Last week the Census Bureau (CB) sent a letter to the State Data
Centers(SDCs) asking them to participate in the delineation of the
Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS)zones. A copy of that letter and
the criteria used in defining the zones (know as PUMAs) can be found
on the TRB census data subcommittee's web page at
http://www.mcs.com/~berwyned/census/
The direct link for the information is
http://www.mcs.com/~berwyned/census/articles/pumaguidelines.pdf
For those new to the PUMS game an article talking about the
importance of PUMS data for transportation planning can be found in
the last "status report" at
http://www.mcs.com/~berwyned/census/newsltr/sr0401.html#pums
Since PUMS data is becoming increasing more useful in the context of
transportation planning it is important for MPOs (and state DOTs) to
be close to the development of the PUMAs (pums zones) in their
areas--especially for the larger MPOs and for state planning.
Although the process of delineating the PUMAs is left to the SDCs,
MPOs and state DOTs should contact their SDC and let them know that
they have an interest in participating or assisting with the
process. In 1990 I know there were several MPOs that actually
defined the zones in their planning areas. The SDCs can be found at
http://www.census.gov/pub/sdc/www/sdctxt.html
If you contact your SDC and you find that they are NOT participating
in the program please let us know by contacting Nandu Srinivasan at
nanda.srinivasan(a)fhwa.dot.gov
ed christopher
chair, trb subcommittee on census data for transportation planning