This report summarizes the findings of 2013 Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting sessions on valuing and improving transportation-related data programs (programs that collect basic data used for transport policy, planning and research). It discusses the business case for expanding and improving data programs, puts data program costs into perspective with transport expenditures and economic impacts, describes examples of the data needed to address various transport planning issues, gives examples of existing transport data programs, describes problems and threats, discusses who should lead in data program strategic development, summarizes best practices, and provides conclusions and recommendations. Key findings: * Various data are necessary for effective transport policy making, planning, performance evaluation and research. New planning issues expand the scope of these data. * Many types of transport-related data are collected, but most existing data programs are limited in their subject and geographic scope, consistency and quality. The resulting data are often incomparable or unsuited for research due to inconsistent definitions and collection methods. * Strategic coordination can increase data program efficiency. Relatively simple actions, such as standardizing definitions and collection methods, and reducing duplication of data collection efforts by various organizations and agencies, could improve quality while reducing total costs. * Some current data programs are under threat. In the future we may have less information on travel activity than we had in the past. * There is a need for transportation professionals to better communicate the value of high quality data, and support more strategic data program planning and development. * There is need for leadership by international professional organizations to support strategic data program development. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting