[CTPP] LAT article: "Census Data on Traffic Questioned"

FYI -- http://www.latimes.com/templates/misc/printstory.jsp?slug=la%2Dme%2Dtraffic… %2Fnews%2Flocal Census Data on Traffic Questioned By Scott Martelle and Dan Weikel Times Staff Writers March 9, 2003 Southern California planners and demographers are questioning census data on the region's commuting patterns released last week -- a concern that hints at broader problems with some census estimates. The numbers released Thursday counted residents by where they live and work to measure commuting patterns. They were derived from data collected in the 2000 census long form, an extensive questionnaire filled out by about one of every six households in the country. The data indicated a continuing and dramatic decrease in the number of people commuting to Los Angeles from surrounding counties -- an erosion of Los Angeles' decades-long standing as the region's economic heart. While the trend toward increased economic independence in Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties is unquestioned, census estimates of employment levels and commuter patterns conflict sharply with established jobs surveys and regional transportation studies. The question confronting demographers now is, if census conclusions about Southern California employment and commuter patterns are wrong, what other census conclusions are off kilter? ..... ------------------------------------ Christopher V. Forinash U.S. EPA: Office of Policy, Economics and Innovation 1200 Pennsylvania Ave NW (MC 1808T), Washington DC 20460 Tel 202-566-2842; Fax 566-2868; Email forinash.christopher(a)epa.gov ------------------------------------ Development, Community & Environment Division: http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth A partner in the Smart Growth Network: http://www.smartgrowth.org