| Terms | Definitions |
|---|
| P.T. | Purchased transportation service. ( National Transit Database ) |
| PAR | Police Accident Report. ( General Estimates System (NASS/GES) ) |
| PM Peak | The period in the afternoon or evening when additional services are provided to handle higher passenger volumes. The period begins when normal headways are reduced and ends when headways are returned to normal. ( National Transit Database ) |
| PM10 | Particulate matter of 10 Microns in diameter or smaller ( National Air Quality Data (AIRS) ) |
| PM10 Emissions | Particulate Matter (10 microns in diameter or smaller), one of the six criteria air pollutants that EPA has set national air quality standards for. PM, is the term for particles found in the air, including dust, dirt, soot, smoke, and liquid droplets. Particles can be suspended in the air for long periods of time. Some particles are large or dark enough to be seen as soot or smoke. Others are so small that individually they can only be detected with an electron microscope. ( National Emissions Trends ) |
| PM2.5 Emissions | Particulate Matter (2.5 microns in diameter or smaller), one of the six criteria air pollutants that EPA has set national air quality standards for. PM, is the term for particles found in the air, including dust, dirt, soot, smoke, and liquid droplets. Particles can be suspended in the air for long periods of time. Some particles are large or dark enough to be seen as soot or smoke. Others are so small that individually they can only be detected with an electron microscope. ( National Emissions Trends ) |
| PSIG | Pounds per Square Inch Guage (PSIG) is a unit of pressure. PSIG measurements exclude atmospheric pressure, which is 14.7 pounds per square inch. ( Pipeline Safety Statistics ) |
| PSU | A Primary Sampling Unit (PSU) is a defined area of a large central city, a county surrounding a city, or a group of counties. ( General Estimates System (NASS/GES) ) |
| Primary Sampling Unit ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Pacific Division | Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska, Hawaii ( American Travel Survey ) |
| Parcel Delivery/Courier/U.S. Postal Service | Delivery services, parcels, packages, and other small shipments that typically weigh less than 100 pounds. Includes bus parcel delivery service. ( Commodity Flow Survey ) |
| Park And Ride | An access mode to transit in which patrons drive private automobiles or ride bicycles to a transit station, stop, or carpool/vanpool waiting area and park the vehicle in the area provided for the purpose. They then ride the transit system or take a car-or vanpool to their destinations. ( National Transit Database ) |
| Passenger | Any occupant of a motor vehicle who is not a driver. ( Fatality Analysis Reporting System, Border Crossing Data ) |
| Any person on board a flight who is not a member of the flight or cabin crew. ( Air Carrier Statistics ) |
| For a specific trip, any occupant of a motorized vehicle, other than the driver. ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Passenger Car | Motor vehicles used primarily for carrying passengers, including convertibles, sedans, and station wagons. ( Fatality Analysis Reporting System ) |
| Passenger Mile | One passenger transported one statute mile. Total passenger miles are computed by summation of the products of the aircraft miles flown on each inter-airport flight stage multiplied by the number of passengers carried on that flight stage. ( Air Carrier Summary Data ) |
| Passenger Miles | The cumulative sum of the distances ridden by each passenger. ( National Transit Database ) |
| Passenger Revenues | Revenues from the air transportation of passengers. ( Airline On-Time Performance Data ) |
| Passenger Service Expenses | Cost of activities contributing to the comfort, safety, and convenience of passengers while in flight or when flights are interrupted. Includes salaries and expenses of flight attendants and passenger food expenses. ( Air Carrier Financial Reports (Form 41 Financial Data) ) |
| Passenger Vessel | A vessel designed to accommodate primarily passengers. ( Foreign Traffic Vessel Entrances and Clearances ) |
| Payload | Equal to the certificated takeoff weight of an aircraft, less the empty weight, less all justifiable aircraft equipment, and less the operating load (consisting of minimum fuel load, oil, flight crew, steward's supplies, etc). ( Air Carrier Statistics ) |
| Pb | Lead ( National Air Quality Data (AIRS) ) |
| Peak-period Trip | Any travel day trip that began between 6:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. or from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Pedalcyclist | A person on a vehicle that is powered solely by pedals. ( Fatality Analysis Reporting System ) |
| Pedestrian | Any person not in or upon a motor vehicle or other vehicle. ( Fatality Analysis Reporting System, General Estimates System (NASS/GES), Border Crossing Data ) |
