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Highway Information Quarterly Newsletter

June 2001

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Office of Highway Policy Information

Federal Highway Administration


FHWA Committee on Oversight of State-Reported Motor Fuel Data Met in May

A group of Federal Highway representatives met in Washington, DC, on May 3 and 4, 2001, to discuss what additional measures might be needed to improve the conduct of Motor Fuel Reviews. State-reported motor fuel data is a critical input to the determination of the distribution of funds to the States. This data is used as a factor in the distribution of three major highway programs (the National Highway System, the Surface Transportation, and the Interstate Maintenance programs) and the minimum guarantee program. In total, about $12 billion in Federal-aid funds are distributed based on motor fuel data.

FHWA recognizes that motor fuel reviews will continue to be conducted by Division Offices periodically. The reviews, however, must be improved to assure data quality. Division Offices that have not conducted reviews will be required to do so. Improved resource materials and training in the conduct of reviews will assist all Division Offices in strengthening the reviews.

Headquarters motor fuel staff, with the assistance of this committee, will develop materials, techniques, and tools to provide a better background for tax and revenue issues, provide sources for guidance to finding how each State treats motor fuel taxation, and provide keys to get from State tax legislation, tax forms, and administrative procedures to motor fuel data as it is reported on the FHWA Form 551M.

FHWA, is re-assessment of motor fuel reporting, (conducted in cooperation with the American Association of State Highway and Transit Officials, and the Federation of Tax Administrators) and reviews by the General Accounting Office and the Department of Transportation's Inspector General have indicated that oversight of State-reported data must be improved, in large part because of the significant amounts of money distributed based on the data.

In response to a Federal Register notice requesting comments on oversight, all the commenting States recognized the importance of this effort, and several States mentioned that FHWA should ensure that a consistent review process be applied to all States, since the importance of consistent and verifiable data is a primary concern of the reviews.

For more information, contact Ralph Erickson at: Ralph.Erickson@fhwa.dot.gov


Highway Taxes and Fees Update

The Office of Highway Policy Information has processed the information for updating the publication, Highway Taxes and Fees: How They Are Collected and Distributed. The Office of Highway Policy Information expects to release the publication for printing in late May 2001. To the maximum extent possible, the report presents the State's information as provided by the State's Transportation Agency. This information reflects the changes in State Laws since the passage of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21).

Highway Taxes and Fees: How They Are Collected and Distributed includes information regarding the taxes and fees paid by highway users and the laws that provide for the distribution of these taxes and fees. Also included is information on other non-highway user State taxes that are allocated for highway purposes, and on the Federal funds and Federal agencies that provide funding for highway activities. This publication is available on this website under Products and Publications of the Office of Highway Policy Information webpage.

If you have any questions contact Carla Mauney at (202) 366-5045.


Census Releases 1998 Data on Local Expenditures

The Bureau of the Census is releasing its 1998 Census of Government. Between 1997 and 1998, total highway expenditures increased in both the top twenty spending cities as well as the top twenty spending counties.

In 1998, the top twenty spending cities increased their total highway expenditures by 7.2 percent from $3.352 billion in 1997 to $3.593 billion in 1998. In 1998, San Francisco, CA, Sacramento, CA, Long Beach, CA, Milwaukee, WI, and San Antonio, TX joined the top twenty spending cities. San Diego, CA, San Antonio, TX, Columbus, OH, Wichita, KS, St. Paul, MN and Cincinnati, OH which were among the top 20 1997 cities in highway spending dropped from the "top twenty" list in 1998.

In 1998, the top twenty spending counties increased their total highway expenditures by 9.0 percent from $1.993 billion in 1997 to $2.173 billion in 1998. In 1998 Hennepin County, MN, replaced Nassau County, NY, which had been 15th highest spending county in 1997 and was 21st in 1998.

Highway capital construction costs fell about 2 percent between 1997 and 1998, according to FHWA Bid Price Index.

The following table compares 1997 and 1998 data from the Census Bureau's Census of Government. (www.census.gov). Local highway finance data is also collected from the States by FHWA and published in the annual Highway Statistics publication (LF series tables of the Finance Section) This data, while not by "place", include spending and income data not covered by Census.

