Information Needs to Support State and Local Transportation Decision Making Into the 21st Century

Book excerpt: The conference provided an opportunity for participants to (a) identify the types of data that are critical for planning and policy analysis; (b) identify data-collection requirements; (c) discuss the appropriate roles of and relationships among federal, state, and local agencies in the context of data collection and dissemination; and (d) review the impact of technological advances on data collection and dissemination. The invitation-only conference included participants from state departments of transportation (DOTs), metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), and federal agencies providing broad representation of the transportation planning and policy communities. Significant effort was made to include a full spectrum of policy, management, and front-line analysts who have extensive experience in answering policy questions, supporting the planning process, and responding to federal reporting requirements.