Highways Agency

Technical Terms

Glossary of terms used on this site

Because of the nature of the work we do, it is difficult to avoid the use of technical language. In this section, you'll find a full list of the phrases you may come across whilst using our website. If you find an unfamiliar word or phrase that is not listed here, please contact us on webteam@highways.gsi.gov.uk to let us know.

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

A

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ACOP

Approved Code Of Practice - An approved code of practice for carrying out Highway works

ACPO

Association Chief of Police Officers - The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) exists to promote leadership excellence by the chief officers of the Police Service, to assist in setting the policing agenda by providing professional opinion on key issues identified to the Government, appropriate organisations and individuals and to be the corporate voice of the Service.

AHS

Automated Highways System - An automated electronic road system

AME

Annual Managed Expenditure

Appraisal

Assessing the impacts of a scheme before it is built. 

AST

Appraisal Summary Table - This summarises all the impacts of a scheme to inform the decisions made about whether to progress with the scheme.

ATM

Active Traffic Management - a series of tools such as variable speed limits and hard shoulder running, used together to make the best use of existing road space to ease congestion, thereby improving the reliability of journey times B

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BAFO

Best And Final Offer

BIS

Business Information Systems

BNRR

Birmingham Northern Relief Road - A construction project for the Birmingham Northern Relief road

BQS

Better Quality Services - These reviews are a requirement of Modernising Government, within the Quality Public Services commitment, and are designed to ensure central Government is providing customer-focused, quality services at optimal cost to the taxpayer

BREEAM

Building Research Establishments Environmental Appraisal Method - A scheme of surveys for new and major refurbishments of existing buildings

BSRIA

Building Services Research & Information Association

C

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CCTV

Closed Circuit Televisions - Closed Circuit Televisions are used on the Highways Agency Network to provide Real Time Information

CD

Corporate Directorate - Corporate Directorate provides the lead on information planning and delivery; communications (both internal and external); formulating strategies for the network as a whole; developing policy on public private partnerships and developing the Agency's international liaison

CIRIA

Construction Industry Research & Information Association - A Research association for the Construction Industry

COI

Central Office of Information - The Governments main Publicity Offices

COSHH

Control Of Substances Hazardous to Health - A control System set by the Highways Agency for Hazardous substances

CPO

Compulsory Purchase Order - An order set by the secretary of state for the purchase of land for a construction of a trunk road or motorway

CRC

Construction Research Communications

CRIB

The Highways Agency holds a database of all the roadworks accross its network known as the Current Roadworks Information Bulletin. This information is presented via an interactive map or text-based version. It is aimed at providing road-users with advance information to help plan their journeys.

CTRL

Channel Tunnel Rail Link - A Highways Agency construction project for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link

D

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D&B

Design & Build

DBFO

Design, Build, Finance and Operate - DBFO Road Projects are an example of the successful application in the delivery of road services without introducing user-paid tolls

DDA

Disability Discrimination Act

DEFRA

Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs - Main Government Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

DEL

Departmental Expenditure Limit - Reports and accounts will set out the Agency's performance related to the forecasts and targets published in that year's Business Plan and to the Department's own forecasts and targets

DfT

The Highways Agency is an Executive Agency of the Department for Transport. You can read more about our 'parent' organisation by visiting their website www.dft.gov.uk

DLTR

[Historical reference - please refer to DfT for new departmental details] The Highways Agency is an Executive Agency of the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions

DMRB

The Design Manual for Roads and Bridges is a technical document outlining guidance for road schemes

DPA

Data Protection Act - Legislation for the Protection of Data

DSA

Driving Standards Agency - An Executive Agency for the Department of Transport and Local Regions, deals with Nationl Driving Standards

DVLA

Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency - An Executive Agency of the Department of Transport and Local Regions, deals with Driver Vehicle Licensing throughout England

E

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ECC

Engineering Construction Contract

EIB

European Investment Bank

EMS

Enhanced Message System - An Electronic Message System that is being piloted as well as the use of gantry signs across the carriageway.

ES

Environmental Statement - This is a document that details the impact a road project is likely to have on the environment.

Evaluation

Assessing the impacts of a scheme after it has opened.

