22 Feb
2008
22 Feb
'08
10:02 a.m.
Thought you might be interested some good news floating around regarding
the NHTS.
NHTS Information Update
On February 19, 2008 the National Household Travel Survey (NHTS)
national sample reached a funding milestone. Sufficient funds have been
secured to ensure the continuation of this important national study on
the travel and transportation needs of the American public. Interviews
with 25,000 households across the United States will begin in March.
According to Heather Contrino, NHTS Program Manager in the FHWA Office
of Policy, "The information provided by the NHTS is so important to
programs, policy, and planning across the transportation community. I
cannot thank the entire user community enough for its overwhelming
support."
NHTS is the nation's flagship survey for obtaining information on how,
and why, the American public travels. Over the past four decades the
NHTS has grown from a single national level survey to one that allows
local areas to buy more data, or add-ons, for their areas. Up until
February 19th, it was uncertain that there would be a national survey
yet 18 areas were scheduled to be "in -the-field" with their surveys
March 1, 2008. The issue for the national sample boiled down to money.
During the last transportation reauthorization process which produced
transportation funding under the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) legislation,
the discretionary research funding source for the NHTS was zeroed out
and a scramble to find money began. That scramble ended Wednesday, or
at least one major hurdle was overcome.
The NHTS has had a long history of struggling to get on a fixed
operating and revenue schedule. Surveys have been completed in 1969,
1977, 1983, 1990, 1995 and 2001--and now 2008. The issue of funding for
NHTS is somewhat ironic given its benefits in relation to its costs.
While the country is out debating on how to spend trillions of dollars
on transportation infrastructure and what we want our country to look
like 50 years from now, we have difficulty spending a few million on the
information that would help make wise decisions.
To conduct the NHTS a total of $6 million was needed. This represents a
bare bones approach to conducting the study. Interviews with 25,000
households allowed for detailed population group analyses (e.g. older
drivers, new immigrants, teen safety) and area specific reporting
including statewide performance measurement, urban/rural comparisons,
and analysis of regional trends. Funding for the study was provided by
the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration, and
the AARP.
In terms of the Add-ons, a total of 19 States and Metropolitan Planning
Organizations "ponied-up" $21 million for 128,000 additional household
samples. "Including state and metro participation, this is the largest
national household travel survey in the history of the program. We are
so excited to see new data and how recent events like gas prices, hybrid
vehicles, new immigrants, and baby boomers leaving the workplace are
impacting travel choices and overall transportation demand" remarked
Contrino.
Additional information about the NHTS can be found at:
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policy/ohpi/nhts/index.htm
--
Ed Christopher
708-283-3534 (V)
708-574-8131 (cell)
FHWA RC-TST-PLN
19900 Governors Dr
Olympia Fields, IL 60461