Valuing and Improving Transportation-Related Data Programs: Report From 2013 TRB Sessions

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.