The Census Bureau plans to replace the decennial census “long form” with a continuous survey approach, now called the American Community Survey. In this approach, a five year accumulation of data will be used in place of the “snapshot” of data from the decennial census. One of the major differences is that data will be collected over all twelve months of the year, albeit with very small samples collected each month. Results of the 1999, 2000, and 2001 American Community Survey for Hampden County, Massachusetts, are being evaluated by month and year to determine if seasonal effects can be captured with this survey, and how data tabulation might be designed for transportation planners if the ACS is fully implemented by the Census Bureau.
Tests were conducted by month, by calendar quarter and by seasonal quarters. Results did not show any significant differences in travel mode or travel time.
Report is still pending. Paper presented at TRB Annual Meeting 2004 poster session.
To evaluate whether or not seasonality effects impact the results of the American Community Survey.
Murakami
Ongoing