Management Order Establishing the Bureau of Transportation Statistics
1. Mission
As prescribed in Section 6006 of the Intermodal Surface Transportation
Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA), Public Law 102-240 (December 18, 1991),
the mission of the Bureau of Transportation Statistics is to compile, analyze,
and make accessible information on the Nation's transportation systems;
to collect information on intermodal transportation and other areas as
needed; and to enhance the quality and effectiveness of the statistical
programs of the Department of Transportation (DOT) through research, the
development of guidelines, and the promotion of improvements in data acquisition
and use.
2. Functions
a. Compiles, analyzes, and publishes a comprehensive set of domestic
and international transportation statistics to provide timely summaries
and totals (including industrywide aggregates and multiyear averages) of
transportation-related information. Ensures statistics are suitable
for conducting cost-benefit studies (including comparisons among individual
transportation modes and intermodal transport systems) and supporting international
negotiations, and include--but are not limited to--information on:
(1) productivity in various parts of the transportation sector;
(2) traffic flows (including freight and commodity flows for
all modes);
(3) travel times;
(4) vehicle types, weights, and dimensions;
(5) variables influencing traveling behavior, including choice
of transportation mode;
(6) travel costs of intracity commuting and intercity trips;
(7) availability of mass transit and the number of passengers
served by each mass transit authority;
(8) frequency of vehicle and transportation facility repairs
and other interruptions of transportation service;
(9) accidents;
(10) collateral damage to the human and natural environment;
(11) the condition of the transportation system and its supporting
infrastructure;
(12) revenues and expenditures for the transportation system;
(13) system and safety performance measures; and
(14) transportation system and vehicle construction and manufacturing
costs.
b. Establishes and implements a comprehensive, long-term program for
the collection and analysis of data relating to the performance of the
national transportation system in cooperation with the Office of the Secretary
of Transportation, the DOT operating administrations, State and local governments,
and other Federal agencies.
c. Issues guidelines for the collection of information by the Department
of Transportation required for statistics to be compiled under paragraph
2a in order to ensure that such information is accurate, reliable, relevant,
and in a form that permits systematic analysis.
d. Coordinates the collection of information by the Department of Transportation
required for statistics to be compiled under paragraph 2a with related
information-gathering activities conducted by other Federal departments
and agencies and collects appropriate data not elsewhere gathered.
e. Makes the statistics compiled by the Bureau readily accessible to
Federal, state, local, and other decision makers and the public (subject
to applicable laws and regulations).
f. Identifies information that is needed under paragraph 2a but which
is not being collected, reviewing such needs at least annually and making
recommendations to appropriate Department of Transportation research officials
concerning extramural and intramural research programs to provide such
information.
g. Prepares a Transportation Statistics Annual Report for transmittal
to the President and the Congress.
h. Makes use of advancing computer technology/software to integrate
information from multiple transportation data systems. Utilizes Geographic
Information Systems (GIS) and other media to display transportation information
in support of DOT policies and programs.
3. Relationships
a. The Director of the Bureau of Transportation Statistics reports to,
and receives tasking, oversight, and supervision from, the Secretary of
Transportation.
b. The Director of the Bureau of Transportation Statistics works closely
with the Secretarial Officers, the Administrators of each operating administration
and with the directors of other Federal agencies to obtain information
required for paragraph 2a and to improve the quality and effectiveness
of transportation data resources.
c. The Director of the Bureau of Transportation Statistics works closely
with the Director of the Office of Intermodalism in administering responsibilities
related to developing, maintaining, and disseminating intermodal transportation
data.
d. The Director of the Bureau of Transportation Statistics works closely
with the Advisory Council on Transportation Statistics, which is charged
by ISTEA with advising the Director as to the quality and objectivity of
the Bureau's statistical products.
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