City Government Ranking for Highway Expenditure, 1998 (Thousands of dollars)

Fiscal year
Name
State
Population 1990
Total Highway Expenditure
Total Highway Capital Outlay
1998
New York NY
7,420,166
1,260,831
788,109
1998
Chicago IL
2,802,079
372,336
209,345
1998
Houston TX
1,786,691
212,788
112,712
1998
Detroit MI
970,196
205,966
75,283
1998
Washington DC
502,124
145,380
139,112
1998
Seattle WA
536,978
139,612
70,653
1998
Los Angeles CA
3,597,556
131,294
51,298
1998
San Francisco CA
745,774
122,534
81,450
1998
Baltimore MD
645,593
111,735
40,916
1998
Phoenix AZ
1,198,064
92,945
60,398
1998
Philadelphia PA
1,436,287
90,497
33,885
1998
Indianapolis IN
741,304
87,594
45,775
1998
Sacramento CA
404,168
87,506
63,885
1998
Minneapolis MN
351,731
86,023
47,184
1998
Dallas TX
1,075,894
80,640
43,176
1998
Long Beach CA
430,905
76,048
23,065
1998
Milwaukee WI
578,364
74,051
45,775
1998
Boston MA
555,447
73,519
29,873
1998
Portland OR
503,891
71,534
6,638
1998
San Antonio TX
1,114,130
70,363
39,490
  Total for top twenty cities  
27,397,342
3,593,196
2,008,022

 

City Government Rankings for Highway Expenditure, 1997 (Thousands of dollars)

Fiscal year
Name
State
Population 1990
Total Highway Expenditure
Total Highway Capital Outlay
1997
New York NY
7,380,906
1,205,840
865,022
1997
Chicago IL
2,721,547
424,694
278,285
1997
Houston TX
1,744,058
165,274
75,492
1997
Detroit MI
1,000,272
153,992
46,564
1997
Los Angeles CA
3,553,638
152,118
70,658
1997
Baltimore MD
675,401
138,523
58,383
1997
Washington DC
543,213
117,916
110,621
1997
Seattle WA
524,704
104,665
46,772
1997
Philadelphia PA
1,478,002
101,100
34,685
1997
San Diego CA
1,171,121
98,858
59,808
1997
Dallas TX
1,053,292
80,163
37,635
1997
San Antonio TX
1,067,816
78,404
50,983
1997
Phoenix AZ
1,159,014
75,210
45,028
1997
Portland OR
480,824
68,548
5,364
1997
Columbus OH
657,053
67,442
43,040
1997
Wichita KS
320,395
67,196
49,166
1997
Indianapolis IN
746,737
63,819
30,453
1997
Boston MA
558,394
63,519
21,063
1997
St. Paul MN
259,606
63,200
35,347
1997
Cincinnati OH
345,818
61,975
36,579
  Total for top twenty Cities  
27,441,811
3,352,456
2,000,948

 

County Government Rankings for Highway Expenditure, 1998 (Thousands of dollars)

Fiscal year
Name
State
Population 1990
Total Highway Expenditure
Total Highway Capital Outlay
1998
Clark NV
1,162,129
298,005
177,424
1998
Los Angeles CA
9,213,533
168,569
59,098
1998
Harris TX
3,206,063
157,573
63,335
1998
Cobb GA
566,203
121,867
93,113
1998
King WA
1,654,876
114,127
66,241
1998
Lee FL
392,895
113,789
91,223
1998
Wayne MI
2,118,129
109,222
5,312
1998
Miami-Dade FL
2,152,437
105,294
48,280
1998
Oakland MI
1,176,488
96,198
41,359
1998
Palm Beach FL
1,032,625
93,574
68,634
1998
Montgomery MD
840,879
91,745
48,789
1998
Orange FL
805,837
91,319
45,062
1998
Maricopa AZ
2,784,075
90,490
53,342
1998
Sacramento CA
1,144,202
88,080
39,505
1998
Cook IL
5,189,689
85,625
58,026
1998
Hillsborough FL
925,277
77,857
42,986
1998
Orange CA
2,721,701
75,796
43,870
1998
Gwinnett GA
522,095
65,569
51,850
1998
Hennepin MN
1,059,669
64,713
49,015
1998
San Diego CA
2,780,592
64,019
34,409
  Total for top 20 counties  
41,451,384
2,173,431
1,180,873

