depot in a urban core. Station areas generally are defined as the area within an approximate 500 metre radius of a transit station, representing about a 10-minute walk. [Source: Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, 2006.]

Major Trip Generator: A facility or area which generates significant volumes of passenger and/or goods/services trips.

Mobility Hub: Major transit station areas, as defined in the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, that are particularly significant given the level of transit service that is planned for them and the development potential around them. They are places of connectivity between regional rapid transit services, and also places where different modes of transportation, from walking to high-speed rail, come together seamlessly. They have, or are planned to have an attractive, intensive concentration of employment, living, shopping and enjoyment around a major transit station. To be identified as a mobility hub, a major transit station area must be located at the interchange of two or more current or planned regional rapid transit lines as identified in the RTP, and be forecasted in the RTP to have 4,500 or more combined boardings and alightings in the morning peak period in 2031. In addition, these areas are generally forecasted to achieve or have the potential to achieve a minimum density of approximately 10,000 people and jobs within an 800 metre radius. The primary major transit station area associated with an urban growth centre are also identified as mobility hubs, as are Pearson Airport and Union Station due to their roles as the GTHA’s primary international gateways. (For more information see the backgrounder “Mobility Hubs, December 2008”).

Mobility Index: a set of indicators, derived from the goals and objectives of the RTP, developed to gauge and monitor the progress and success of the RTP as Strategies are implemented and investments are made. The indicators will cover a range of goals and objectives that support a high quality of life, a thriving sustainable and protected environment, and a strong, prosperous and competitive economy.

Modal Split: The proportion of total person trips using each of the various different modes of transportation. The proportion using any one mode is its modal split.

Queue-Jump Lanes: Short roadway lanes provided on the approaches to signalized intersections which allow buses or cyclists to by-pass queued traffic and enter the intersection before other traffic when the traffic light turns green.

Rapid Transit: Transit service separated partially or completely from general vehicular traffic and therefore able to maintain higher levels of speed, reliability and vehicle productivity than can be achieved by transit vehicles operating in mixed traffic.

Regional Rail: Diesel-electric or electric trains serving primarily longer-distance regional trips; approximate capacity at 10-minute headways of 5,000 to 20,000 persons per hour peak direction (pphpd); service can be enhanced by electrification, enabling better train performance (acceleration) and therefore higher average speeds even with relatively close station spacing. Average speed: 30 km/h with two km station spacing; 50 km/h with wider station spacing or electrified trains. Example: GO Transit rail system.

Regional Rapid Transit Network: The network of Express Rail, Regional Rail, Subway and Other Rapid Transit services identified in Schedules 1 and 2 of the RTP.

Regional Transportation System: The regional rapid transit and highway network identified in Schedules 1 and 2 of the RTP.

Settlement Areas: Urban and rural settlement areas within municipalities (such as cities, towns, villages and hamlets) where: a) development is concentrated and which have a mix of land uses; and b) lands have been designated in an official plan for development over the long-term planning horizon provided for in the Provincial Policy Statement, 2005. Where there are no lands that have been designated over the long-term, the settlement area may be no larger than the area where development is concentrated. [Source: Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, 2006.]

Short Sea Shipping: Port-to-port goods movement on the Great Lakes. In the RTP context, these would likely be mainly among ports serving the GTHA or between these ports and transfer points to/from ocean-going vessels downstream from the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Specialized Transit: A door-to-door service for passengers with special needs. Specialized transit riders must meet specified eligibility criteria and are required to book their trips in advance.

Streetcars: Urban rail vehicles circulating at low speeds (e.g. 10 to 25 km/h) in mixed traffic, with closely spaced stops (e.g. 200 metres). Examples exist in Toronto, Vienna, Prague and Melbourne. Generally known as “trams” outside of North America.

Subway: High-capacity, heavy rail transit that is fully-grade separated from other traffic, predominantly underground. Capacity in the range of 25,000 to 40,000 passengers per hour in the peak direction, with frequency as low as 90 seconds between trains. Average speed: 25 to 50 km/h. Example: Toronto subway.

Transit Agency: One of the following public transit operators in the GTHA: GO Transit; Hamilton Street Railway; Burlington Transit; Oakville Transit; Milton Transit; Mississauga Transit; Brampton Transit; York Region Transit; Toronto Transit Commission or Durham Region Transit.

Transit Catchment Area: The area around each transit station that contains most origins (e.g. home) and destinations (e.g. work or school) for transit users. The catchment area varies by the type of transit being accessed, the means by which it is being accessed, and by the surrounding urban fabric. For example, a downtown subway station will have a different-sized catchment area for a pedestrian than would a suburban GO train station.

Transportation Demand Management (TDM): A program of incentives which influence whether, when, where and how people travel, and encourage them to make more efficient use of the transportation system.

Transportation System: A system comprised of corridors and rights-of-way for the movement of people and goods, and associated transportation facilities including transit stops and stations, cycle lanes, bus lanes, High Occupancy Vehicle lanes, rail facilities, park-and-ride lots, service centres, rest stops, vehicle inspection stations, inter-modal terminals, harbours, and associated facilities such as storage and maintenance [Source: Provincial Policy Statement, 2005.]

Urban Growth Centres (UGC): Centres designated in the provincial Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, 2006. The Growth Plan designates 25 UGCs in the Greater Golden Horseshoe, of which 17 are in the GTHA.