Sorry for the delay in responding. I finally got information from the FHWA office which does apportionments. Metropolitan Planning (PL), 402 Highway Safety, Surface Transportation Program (STP) base values, and STP sub-allocations, including 23 U.S.C. 123(d)(3) suballocations to TMAs (see below) use decennial census counts in their formula. If a jurisdiction commissions an intercensal CENSUS (by the Census Bureau), then the apportionment shares can be changed, because those new population counts are considered official. National Highway System (NHS) and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) use updated annual estimates. Since urbanized areas use population counts at the BLOCK level in the definition process, the Census Bureau will not define new urbanized areas until AFTER the 2010 Census. The Census Bureau is considering whether or not be make revisions to urbanized area definition. Perhaps someone from the U.S. Census Bureau can provide an update. The American Community Survey's smallest geographic unit of reporting is a block group. Let me know if you want me to research FTA or NHTSA funding formulas, or if this is sufficient. Elaine Murakami FHWA Office of Planning --------------------------------------------------- Tony Solury, FHWA pulled language from 23 U.S.C. (THANK YOU to Tony): The populations cited in title 23 USC are a mixed bag. In some places it says latest decennial census and in others is says latest estimates; in many it just says population without specifying what population. What I can tell you is that in cases where 23 USC refers to Urbanized Area means only those UZAs designated by the Bureau of Census either as a result of a decennial or special census. Below are some of the references in 23 USC to the Bureau of Census, Secretary of Commerce, and/or census data; I did not include many other "programmatic" references-- population where the specific population is not specified. As for the populations used by FTA and other DOT modes, you will need to contact the other modes. Tony 23 USC 101(a)--Definitions: (36) URBAN AREA.-The term ''urban area'' means an urbanized area or, in the case of an urbanized area encompassing more than one State, that part of the urbanized area in each such State, or urban place as designated by the Bureau of the Census having a population of 5,000 or more and not within any urbanized area, within boundaries to be fixed by responsible State and local officials in cooperation with each other, subject to approval by the Secretary. Such boundaries shall encompass, at a minimum, the entire urban place designated by the Bureau of the Census, except in the case of cities in the State of Maine and in the State of New Hampshire. (37) URBANIZED AREA.-The term ''urbanized area'' means an area with a population of 50,000 or more designated by the Bureau of the Census, within boundaries to be fixed by responsible State and local officials in cooperation with each other, subject to approval by the Secretary. Such boundaries shall encompass, at a minimum, the entire urbanized area within a State as designated by the Bureau of the Census. 23 USC 104(b)(2)--Apportionments; CMAQ Program: (E) DETERMINATIONS OF POPULATION.-In determining population figures for the purposes of this paragraph, the Secretary shall use the latest available annual estimates prepared by the Secretary of Commerce. 23 USC 104(f)--Metropolitan Planning Funds: (2) APPORTIONMENT TO STATES OF SET-ASIDE FUNDS.-These funds shall be apportioned to the States in the ratio which the population in urbanized areas or parts thereof, in each State bears to the total population in such urbanized areas in all the States as shown by the latest available census, except that no State shall receive less than one-half percent of the amount apportioned. (5) DETERMINATION OF POPULATION FIGURES.-For the purposes of determining population figures under this subsection, the Secretary shall use the most recent estimate published by the Secretary of Commerce. 23 USC 105--Equity bonus program: refers to decennial census. 23 USC 123--Surface Transportation Program: (d) ALLOCATIONS OF APPORTIONED FUNDS.- (3) DIVISION BETWEEN URBANIZED AREAS OF OVER 200,000 POPULATION AND OTHER AREAS.- (A) GENERAL RULE.-Except as provided in subparagraph (C), 62.5 percent of the remaining 90 percent of the funds apportioned to a State under section 104(b)(3) for a fiscal year shall be obligated under this section- (i) in urbanized areas of the State with an urbanized area population of over 200,000, and (ii) in other areas of the State, in proportion to their relative share of the State's population. The remaining 37.5 percent may be obligated in any area of the State. Funds attributed to an urbanized area under clause (i) may be obligated in the metropolitan area established under section 134 which encompasses the urbanized area. (B) SPECIAL RULE FOR AREAS OF LESS THAN 5,000 POPULATION.