Overview of Census-Based

Commuting Programs and

Products

TRB 2015

Most Recent American Community

Survey (ACS) Releases

• ACS 2013 1-year

• ACS 2011-2013 3-year

• ACS 2009-2013 5-year

• ACS 2013 PUMS

• ACS 2011-2013 PUMS

Available on American FactFinder

New Metro and Micro Area Definitions

and ACS 2013 Data Release • Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs) are updated with the new, post 2010

Census definitions, including:

– Metropolitan and Micropolitan Areas

– Metropolitan Divisions of Metropolitan Areas

– Combined Statistical Areas (CSAs)

– New England City and Town Areas (NECTAs)

– Combined New England City and Town Areas (CNECTAs)

• These updates were included in the 2013 ACS Estimates (released in 2014)

• 2006-10 Commuting flow files served as input for the metro/micro area

delineation process. Flows are available on Census metro areas website

• More info: http://www.census.gov/population/metro/

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Block Groups Now

Available on AFF

Internet-Based Survey Instrument

• Internet mode became an option for

survey respondents in 2013.

• Early assessments indicates higher than

expected participation rates

• Allocation rates for internet surveys are

generally lower than mail-based surveys

Adding or Modifying ACS Content

(Content Testing)

2013 and 2014 • Proposals and justifications for modifying survey

content submitted to interagency council for review.

• Topical subcommittees formed for approved proposals

• Proposed wording submitted to OMB and Census for cognitive testing

• Interagency Council reviewed proposals to modify ACS questions from various topic area subcommittees

• Two rounds of cognitive testing across four test sites

Topics Included in ACS Content Test

• Relationship (P2) – Cohabitation/Domestic Partnership

• Hispanic Origin (P5) and Race (P6)

• Journey to Work Commuting Mode (P31)

• Journey to Work Time Leaving Home (P33)

• Number of Weeks Worked (P39b)

• Class of Worker (P41)

• Employer Name (P42)

• Kind of Business (P43)

• Kind of Work (P45)

• Work Activities (P46)

• Retirement income (P47g)

• Health Insurance (P16) – Premium and Subsidies

• Telephone Service (H8g)

• Computer Ownership/Use (H9)

• Type of Internet Connection (H11)

Testing Modification to

Travel Mode Question Current Question 31 – Travel Mode

How did this person usually get to work LAST WEEK?

If this person usually used more than one method of

transportation during the trip, mark (X) the box of the one

used for most of the distance.

Car, truck, or van

Bus or trolley bus

Streetcar or trolley car

Subway or elevated

Railroad Ferryboat

Taxicab

Motorcycle

Bicycle

Walked

Worked at home ➔ SKIP to question 39a

Other method

Proposed Question 31 – Round 1 Testing

How did this person usually get to work LAST WEEK? If

this person usually used more than one method of

transportation during the trip, mark (X) the box of the

one used for most of the distance.

__ Car, truck, or van

__ Bus or trolley bus

__ Subway or elevated rail

__ Commuter or long-distance railroad

__ Light rail, streetcar, or trolley

__ Ferryboat

__ Taxicab

__ Motorcycle

__ Bicycle

__ Walked

__ Worked at home➔ SKIP to question 39a

__ Other method

Testing Modification to

Travel Mode Question Proposed Question 31 – Round 2 Testing

How did this person usually get to work LAST WEEK? If this

person usually used more than one method of

transportation during the trip, mark (X) the box of the one

used for most of the distance.

__ Car, truck, or van

__ Bus or trolley bus

__ Subway or elevated rail

__ Commuter rail or long-distance train

__ Light rail, streetcar, or trolley

__ Ferryboat

__ Taxicab

__ Motorcycle

__ Bicycle

__ Walked

__ Worked at home➔ SKIP to question 39a

__ Other method

Proposed Question 31 – Final Proposal

How did this person usually get to work LAST WEEK?

Mark ONE box for the method of transportation used for

the most distance.

__ Car, truck, or van

__ Bus or trolley bus

__ Subway or elevated rail

__ Long-distance train or Commuter Rail

__ Light rail, streetcar, or trolley

__ Ferryboat

__ Taxicab

__ Motorcycle

__ Bicycle

__ Walked

__ Worked at home➔ SKIP to question 39a

__ Other method

Cognitive Testing Findings

• Selecting multiple boxes regardless of

instructions

• Respondents identified their local transit

system by its local proper name rather

than generic name

• Tendency to default to “commuter rail”

Testing Modification to Question on

Time of Departure for Work

Current Question

What time did this person usually leave home to go to work LAST WEEK? Hour __ Minute__ a.m. p.m.