| Person Miles of Travel (PMT) | A measure of person travel. When one person travels one mile, one person mile of travel results. Where 2 or more persons travel together in the same vehicle, each person makes the same number of person miles as the vehicle miles. Therefore, four persons traveling 5 miles in the same vehicle, make 4 times 5 or 20 person miles. ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Person Trip | A person trip is a trip by one or more persons in any mode of transportation. Each person is considered as making one person trip. For example, four persons traveling together in one auto make four person trips. ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Person-Miles | An estimate of the aggregate distances traveled by all persons who took a trip and is based on the estimated transportation network miles traveled on the trip. ( American Travel Survey ) |
| Person-Nights | The aggregate number of nights spent by all persons on a trip. For example, if two people took a trip that involved five nights away from home, a total of 10 person-nights would be counted for that trip. ( American Travel Survey ) |
| Personal Floatation Device | Lifesaving device approved by the Commandant under 46 CFR 160 (i.e., life jackets). ( Recreational Boating Accident Reporting Database ) |
| Personal Use Vehicle Trip | Any trip in which the main type of transportation used to cover most of the miles on that trip was auto, pickup truck, van, other truck, rental car, truck or van, recreational vehicle, or motorcycle. ( American Travel Survey ) |
| Personal Vehicles | Personal vehicles data includes pick-up trucks, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, taxis, snow-mobiles, ambulances, hearses, and other motorized private ground vehicles. Light trucks and vans are included in the personal vehicles data if they are privately-owned and not used for commercial purposes. ( Border Crossing Data ) |
| Pilot Type-Rating | A rating assigned to a pilot under Title 14 of Code of Federal Regulations (14CFR) part 61. Under this rating system the pilot can be a certified private, commercial or airline transport pilot (ATP). A pilot could also have a combination or all of these ratings at the same time. ( Aviation Accidents Database and Synopses ) |
| Pipe Coating | Material applied to the pipe to prevent corrosion. ( Pipeline Safety Statistics ) |
| Pipeline | Movements of oil, petroleum, gas, slurry, etc., through pipelines that extend to other establishments or locations beyond the shipper's establishment. Aqueducts for the movement of water are not included. ( Commodity Flow Survey ) |
| Placard | A diamond shaped plaque displayed on the exterior of a motor carrier to indicate the type of freight that is on board. Motor carriers are required by federal and state law to display the appropriate placards when carrying hazardous materials. ( Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS) Census File ) |
| Place | Defined by the Census Bureau as having a population of 2,500 or more. Cities, towns, and villages are all places. ( Census Transportation Planning Package ) |
| Place of Residence | The location at which Census respondents said they lived at the time the Census was taken. Household and economic characteristics are summarized by residence location. ( Census Transportation Planning Package ) |
| Place of Work | The location at which Census respondents said they worked. Worker characteristics summarized by work place location. ( Census Transportation Planning Package ) |
| Pleasure Trip | Any trip where the purpose of the trip is given as to visit friends or relatives, rest or relaxation, school activities, sightseeing, entertainment, outdoor recreation, or shopping. ( American Travel Survey ) |
| Police Jurisdiction | The territory within which a police organization has authority. In GES, the number (range 1-120) of the police jurisdiction from which the PAR was originally sampled. ( General Estimates System (NASS/GES) ) |
| Port [side] | Left side of ship when facing forward. ( Marine Casualty and Pollution Database ) |
| Port of Documentation | Hailing (origin) port of a vessel as recorded in US Coast Guard registration documents. Port name and state are marked on the vessel for easier identification. ( Marine Casualty and Pollution Database ) |
| Power Unit Type | The control and pulling vehicle for trailers or semitrailers. ( Trucks Involved Fatal Accidents ) |
| Premium | Gasoline having an antiknock index, i.e., octane rating, greater than 90. Note: Octane requirements may vary by altitude. ( U.S. Retail Gasoline Prices ) |
| Primary Cause | The first or main action or event that resulted in the accident/incident. ( Railroad Accident/Incident Reporting System ) |
| Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area (PMSA) | A component area of a consolidated metropolitan statistical area (CMSA). Any metropolitan area having more than one million persons may be divided in to subareas called primary metropolitan statistical areas (PSMAs) based on criteria established by the Office of Management and Budget. PMSAs consist of a large urbanized county or cluster of counties that demonstrates very strong internal economic and social links, in addition to close ties to other portions of the larger area. In New England, PMSAs are composed of cities and towns rather than whole counties. ( American Travel Survey ) |
