-- Key Findings -- Using ACS Data in Transportation Planning Applications Daytona Beach, Florida May , 2007

Participants State DOTs AASHTOs CalTrans FL DOT GA DOT IA DOT NY DOT VA DOT WI DOT MN DOT TX DOT MPOs Atlanta (ARC) Oklahoma City (ACOG ) Detroit (SEMCOG ) Daytona Beach (VCMPO) Hartford (CRCOG ) Minneapolis (MetCouncil) Houston (H-GAC ) San Diego (SanDAG ) San Francisco (MTC San Francisco (MTC) Academia Texas TTI Univ. of Iowa Univ. South Florida CUTR ConsultantsAECOM Alan Pisarski Cambridge Systematics Louis Berger Group MKC Associates FedsFHWAFTA RITA / BTS RITA / Vople Census Bureau

Two Half Days 40 Participants 4 Key Note Speakers Seven Case Study Modules 1. Population Estimates 2. Demographic Indicators and Trends 3. Workers and Employment Data 4. Travel Time, Mode Split, Modeling, Flows 5. Transit applications and New Starts 6. Dealing with Geography 7. Open Discussion and Comments Update on CTPP Program Wrap-up Presentation and Discussion General Format

Key Findings Strong Demand for Transportation Data Products from Census Data Strong Demand for Transportation Data Products from Census Data – CTPP 2000 is widely used – Sample size is large (compared to local surveys) – Response rates are high – There is no “direct” cost for the data for local applications Strong Support for Transportation Data Products from ACS Strong Support for Transportation Data Products from ACS – Standardized national resource

Uncertainty has Surrounded Transportation Data Products Uncertainty has Surrounded Transportation Data Products – Funding for the ACS has been uncertain – Funding for the ACS transportation data tabulations has been uncertain – Funding for the next National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) has been uncertain Understanding the American Community Survey Understanding the American Community Survey – In the early stages of understanding the nature of the potential applications of the ACS Key Findings (cont’d) Key Findings (cont’d)

ACS a Critical Source of Zone-to-Zone Flows ACS a Critical Source of Zone-to-Zone Flows – Unique characteristics of the CTPP 2000 – Fundamental to calibrating regional models – ACS sample and data suppression raise concerns about ACS flow data for smaller geographies – Could LEHD On-The-Map data and ACS data be fused to develop a richer understanding of trip distribution? ACS and Transit ACS and Transit – Sample size limits transit applications of ACS NOW – Transit benefits from ACS use in regional model calibration and policy analysis – “Usual mode” versus “actual mode” requires caution when using the ACS transit mode data Key Findings (cont’d)

Administrative Issues Administrative Issues – Array of participants creates uncertainty regarding roles and responsibilities – No clear institutional or legislative mandate – Need for partnership commitment from the states, MPOs, regions, US DOT and AASHTO to serve as the forum for coordination of actions, decisions, and communications Key Findings (cont’d)

ACS Evolution and Integration with Other Data Sources ACS Evolution and Integration with Other Data Sources – Research and applications experiences will need to be developed and shared – Resources are required to support the ongoing evolution of ACS applications to extend its value and support the planning community Key Findings (cont’d)

Training/Capacity Building with ACS Training/Capacity Building with ACS – Web-based products may be useful to complement hands-on training – User community has benefited from “on-demand” CTPP 2000 technical support Framing and Communicating ACS results Framing and Communicating ACS results – Different ACS applications have different requirements in terms of accuracy and precision – Users benefit from using multiple data sources, multiple analysis methods and integration of finding with theoretical and anecdotal linkages to the topic being addressed Key Findings (cont’d)

Next Steps in Securing Transportation Data Products from ACS Next Steps in Securing Transportation Data Products from ACS – AASHTO establishing a ACS board of directors – Need consensus work program including:  technical tasks  prioritization  identification of critical dates and deadlines  assignment of responsibility  establishment of communications protocols  staffing for execution Key Findings (cont’d)

ACS is Part of the Knowledge Foundation for Sound Planning and Policy Analysis ACS is Part of the Knowledge Foundation for Sound Planning and Policy Analysis – ACS remains critical to transportation planning – Cost for this data are increasingly modest in contrast to infrastructure costs that have risen dramatically – The need for well informed decisions is even more critical in an era of tight resources Key Findings (cont’d)