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FAQ

Frequently asked Questions

FS

Financial Services - Responsible for the business and financial control in the Highways Agency, for complying with the Government's requirements for resource accounting and budgeting and for ensuring propriety and value for money in the Agency's work

G

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GI

General Inspection

GIF

Government Interoperability Framework - Sets out the Government's technical policies and standards for achieving interoperability and information systems coherence across the public sector

GIS

Government Information System - The GIS files are an interactive learning zone introducing the basic concepts of GIS

GLA

Greater London Authority - The GLA is a new and unique form of strategic citywide government for London.

GO

Government Office - The Government office works in Coordination to deliver polices on behalf of the DLTR, the Department for Education and Skills, DTI, the Home Office, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department for Work and Pensions

GSI

Government Secure Intranet - The GSI provides an electronic link between central government departments and agencies

H

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HA

Highways Agency - Established in 1994, the Highways Agency maintains, operates and improves the network of trunk roads and motorways in England on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions

HAB

Highways Agency Board (of Directors)

HACC

Highways Agency Confirming Committee

HAIL

Highways Agency Information Line - The Information Line provides details of planned road works and conditions on the motorway and trunk road network

HARRIS

Highways Agency Road Research Information System - Records digital images of the road surface over the traffic lane being surveyed

HCD

Highways Construction Details

HGV

Heavy Goods Vehicle - Goods carrying vehicle over 3,500kg design gross weight

HRS

Human Resource Services - Responsible for developing policies and strategies to enable the Agency to secure and retain a motivated workforce with the necessary competencies to provide an Efficient service to its customers

HSE

Health & Safety Executive - HSE's mission is to ensure that risks to people's health and safety from work activities are properly controlled

HST

Highway Safety & Traffic

I

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IAR

Information Asset Register - To improve access to the information assets of all Government Departments and Agencies whether they are in hard copy or electronic form

IiP

Investors In People - National standard that sets a level of good practice for improving an organisations progress through its people

ITT

Invitation To Tender - A statement released inviting Contactors to tender for Contracts

J

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- No entries -

K

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KPI

Key Performance Indicators - Performance Indicators provide a valuable means of describing the level of service provided by a route

L

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LDU

Lamp Display Unit

LGV

Large Goods Vehicle - Goods carrying vehicle exceeding 3,500kg design gross weight

LNMS

Local Network Management Schemes - Another substantial contribution to bringing about the changes required by the integrated transport white paper and 10 year plan is made by the Agency's programme of Local Network Management Schemes

M

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MA

Managing Agents - Managing Agent is responsible for carrying out all design work, asset inspections, network maintenance management, and supervision of the Term Maintenance Contractor

MAC

Managing Agents Contractor - This is meaning for a term maintenance contactor

MAP

Managing Agents Project - The Agency's Managing Agency Project (MAP) II projects aims to build on well-established formal project delivery disciplines within the Agency

MBU

Making Better Use

MCDHW

The Manual Contract Documents for Highway Works - A manual for engineers on technical requirements for motorways and trunk roads. Offers guidance on a variety of construction and maintenance issues including Specifications, Construction Details, and Method of Measurement

MDIS

Midlands Driver Information System - MDIS provides an extensive network of monitoring systems, including cameras and in-road loop sensors to gain an accurate picture of conditions on the strategic road network between the M25 and the Midlands region

MIDAS

Motorway Incident Detection And Signing - Vehicle detection loops will be installed in the road surface to detect slow moving or stationary traffic on the motorway and set message signs and signals to warn traffic approaching the hazard ahead

MMN

Making Most of Network - Making the Most of the Network requires the wide application of an extensive range of tools to deliver a safe, reliable, efficient and environmentally acceptable Network

MMS

Multi Modal Studies - The overall aim of these studies is to make recommendations for long-term strategies to address passenger and freight transport needs within study corridors, several Multi-Modal Studies being undertaken on behalf of Regional Government Offices throughout the country

MOP

Maintain Operate Improve - statement used by the Highways Agency in its aims

MOU

Memoranda Of Understanding - A Memorandum of Understanding is an agreement, which sets out the areas of interest shared by two or more organisations and confirming their intention to collaborate to mutual benefit

MS

Matrix Signs - New electronic message signs will be added to the overhead gantries to give motorists up-to-date information such as "Accident", "Delays on M60" or "Queues ahead" and when appropriate diversion routes such as "For Airport Use"

MSA

Motorway Service Areas

N

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NAO

National Audit Office - The National Audit Office scrutinises public spending on behalf of Parliament

NATA

New Approach To Appraisal - This is the criteria set by the Department for Transport (DfT), against which a road scheme is appraised. 

