Data Requirements in Transportation Reauthorization Legislation What Is Included and Impacts on the Data Community

摘要

This meeting served as an initial investigation to identify and refine the data issues associated with the programmatic proposals of surface transportation reauthorization legislation. Federal, state, and local officials and practitioners focused on new and expanded requirements in order to inform the state and metropolitan planning organization data communities about new responsibilities they are likely to face when new legislation is enacted. The meeting was also an opportunity to look at requirements across programs and to suggest efficient data strategies for transportation organizations. The 1-day meeting essentially consisted of three panels. A congressional staff panel presented the perspectives from recently introduced committee bills on the need for better data collection, distribution, and analysis to support both new and current congressional priorities. The second panel was anchored in the administration proposal, highlighting provisions in SAFETEA and other legislative proposals that are likely to affect the state, local government, and transit communities. In the last panel, four professionals-from a state department of transportation, metropolitan planning organization, transit authority, and safety association-reflected on likely impacts on specific data communities, anticipating both the challenges of the proposals discussed in the first two panels and what is missing from the legislative proposals at this time. The day was characterized by extensive dialogue with the audience. Finally three knowledgeable practitioners presented their views of the key points from the day. The closing comprised a discussion of issues and approaches for a post-authorization conference to develop strategies for the state, local, and transit data communities to efficiently implement data programs to cany out data provisions in the final reauthorization legislation. This meeting explored approaches to a national conference to be held shortly after the legislation is passed. That post-authorization conference will seek to delineate the efforts needed to meet the data requirements resulting from reauthorization legislation.