Numerous studies and legislation have underscored the need for higher quality
and more consistent data to support decision making. One of the significant challenges
is that U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
collects data in a fairly decentralized way, including much data that come from
states and others outside DOT.
In January 2000, the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation established an
internal DOT committee to bring together the department’s data and statistical
expertise in a coordinating forum. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS)
chairs this Committee on Transportation Statistics (CTSTAT), and all of the operating
administrations participate, along with the DOT Inspector General, DOT Chief Information
Officer and the DOT Assistant Secretaries for Policy and for Budget and Programs.
The group’s focus is to:
Help guide the development of the TranStats
Identify strategic data needs and action to meet those needs
Improve the quality of statistical programs, by helping to identify methods
considered to be current best practice
Work collectively to establish guidelines for data collection, presentation
and use
