[ABJ30] [Fwd: Examples of Data Making a Difference - July 10 Meeting]

Can you guys take a look at this and give it some thought. right now all I keep coming up with are the wrong examples, like the space shuttle, states that refuse to pass primary seat belt laws and those without motorcycle helmet laws. In all case the data would suggest an obvious course of action but... -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Examples of Data Making a Difference - July 10 Meeting Date: Thu, 8 Jun 2006 17:58:07 -0400 From: "Palmerlee, Thomas" <TPalmerlee(a)nas.edu> To: <edc(a)berwyned.com> Ed, I’m looking forward to seeing you in La Jolla on Monday, July 10, in Ballroom B at 6pm, representing Urban Transportation Data and Information Systems. Nearly 40 group, section, or committee chairs will be attending the session. Your involvement is critical in moving forward the Technical Activities Division’s support of the congressionally mandated Transportation Information Needs Assessment. At the session we will: (a) update you on what’s been done so far, (b) discuss the process going forward and elicit your reactions to it, and, (c) most important, get your insights on the importance of data in transportation decision-making. In advance of the meeting, we ask that you provide an example or two of cases in which you believe that data have made a difference in transportation decisions. Please email your responses to me by Monday, June 26 so we can use can use it to structure the discussion at our meeting on July 10th. At the session, we may ask some of you to summarize your case example for the whole group. Data can influence transportation decisions in many ways, including the following list: * Sharpen discussion * Define/clarify problem * Change priorities * Suggest solutions * Agenda setting * “Cover” for the Decision Makers * Identify who will be affected * Avoid surprised, errors * Basis for public involvement * Support (private) finance decision To make it easy for you, please describe your example(s) using the structure below: 1. Decision (What action): 2. Context (Who, Where, When): 3. Data Sources: 4. Analysis / Presentation Tools: 5. Interpretation: (How did data make a difference): We understand that you may not have this information at your fingertips. If so, please discuss this with one or two of your committee members who you feel have ready access to such examples. If you don’t have an example to contribute to the session discussion, we are interested in your insights on “how data can a difference in transportation decisions”. So, please send us your additions or refinements to the bulleted list above. Tom