 

County Government Rankings for Highway Expenditure, 1997 (Thousands of dollars)

Fiscal year
Name
State
Population 1990
Total Highway Expenditure
Total Highway Capital Outlay
1997
Clark NV
1,048,717
203,298
151,095
1997
Los Angeles CA
9,127,751
164,126
42,927
1997
Harris TX
3,126,966
136,565
44,022
1997
Cobb GA
538,832
113,018
87,651
1997
King WA
1,117,275
109,813
52,963
1997
Lee FL
380,001
107,909
82,302
1997
Wayne MI
2,076,175
105,294
46,939
1997
Miami-Dade FL
1,619,411
94,398
54,538
1997
Oakland MI
1,162,098
96,444
41,605
1997
Palm Beach FL
2,137,302
96,436
4,658
1997
Montgomery MD
802,729
92,800
46,175
1997
Orange FL
5,096,540
89,438
63,645
1997
Maricopa AZ
758,980
87,000
45,665
1997
Sacramento CA
992,840
81,022
56,545
1997
Cook IL
1,303,389
76,190
40,570
1997
Hillsborough FL
478,001
75,987
63,367
1997
Orange CA
2,611,327
70,403
28,213
1997
Gwinnett GA
897,522
67,540
32,499
1997
Hennepin MN
2,636,888
63,164
34,910
1997
San Diego CA
2,655,463
62,560
33,003
  Total for top 20counties  
39,562,627
1,993,405
1,053,292

If you would like more information on this sub-State highway finance data, contact Lenny Goldberg at (202) 366-5024.


Commuting to Work

How is the commute to work for most Americans? According to the 1995 Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey (NPTS), the average time spent driving to work in a privately owned vehicle was about 20 minutes (one way). The 1983 NPTS shows a little less than 18 minutes, with the 1990 NPTS showing about 19 minutes.

Americans who commute to work via public transit take twice as long as those who drive to get to work. The 1995 NPTS showed that transit users spent 42 minutes to get to work as opposed to those workers who drove to work. (20 minutes). (1983 shows about 40 minutes public transit and 1990 shows 41 minutes.)

At the same time, Americans are also driving longer distances. The average miles to work in 1995 showed 11.84 miles (a 3 mile increase since 1983). Not only are Americans driving farther, they are moving faster. The average commute speed or miles per hour (mph) for private vehicles was just over 35 mph in 1995, an increase of a little over 5 mph since 1983. (1983 showed 30 mph with 1990 showed over 34 mph).

Average Commute Trip Length (miles)

 
Private
   
Transit
 
1983
1990
1995
1983
1990
1995
8.86
11.02

11.84

11.81
12.75
12.88

Average Commute Travel Time (minutes)

 
Private
   
Transit
 
1983
1990
1995
1983
1990
1995
17.62
19.05
20.10
39.77
41.10
41.95

Average Commute Speed (miles per hour)

 
Private
   
Transit
 
1983
1990
1995
1983
1990
1995
30.18
34.74
35.36
17.82
18.23
19.29

How is this changing, and what are the trends for the future? Currently, the Federal Highway Administration and Bureau of Transportation Statistics are conducting the National Household Travel Survey 2001, which is collecting data from households across the Nation. This data will be useful in further evaluating how Americans are commuting to work, and how the transportation trends are affecting the average American commuter. The results will aid transportation planners and decision makers in planning for future transportation. The results of the NHTS 2001 are expected to be available in late 2002.

More information on the 1995 NPTS can be found http://www-cta.ornl.gov/npts.

For more information on the current NHTS 2001 see article below, or see the NHTS 2001 website at: http://www.bts.gov/nhts/.

Other inquiries regarding this article can be forwarded to Bryant.Gross@fhwa.dot.gov or phone 202-366-5026.