Proposed Version 1

What time did this person usually arrive at work LAST WEEK? Hour__ Minute__ a.m. p.m.

Proposed Version 2

LAST WEEK, what time did this person’s trip to work usually begin? Hour__ Minute__ a.m. p.m.

Cognitive Testing Findings

• Time of arrival

– Heavy heaping

– Reporting what time work starts

– Confusion about what ‘arrival’ means

– Not especially sensitive

• Time trip to work usually begins

– Heaping

– Not especially sensitive

Content Test - Looking Forward

January/February 2015 Topical subcommittee leads provide final recommendations

for question wording for field testing March through June 2015 Conduct cognitive testing to identify any modifications

necessary for Group Quarters and Puerto Rico (neither are included in the field test)

March through May 2016 Conduct data collection for the field test via Internet, mail,

CATI, and CAPI (Content Follow-Up Reinterview continues into June)

January 2019 Implement revised content into the production ACS

Forthcoming County-Level

Commuting Flows

• 2009-2013 5-year county-to-county (and

MCD) commuting flows

– Total worker counts

– Means of transportation (4 categories)

• Drove Alone

• Carpooled

• Public Transportation

• Other

– Expected release: May 2015

Census Explorer Mapping Tool

• www.census.gov/censusexplorer/

• Maps selected ACS variables for Census 1990, Census 2000, and Current 5-year ACS

• Census Explorer Commuting Edition:

• www.census.gov/censusexplorer/censusexplorer-commuting.html

• Variables: Percent drove alone, carpooled, transit, bike, walk, worked at home, average travel time, percent travel time 60 or more minutes.

Reference Document Comparing

LODES and ACS

• Design Comparison of LODES and ACS

Commuting Data Products (Graham, Kutzbach, McKenzie 2014)

• https://ideas.repec.org/p/cen/wpaper/14-38.html

Census Shapefiles with Pre-Joined

ACS Data

• Tigerline Shapefiles with pre-joined ACS

demographic data.

• Layers available down to the block group

level.

• More than 60 tables attached to shapefiles

• Detailed tables (not collapsed version)

American Housing Survey (AHS) • Longitudinal survey of housing units conducted every

two years (by telephone).

• Tables published for 29 large metro areas.

• Sample size approximately 60,000 households

• Collects information on: size and composition of housing,

vacancies, physical condition, characteristics of

occupants, indicators of housing and neighborhood

quality, mortgages and other housing costs, persons

eligible for and beneficiaries of assisted housing, home

values, and characteristics of recent movers.

• www.census.gov/programs-surveys/ahs/

Examples of AHS Transportation

Questions • Do you ever use public transportation?

• What types of public transportation do use?

• How far is the bus from your home?

• How do you usually get to the bus?

• How often do you use a bus?

• How far is the subway, light rail, or trolley from your home?

• How do you usually get to the subway, light rail, or trolley?

• Are there any reasons why you do not walk or bicycle in your

neighborhood?

• Does your neighborhood have sidewalks that are wide enough

for two adults to walk side by side?

Resources for Census Products

• Census Bureau General assistance with AFF

301-763-INFO (4636) or 800-923-8282

• FTP Technical Support

301-763-2626

• Journey to Work and Migration Statistics Branch

301-763-2454

• ONLINE TUTORIALS

http://factfinder2.census.gov/help/en/american_factfinder_help.htm#

New ACS Question for 2013: Computer

Access and Internet Access

• Type of Computer (e.g., desktop, laptop, smart mobile

phone, etc.)

• Subscription/Access to internet

• Internet service type (e.g., dial-up, DSL, cable

modem, etc.)

• Implemented in January 2013, available for 2014 ACS

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ACS Content Review • On April 29, conducted kickoff summit with federal agencies

• Agencies provided information on how they use ACS data in late June/July

• Census collecting feedback from all data users using public ACS Content Review Feedback Form.

• Analyze feedback from all sources - June – September

• Implement decisions for calendar year 2016 and beyond

• Kickoff Meeting with National Advisory Committee Working Group on Content Review – Will provide feedback on questions/topics that should be

candidates for removal

– Complete work end of July

– Present findings to full NAC in August

Census Migration Flows Mapper

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http://flowsmapper.geo.census.gov/flowsmapper/map.html

Forthcoming Products/Resources

Cont. • ACS report on workers with a disability (using 5-

year 2008-2012 data)

• Short working paper on commuting patterns of

older workers

• Continued updates to Census Migration Flows

Mapper

• Report on migration patterns of young adults

• Reference document comparing LEHD to ACS

workplace data.