-Of the amounts required to be obligated under subparagraph (A)(ii), the State shall obligate in areas of the State (other than urban areas with a population greater than 5,000) an amount which is not less than 110 percent of the amount of funds apportioned to the State for the Federal-aid secondary system for fiscal year 1991. (C) NONCONTIGUOUS STATES EXEMPTION.-Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to Hawaii and Alaska. (D) DISTRIBUTION BETWEEN URBANIZED AREAS OF OVER 200,000 POPULATION.-The amount of funds which a State is required to obligate under subparagraph (A)(i) shall be obligated in urbanized areas described in subparagraph (A)(i) based on the relative population of such areas; except that the State may obligate such funds based on other factors if the State and the relevant metropolitan planning organizations jointly apply to the Secretary for the permission to do so and the Secretary grants the request. (4) POPULATION DETERMINATIONS.-The Secretary shall use estimates prepared by the Secretary of Commerce when determining population figures for purposes of this section. 23 USC 134--Metropolitan Planning: The term ''urbanized area'' means a geographic area with a population of 50,000 or more, as designated by the Bureau of the Census. (including the largest incorporated city (based on population as named by the Bureau of the Census) The designation by the Bureau of the Census of new urbanized areas within an existing metropolitan planning area shall not require the redesignation of the existing metropolitan planning organization. The Secretary shall identify as a transportation management area each urbanized area (as defined by the Bureau of the Census) with a population of over 200,000 individuals. 23 USC 402 Highway Safety Programs: (c) Funds authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section shall be used to aid the States to conduct the highway safety programs approved in accordance with subsection (a), including development and implementation of manpower training programs, and of demonstration programs that the Secretary determines will contribute directly to the reduction of accidents, and deaths and injuries resulting therefrom. Such funds shall be apportioned 75 per centum in the ratio which the population of each State bears to the total population of all the States, as shown by the latest available Federal census, ...... -----Original Message----- From: ctpp-news-bounces(a)chrispy.net [mailto:ctpp-news-bounces@chrispy.net] On Behalf Of Chuck Purvis Sent: Friday, March 23, 2007 9:21 AM To: CTPP-News Subject: [CTPP] Intercensal Pop Estimates; USDOT population-based fundingallocations To: CTPP-News This week the Census Bureau released their intercensal population estimates: county- and state-level estimates for 7/1/2006. press release: http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/009 756.html pop estimates page: http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/ Our press picked this up, and focused somewhat on the discrepancies between our California State Government's population estimates, and the Census Bureau's estimates. The story is here: http://www.insidebayarea.com/search/ci_5503254 I was quoted in the paper, and made bold comments that the intercensal population estimates were NOT used in transportation funding formula. I needed to do some background research, because I was uncertain if intercensal population estimates are used in allocating USDOT funds. (From my discussions with staff, it's based on UZA population, lane-miles, bridge repair needs, VMT, etc.) My conclusions (hopefully correct), were that most (?) USDOT population formula programs are based on total population values at the urbanized area (UZA) level, not at county-level. And given that the Census Bureau's intercensal estimates are published only at the county and state level, and never (yet) at the UZA level, the USDOT funding allocations would necessarily be based on decennial (year 2000) population counts. So, my question to our Feds and other knowledgeable policy wonks is, are USDOT funds allocated based on intercensal population estimates, or not? (If some funds ARE allocated based on "current" population counts, from the Census pop estimates program, then I owe a call of apology to my city desk reporter....) Thanks in advance! Chuck Purvis ************************************************************** Charles L. Purvis, AICP Principal Transportation Planner/Analyst Metropolitan Transportation Commission 101 Eighth Street Oakland, CA 94607-4700 (510) 817-5755 (office) (510) 817-7848 (fax) cpurvis(a)mtc.ca.gov (e-mail) www: http://www.mtc.ca.gov/ ************************************************************** _______________________________________________ ctpp-news mailing list ctpp-news(a)chrispy.net http://www.chrispy.net/mailman/listinfo/ctpp-news