According to the Census Bureau (http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2001/ntc102901.html): "By 2004, the American Community Survey ... will produce estimates for geographic areas and population groups of 65,000 or more, and by 2008, for even the smallest areas and population groups in the country." Just what "the smallest areas and populations groups" means is anyone's guess, but it was my understanding that they're targeting the block-group level. But as Ed pointed out, this all depends on congress and funding... Also to address one point that Elizabeth asked in her original question, "will the C2SS and the ACS provide transportation data at this fine a level [block group]?" It is my understanding that the C2SS (Census 2000 Supplementary Survey) data will not be available for anything smaller than counties or cities with more than 250,000 residents. The sample size of the C2SS was not sufficient to support anything smaller than this. For the ACS, see above. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Keith Miller Principal Planner: GIS and Modeling North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, Inc. One Newark Center, 17th floor Newark, NJ 07102 973-639-8444 kmiller(a)njtpa.org -----Original Message----- From: owner-ctpp-news(a)chrispy.net [mailto:owner-ctpp-news@chrispy.net]On Behalf Of ed christopher Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2001 4:43 PM To: Elizabeth Hartmann Cc: elaine (fta) murakami; ctpp-news maillist Subject: [CTPP] Re: Geographic coverage, C2SS & ACS Elizabeth Hartmann wrote: availability regarding the C2SS and the American Community Survey. I understand that the ACS will provide yearly info on population groups of 65,000 or more, and that for smaller areas, several years' data can be pooled to maximize reliability. available? Currently, the decennial census provides data down to the block group level; will the C2SS and the ACS provide transportation data at this fine a level? just to confirm what we spoke about on the phone. i cannot say with any certainty what the final geography will be with ACS nor even its content. as i noted, two efforts are underway within OBM. 1) to advise congress on the content and 2) on methodology (which impacts on geographic levels). how congress will respond is anyone's' guess. the mood in congress up to now has been to cut content and in january i am told the census issues will be moved over to another subcommittee that will have a chairman that is even more concerned about the questionnaire being "too" long. as far as getting ACS at a large scale geography (like the 65K areas) that should not be an issue. over the years we have been told that multiple years of ACS data can be pooled to produce small area summaries, but how small the areas will be and if this comes to pass, is not a done deal. most of the detail surrounding the ACS is still up in the air. in terms of the content, several of us within DOT have made our case to OMB on the importance and legal needs for the transportation related questions. i believe that right now OMB is review the information submitted by all the federal agencies and will reporting out on it sometime in the future--this is an issue we are following. i cross posted this to our ctpp-listserve for others who may have similar questions or who might be able to expound on any of the points raised. -- Ed Christopher Metropolitan Specialist Midwest Resource Center Federal Highway Administration 19900 Governors Drive Olympia Fields, Illinois 60461 708-283-3534 (V) 708-283-3501 (F)