Policy makers need information which is problem specific, timely, easily understandable, and cost efficient. Analysts, however, prefer to carry out complete, theoretically sound analyses. Consequently, data requirements and survey designs accommodate immediate needs of the policy makers and the longer term needs of of the analysts, aswell as the costs and respondent burden of collecting information. The basic data needed in national transportation planning activitiesare outlined in this paper, along with the technological improvements now available for generating data. Also discussed are the two main sources of transportation data--the nationwide personal transportation survey and the decennial census--the needs and requirements of local data surveys, and data gaps and accessibility. In conclusion, recommendations are made for mproving the quality of future transportation data. This paper appears in transportation research record no. 1271, Transportation data and information systems: current applications and needs 1990.
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