NMCS

National Motorway Communication System - A system used in motorway communication

NPV

Net Present Value - Is the difference between the Present Value of Costs (PVC) and the Present Value of Benefits (PVB)

NS

Network Strategy - It is the main focal point in the Agency for regional planning, liasing with Government Offices for the regions, regional development agencies (to support such initiatives as EU-funded regeneration schemes), and liasing with local authorities

NTCC

National Traffic Control Centre - Based in the West Midlands, the NTCC is a purpose-built centre designed to collect, analyse and communicate motorway travel information. This data is analysed and used to respond to road traffic accidents and to inform - amongst others - the public, the Police and the media, helping to ease congestion by providing better public information.

O

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OD

Operation Division - OD is the delivery arm of the Highways Agency, managing day-to-day operations and customer services relating to implementing maintenance, technology projects and road improvements

OJEC

Official Journal of the European Communities - Contains the details of all EC legislation as well as draft legislation, information, notices, and advertisements for public works and supplies contracts

P

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PCSPS

Private Civil Service Pension Scheme - Pension Scheme for Civil Servants

PFI

Private Finance Initiative - The public sector contracts to purchase services, with defined outputs, on a long-term basis from the private sector, including the construction and maintenance of the necessary infrastructure

PI

Performance Indicator - An indicator of the Performance of the Agency at a certain time

PPB

Provisional Preferred Bidder

PPP

Public Private Partnerships - The PPP covers a wide range of different types of partnership reflecting the different structures necessary to deliver the Government's various objectives

PS

Project Sponsor - A representative of the Highways Agency Sponsoring a project

Q

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QIS

Quality Information System

R

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R&D

Research & Development - Guided by a strategy developed in consultation with other government departments, industry and road users, this is a £13m programme of about 300 projects split into 3 themes

RMS

Route Management Strategies A technique to provide an open and optimum way of planning future investment in the maintenance, operation and improvement of the network, which integrates local and regional land and transport interests in the decision-making process

S

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SHW

Specification for Highways Works - Responsible for maintaining the Highways Agency's best business practice approach to trunk road management, operation, and design

SMIS

Structures Management Information Systems - Integrated next generation SMIS comprising discrete software packages for specific maintenance activities

SSR

Safety Standards & Research

T

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TCC

Traffic Control Centre - A project focusing on providing high quality up-to-the-minute information to travellers to allow them to make more informed travel choices and to reduce the effect of disruptions

TFL

Transport For London - Part of Greater London Authority

TIH

Travel Information Highway - Simplifies the exchange of real-time travel information. It is an informal network of interested parties seeking to put structure into travel information to facilitate the simple exchange of data using common practices.

TM

Traffic Management - A control method for roadwork e.g. Road Furniture

TMC

Term Maintenance Contractor - The Term Maintenance Contractor carries out all routine, cyclical and winter maintenance; and small capital maintenance and improvement works up to a limit of £100,000 and also provides an emergency cover service

TO/TOD

Traffic Operations/Traffic Operations Directorate - The part of the Highways Agency responsible for the day-to-day maintenance and management of the trunk road and motorway network.

TPI

Targeted Programme of Improvements - This is a group of projects set for the upgrading of existing roads and the construction of new roads to improve the Motorway and Trunk road Network, to improve Traffic congestion and noise

TRACS

Traffic Speed Condition Survey - TRACS is the latest generation of surveys for collecting highway condition information

Translink

A monthly newsletter produced by the Highways Agency

U

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UTC

Urban Traffic Control - Integrate motorway and urban traffic control systems to provide coordinated control

V

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VIH

Video Information Highway - This system will convert analogue signals coming from fifteen traffic management CCTV cameras into a range of digital images including broadcast material

VMS

Variable Message Signals - Electronic signals on over-head message boards

W

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WERD

Western European Roads Directors - The European roads directorate provides a platform for harmonising key policy issues across Europe.

X

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- No entries -

Y

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YDIS

Yorkshire Driver Information System - Under the Yorkshire Driver Information System, all motorways and key trunk roads in the region will be equipped with electronic signs designed to give motorists information about road conditions ahead

YL

Yorkshire Link - The M1-A1 Yorkshire link road that was constructed by Design Build Finance and Operate project

Z

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