Responsibilities and Challenges Questions

13.	Which agency performs most, if not all, of the travel forecasts for your MPO's long range plan?
	1.		MPO (e.g., in-house) (Click here to skip to question 15.)
	2.		State DOT - Continue with question 14.
	3.		Consultants or other contractors - Continue with question 14.
	4.		Other regional planning body - Continue with question 14.
	5.		Regional or local transit agency - Continue with question 14.
	6.		Other agency - Please specify below, then continue with question 14.

	Please specify the other agency here.

14.	Why do you not use in-house MPO staff to conduct travel forecasts? (Select all answers that apply.)
	1.		No trained in-house staff to perform modeling
	2.		Turnover of staff trained to perform modeling
	3.		Limited staff resources (e.g., staff too busy with other responsibilities)
	4.		Lack of funding to pay for trained modelers or modeling software
	5.		Not enough modeling done to warrant a staff member
	6.		State maintains control over transportation modeling
	7.		Other – Please specify below.

	Please specify other reasons here.

15.	Is a travel demand model used to develop a travel forecast for your MPO's long range plan?
	1.		Yes - Continue with question 16.
	2.		No (Click here to skip to question 23.)

16.	What travel demand model types(s) does your MPO use? (Select all answers that apply.)
	1.		Four-step model
	2.		Three-step model
	3.		Activity-based model
	4.		Other models – Please specify below.

	Please specify other models here.

17.	To what extent, if at all, does your MPO use travel demand modeling to carry out the following planning activities? (Select one answer in each row.)

		Very great extent	Great extent	Moderate extent	Some or little extent	No extent	No basis to judge
17a.	Estimating future travel demand
17b.	Traffic simulation
17c.	Identifying areas for transportation improvement
17d.	Evaluating proposed transportation projects (e.g., New Starts)
17e.	Estimating the impact of transportation on land-use
17f.	Air quality conformity analysis
17g.	Providing data services to others
17h.	Integrating land-use planning (e.g., conducting land-use projections)
17i.	Planning for special events
17j.	Other planning activities – Please specify below.

	Please specify other planning activities here.

18.	Does your MPO’s travel demand model specifically quantify (i.e., forecast) the following modes of transportation? (Select all answers that apply.)
	1.		Transit
	2.		Automobile travel (including ride-sharing)
	3.		Walking
	4.		Biking
	5.		Aviation
	6.		Intercity passenger rail
	7.		Freight rail
	8.		Freight truck trips
	9.		Other - Please specify below.

	Please specify other modes of transportation here.

19.	Typically, how often is the travel model your MPO uses validated?
	1.		More often than once a year
	2.		Yearly
	3.		When appropriate (e.g., for updates to long- or short-range plans)
	4.		Never
	5.		Don't know

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Full Report: GAO-09-868

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