Hi Viplav:
I am sure Michael's suggestion is very helpful, but I would also hope that
the population numbers for each block in OK is available at the Amercan
factfinder site in tabular format. You would then only need to get a data
dictionary together that specifies what the status of each block is: (1) in
or not in an UA or (2) in or not in an UC and (3) rural. You might have to
have SF-2 or SF-3 to do this as SF-1 would not have this information but I
believe that for defining UA non UA blocks, the new updated tiger files will
be the only way to assemble this data.
I assume you would have to do this for every urbanized area that was
entirely or partially within OK. (Gee, doing this population comparision
for a large number of different states would indeed be a daunting task)
I believe someone must have already done (or is planning to) do these UA non
UA bock assignments for the entire US if they plan on doing the detailed UA
non UA maps but I am not sure how or when this product will be finished or
what the final product would cost.
Assigning the HPMS highway data stations in your state to an urban or non
urban status would indeed be an interesting exercise that requires that the
UA non UA boundary maps to be overlayed on top of the HPMS station point (or
highway segment) map. And of course a very good and accurate map of your
sample HPMS data stations would have to be available to do this
I would think your state DOT must have such a map, but it might not be in
tiger format.
I am not an expert on such HPMS map issues, but certainly such census maps
should be available soon or are already available in electronic form
already (perhaps at some cost) , but as to the HPMS station maps` I am far
less certain.
You do indeed have a very intersting task. I am sure many on this list will
have a more specific methodology and I am very interested in this effort
you have undertaken.
The use of HPMS data by the transportation community based on which data
stations are assigned to UA's and which ones are not assigned to UA's (i.e
rural) is indeed an interesting study in many states. Just how and when
this is actually accomplished for the new UA boundaries I am not sure. If
these new UC's that have been defined revise the urban non urban status of
lots of HPMS data stations then indeed many states DOT's have an intersting
task ahead of them.
I do believe I did read some reference that FHWA does not expect that Yr
2000 UA non UA data definitions will be used right away in the apportionment
issues for federal highway funds. Again I hope that someone on this list
will be able to get you better answer that question.
Ed Herlihy
Transportation Consultant
Reston, Va
----- Original Message -----
From: "596 - Michael Leblanc" <mleblanc(a)lafayettegov.com>
To: "'941 - Mike Hollier'" <mhollier(a)lafayettegov.com>om>;
<ctpp-news(a)chrispy.net>
Cc: <vputta(a)incog.org>
Sent: Thursday, August 15, 2002 4:48 PM
Subject: RE: [CTPP] Adjusted Urbanized Area: Viplav Putta Inquiry
Hello Viplav Putta:
I have attached a copy of the federal register that has the control
totals (the population within the urban area) for all of the mpo areas
in the US. It also describe each urban area and what happened to it.
This is a text file; you can get a better looking pdf by search for this
reference in google: [Docket Number 010209034-2084-04]
You will have to download the most recent tiger map and find all of the
urban area census blocks. These block's population should total to the
control total that is listed in the attached document. Go to Census
bureau site.
I have no idea what smoothing is; basically if a block touches another
block with a common boundary or a common corner (!!!!!), its in the
urban area. You can quickly get odd shaped urban area that have no
relation to reality, but that's the rules.
Good luck.
Mike LeBlanc, AICP, Planner II
Lafayette Consolidated Government
Traffic and Transportation Dept.
Lafayette, Louisiana
-----Original Message-----
From: 941 - Mike Hollier [mailto:mhollier@lafayettegov.com]
Sent: Thursday, August 15, 2002 3:33 PM
To: Mike LeBlanc
Subject: Fw: [CTPP] Adjusted Urbanized Area
Mike - - -
You might want to pass your experience on to this guy.
Mike H.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Putta, Viplava" <vputta(a)incog.org>
To: <ctpp-news(a)chrispy.net>
Sent: Thursday, August 15, 2002 2:52 PM
Subject: [CTPP] Adjusted Urbanized Area
"The Federal Highway Administration approves
adjusted urbanized-area
boundaries that include the census-defined Urbanized Area plus
transportation centers, shopping centers, major places of employment,
satellite communities and other major trip generators near the edge of
the Urbanized Area, including development expected to be in place
shortly."
Our state (Oklahoma) is conducting this exercise currently with all
towns in Oklahoma. I am trying to find out more about this practice.
Can someone point me to the federal register/the directive related to
this?
- Is the sole purpose here is to get the HPMS representation right or
should we know more about the usage in apportionment.
- What are the limits of such 'smoothening' the urbanized area by the
above definition?
- Is this intended for all towns/cities (both in and outside of the
TMA?)
- When the DOT 'smoothen' the boundary I assume they should include
block group if they decide to go out and any other parameters one
should
be aware of?
Thanks.
Viplav Putta
INCOG