Ed C. wanted this forwarded to the group as FYI...
*********
ALL INTERESTED IN AN NPTS ADD-ON/ Previous Add-ONs
I wanted to give you some background about the funding of the NPTS, and update you as of the status of funding today (2/23/06).
As you may know, the recently passed re-authorizing legislation, SAFETEA-LU, did not include any of the usual money for FHWA Office of Policy research projects (these moneys were allocated in earmarks). One of the research projects usually conducted by the FHWA Office of Policy is the National Personal Travel Survey (NPTS).
Just last month DOT announced that the 2007 CFS would be funded at the same sample size as the previous series. That's terrific news. The funding was found by shifting some projects out of the Bureau of Transportation Statistics and into other agencies.
Recently, letters of support (from MPOs and States, Academia, NARC, etc.) have been coming into Secretary Mineta's office, which helps build the case for funding the NPTS as part of DOT's 'critical' needs. As a result, there has been movement in the Office of the Secretary and the Office of Policy to identify sources of funding for the NPTS. Traditionally, such sources have included other DOT agencies, such as NHTSA and FTA, but we also have identified outside Federal agencies who are willing to help by allocating funds to the NPTS, such as the Energy Information Agency, the Center for Disease Control, and EPA.
So as of today we are optimistic that the 2008 NPTS will go forward as scheduled and with the same sample size as previous surveys. But I do have to caution our add-on partners that things may look worse before they look better again. Historically, our funding has been like the waves on the ocean, first up then down. This is just the nature of research funding at the national level.
You may like to know that Florida has committed to 12,000 samples, New York State to 11,000, and Virginia is likely to have more than 12,000 samples which also helps us get the attention of decision-makers. We are also investigating alternate pooled fund resources to conduct Add-Ons. We will continue to update you on our plans and progress.
I hope that this update answers your questions, and please don't hesitate to send me an e-mail, or give me a call at anytime if you need more information.
Also, attached is a recent brief on congestion we will soon be releasing.
Best Regards,
The NPTS Team (Susan Liss, Nancy McGuckin, and Nanda Srinivasan)
Susan Liss (202-366-5060)
Nancy McGuckin (202-366-8750)
Nanda Srinivasan (202-366-5021)
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [NCHRP_ANNOUNCE] Staff Position: Senior Program Officer, NCHRP
Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2006 15:29:44 -0500
From: "Jencks, Crawford" <CJENCKS(a)NAS.EDU>
Reply-To: NotifyNCHRP(a)NAS.EDU
To: NCHRP_ANNOUNCE(a)LSW.NAS.EDU
To: DISTRIBUTION see below
From: Crawford F. Jencks
Manager, National Cooperative Highway Research Program
Subject: Staff Position: Senior Program Officer
We are seeking your help in informing qualified individuals of an
employment opportunity within the National Cooperative Highway Research
Program of the Transportation Research Board.
Below is a link to the job description. The Senior Program Officer will
be responsible for research projects on a variety of subjects. We are
especially interested in an individual with broad transportation
experience and an understanding of research practices. In particular,
we would like to fill the position with an individual having a solid
appreciation of the design, construction, maintenance, safety, and
operations of transportation/highway facilities.
Those interested may submit applications on-line, by mail or fax. If
submitting an application by mail or fax, please provide detailed
biographical information, previous employment, salary history,
education, and other pertinent facts and reference Job Requisition
Number 060029-4.
http://nationalacademies.wfrecruiter.com/jobs_details1.asp?Job_id=61793&Pag…
DISTRIBUTION -- Chair and Members, AASHTO Standing Committee on
Research; Chair and Members, AASHTO Research Advisory Committee;
Directors, University Transportation Centers; NCHRP Announce Listserv
More bad news on the data front. All of this just punctuates why the
TRB Committees' effort behind the Transportation Information Needs
Assessment (TINA) Study is so important. There is still one more week
to log onto the site and let us know, what "unmet" data needs you have
facing you or what data gaps you see ahead. The URL for the web site is
http://www.nustats.com/TRB4/.
Don't forget when entering your ideas to associate them with a TRB
committee by its number. There is a link to to ALL the TRB committee
numbers at the site. The committee affiliation is important because
once all the information is collected it will be sorted by committee and
sent back to each chair to refine and organize.
And most of all, do not hold back.
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey got cut!
Date: Thu, 09 Feb 2006 10:26:01 -0500
From: "Hu, Patricia S." <hups(a)ornl.gov>
To: Members and Friends of ABJ10
Morning to youal!
One of our committee members, Tom Zabelsky, called yesterday to share
this devastating news. By now, many of you probably heard. The
Presidents fiscal year 2007 budget does not include funding for the
2007 Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey (VIUS), a component of the
Economic Census. Another huge data gap to fill! This decision impacts
many critical programs in DOT, DOE, EPA
Tom is taking comments, questions and supports. His number is 301
763-5175.
Pat Hu
Director, Center for Transportation Analysis
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
2360 Cherahala Boulevard
Knoxville, TN 37932-6472
hups(a)ornl.gov
Tel: (865)946-1349
Fax: (865)946-1314
http://cta.ornl.gov