SWUTC Research Project Description

Title of Project:  Integrating TWC Employment Data into TxDOT Modeling

Project Number: 0-6325

Principal Investigator:
Patricia Ellis
(979) 845-9934
P.I. Affiliation:  Texas A&M University
p-ellis@tamu.edu

Project Monitor:
Greg Lancaster
Texas Department of Transportation
(512) 486-5126
glancas@dot.state.tx.us

Project Status:  Active

Date Started:  9/1/08

Estimation Completion Date:  8/31/09

Estimated Cost - Current Fiscal:  $141,811

Estimated Cost - Total Planned:  $141,811

Project Summary:
Project Abstract:
The Transportation Planning and Programming Division (TPP) of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) maintains a cooperative agreement with the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) to obtain employment data for use in developing and maintaining the travel demand models for the various urban areas across Texas. Beginning in 2002 the TWC began including longitude/latitude coordinates for employment locations in their data file. However, the usefulness of these coordinates has been limited because the underlying base geography used for geocoding the employment associated with the business locations is different from the underlying geography of StratMap used by TxDOT. The difference in the underlying geographies results in the inaccurate placement of employment within an area’s traffic analysis zones (TAZ).

Project Objectives:
The objective of the research is to develop methods and guidelines for placing TWC employment within TAZs. The research will assess the magnitude of the error associated with using the TWC coordinates for placing employment using the StratMap geography and to explore methods to correct the associated error. Additionally, alternate methods for accurately locating the employment using employer addresses will be investigated. Guidelines for using the TWC data will be prepared.

Task Descriptions:
Task 1. Review the Underlying Geographic Base Systems for TWC Employment Geocoding and Texas StratMap

Task 2. Assess the Magnitude of the Error Associated with Locating TWC Employment

Task 3. Develop and Test Potential Improvements to using the TWC Data Coordinates with StratMap

Task 4. Explore Alternate Methods for Locating TWC Employment DAta within Traffic Analysis Zones

Task 5. Develop Recommendations

Task 6. Prepare Research Reports

Index Terms:
Transportation planning, Labor force, Traffic analysis zones, Urban areas, Employment, Data collection, Texas, Research projects