The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

1. (1) Commission--The Texas Transportation Commission.
2. (2) Corridor preservation--The protection of a corridor utilizing the coordinated efforts of the involved governmental entities to obtain jurisdiction of or otherwise protect the right-of-way for a planned transportation facility identified through an established planning process.
3. (3) Department--The Texas Department of Transportation.
4. (4) Department's activities--Planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating transportation systems as defined by federal and state statutes, and the administration and support required to ensure that systems are safe, environmentally sound, economical, efficient, aesthetic, user friendly and, where appropriate, multimodal.
5. (5) Documentation--The information contained in the environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.
6. (6) Environment--The human environment that includes the earth's system, which consists of water, air, land, plants, people, and animals and the interrelationships that exist among these, including ecological, socio-economic, and archaeological/cultural resources.
7. (7) Environmental assessment--A concise public disclosure document that briefly provides sufficient evidence and analysis for determining whether to prepare an environmental impact statement or a finding of no significant impact, and that answers such questions as the need for the project, any alternatives considered, and the extent of environmental impact.
8. (8) Environmental consideration--Investigation, evaluation, and disposition of environmental issues.
9. (9) Environmental impact statement--A detailed public disclosure document prepared for projects having significant impacts on the environment and that answers such questions as the environmental impact of the project, any unavoidable adverse environmental impacts and associated measures to minimize harm, alternatives to the project, any irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources involved if the project is implemented, and a listing of agencies and resource persons contacted.
10. (10) Interdisciplinary approach--An approach which will ensure the integrated use of the natural and social sciences in planning and decision-making which may have an impact on the environment, with the end result being that environmental amenities and values are given consideration in decision-making along with social, economic, and technical considerations.
11. (11) Multimodal--The integration of two or more transportation modes to provide for optimization of resources and adequate consumer alternatives.
12. (12) Traffic operations--A diverse set of activities used singularly or in concert to improve traffic flow, navigation, and safety on transportation corridors. Examples include high occupancy vehicle lanes, metered freeway ramp entrances, changeable message signs, rural navigational aids, collision avoidance, altered traffic peak demand, and integration or improvement of public transportation services.
13. (13) Transportation planning--A continuing comprehensive plan to guide the development of transportation facilities that will meet the needs of the traveling public.

Source Note:The provisions of this §2.3 adopted to be effective March 8, 1995, 20 TexReg 1339.