| Principal Arterials | Major streets or highways, many with multi-lane or freeway design, serving high-volume traffic corridor movements that connect major generators of travel. ( Vehicle Miles Traveled ) |
| Principal Impact | The impact that is judged to have produced the greatest personal injury or property damage for a particular vehicle. ( Fatality Analysis Reporting System, Trucks Involved Fatal Accidents ) |
| Principal Means Of Transportation | The means of transportation used for most of the distance from the origin to the destination. Respondents were asked to report separately the major type of transportation used for going and for returning on the trip. If a different means was used for going and returning, the major means of transportation was the mode used on the going trip. ( American Travel Survey ) |
| Private Truck | Trucks operated by a temporary or permanent employee of an establishment or the buyer/receiver of the shipment. ( Commodity Flow Survey ) |
| Private Vehicle | Automobile: A privately owned and/or operated licensed motorized vehicle including cars, jeeps and station wagons. Also includes leased and rented cars if they are privately operated and not picking up passengers in return for fare. Van: Privately owned and/or operated vans and mini vans designed to carry from 5 to 13 passengers or to haul cargo.Pickup Truck: A motorized vehicle, privately owned and/or operated, with an enclosed cab that usually accommodates 2-3 passengers and an open cargo area in the rear. Pickup trucks usually have about the some wheelbase as a full-size station wagon.Other Truck: All trucks other than pickups, i.e., dump trucks, trailer trucks, etc.RV or Motor Home: Includes self-powered recreational vehicles that are operated as a unit without being towed by another vehicle (e.g., a Winnebago motor home).Motorcycle: Includes large, medium, and small motorcycles. Does not include minibikes, which cannot be licensed for highway use. ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Promotion And Sales Expenses | Cost incurred in promoting the use of air transportation generally and creating a public preference for the services of particular air carriers. Includes the functions of selling, advertising, and publicity, space reservations, and developing tarrifs and flight schedules for publication. ( Air Carrier Financial Reports (Form 41 Financial Data) ) |
| Property-Damage-Only Crash | A police-reported crash involving a motor vehicle in transport on a trafficway in which no one involved in the crash suffered any injuries. ( Fatality Analysis Reporting System ) |
| Property-Type Income | Property-type income comprises proprietors' income and other capital charges. Proprietors' income includes income of unincorporated establishments, rental income of persons, proprietors' inventory valuation adjustment, and non-corporate capital consumption allowance (CCA). For other private industries, capital charges include corporate profits before taxes, net interest, corporate inventory valuation adjustment, corporate capital consumption allowance (CCA), business transfer payments, and subsidies.For government industries, other capital charges comprise subsidies less current surplus of government enterprises and the consumption of fixed capital. ( Gross State Product ) |
| Propulsion | The main mechanism used to drive the vessel forward (e.g., diesel engine, gasoline engine, steam turbine). ( Marine Casualty and Pollution Database ) |
| Public Transportation | Bus: Includes intercity buses, mass transit systems, and shuttle buses that are available to the general public. Also includes Dial-A-Bus and Senior Citizen buses that are available to the public. Does not include shuttle buses operated by a government agency or private industry for the convenience of employees, contracted or chartered buses or school buses. Commuter Trains: Includes commuter trains and passenger trains other than elevated trains and subways. Includes local and commuter train service. Does not include intercity service by Amtrak.Streetcar/Trolley: Includes trolleys, streetcars, and cable cars.Elevated Rail/Subway: Includes elevated and subway trains in a city. ( Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ) |
| Publico | A transit mode comprised of passenger vans or class C buses operating with fixed routes but no fixed schedules. Publicos are a privately owned and operated mass transit service which is market oriented and unsubsidized, but regulated through a public service commission, state or local government. Publicos are operated under franchise agreements, fares are regulated by route and there are special insurance requirements. Vehicle capacity varies from 8 to 24, and the vehicles may be owned or leased by the operator. ( National Transit Database ) |
| Pump Station | One of the installations, containing pumps and other equipment, built at intervals along a liquid pipeline to route and increase the flow. ( Pipeline Safety Statistics ) |
| Purchased Transportation | Transportation service purchased by a public agency from a public or private provider on the basis of a written contract. ( National Transit Database ) |
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