The National Household Travel Survey (NHTS), A Combination of the NPTS and the ATS

The NHTS is a joint USDOT effort to collect data on the full continuum of personal travel in the US. The current survey replaces two previous surveys, the Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey (NPTS) which has collected data on daily travel since 1969, and the American Travel Survey (ATS) which collected information on longer-distance trips in 1977 and in 1995. The combined survey has been re-named the National Household Travel Survey (NHTS). The survey is managed and co-sponsored by FHWA and BTS, with NHTSA supporting the data collection.

The data series is a rich source of information about travelers and their characteristics, household composition, selected information about household vehicles, and the amount and type of trips that people do, both a full account of each person's travel for one day, and a roster of trips of over fifty miles taken in the previous four-week period. Trips by all modes and all purposes are obtained.

The travel data collected is used in a wide variety of applications at both national and local levels, from policy and safety analyses to academic research. For example:

New data items address current issues, such as Internet use, tele-commuting frequency, cell phone availability, immigrant status, and mobility impairment. Annual estimates of driving are collected from household drivers, and through odometer readings taken at two points in time.

The Add-On Program

Locally collected data is always preferred, but many States and MPOs do not have the time and resources to develop, contract, and manage a household travel survey. The add-on program allows States and MPOs to purchase additional samples of the NHTS in their planning area to use for trip generation and other travel demand forecasting model inputs or other transportation planning applications.

The additional samples, along with the national samples randomly selected from the local area, are compiled, geocoded, and edited and weighted to represent the participating region. The project also allows the State/MPO to use 100% SP&R or PL funds.

In the current survey, in addition to the national sample of 25,000 households, five States; Hawaii, Kentucky, New York, Texas, and Wisconsin and four MPOs; Baltimore, MD; Des Moines, IA; Lancaster County, PA and Oahu, HI have contracted for add-on samples-together adding over 40,000 households to the national sample. Three of the States are also obtaining the detailed information on long trips in their samples. With these states as case studies and the national data on longer trips, we will gain additional insight into the dynamics of long trip making in different regions of the country.

Information on the current survey can also be found at: www.bts.gov/nhts.


Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) News Briefs

HPMS Issues Seminar

The Office of Highway Policy Information (OHPI) will be conducting an HPMS Issues Seminar in 2001. The seminar will provide an opportunity for HPMS data providers to discuss problems and shared solutions to some of the HPMS reporting issues they are facing. Based on input from an earlier solicitation of interest, we are planning the seminar for the third week of September in Chicago, IL. Contact beverly.harrison@fhwa.dot.gov with suggested topics. Plan to Attend!!!

HPMS Computer Based Training

The HPMS Computer Based Training (CBT) pooled fund project is in its final stages of development. Beta testing of the software began in April 2001. The final product will be a series of interactive computer-based training modules that explain HPMS data coding requirements and sample management techniques. Final product delivery is expected by the end of July 2001.

Knowledge Sharing Website

The OHPI has set up an HPMS page on FHWA's Highway Community Exchange knowledge sharing website to enable HPMS data providers and users to interact on a real time basis concerning HPMS issues, problems, and practices. It can be accessed at www.fhwa.dot.gov/ohim. Click on Highway Performance Monitoring System and then on HPMS Discussion Group. Check it out! Participate; your views count! Registration in the Directory section will assure that you are notified when new topics are posted to the site.


Travel Trends for 2000

Early indications of travel for the Nation in 2000 showed minimal change as compared to 1999. The latest estimate of vehicle miles of travel from the Traffic Volume Trends (TVT) was estimated at 2691.9 billion for 2000 as compared to 2691.3 billion for 1999, which is an overall increase of 0.02 percent. The earliest estimate had shown a 0.12 percent decrease. This is the smallest change in travel since 1980 when travel changed by only 0.12 percent. The TVT estimates are based on monthly submissions of continuous traffic recorder data from the various States & provide FHWA with its earliest indicator of vehicle miles of travel. The TVT travel estimate for 2000 is an interim value that will be superceded by that from the Highway Performance Monitoring System, which will become available in September 2001. Questions on the TVT data series can be directed to Jeff Patten at (202) 366-5052 or Email jeff.patten@fhwa.dot.gov for assistance.

 

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