Box B: Information Quality Guidelines for Federal Transportation Data

As a Federal statistical agency, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) has its own standards and participates with other Federal agencies to improve statistical information quality. Under an array of guidelines, other Federal agencies collect, compile, and disseminate statistical data. The following are key guidelines and documents providing guidance on the quality of statistical information:

• BTS Statistical Standards Manualcovers all aspects of RITA/BTS statistical practice: (http://www.bts.gov/programs/statistical_policy_and_research/bts_statistical_standards_manual/index.html).
• Guide to Good Statistical Practice in the Transportation Fieldincludes the USDOT guidelines for statistical information and additional BTS guidance for good statistical practice: (http://www.bts.gov/publications/guide_to_good_statistical_practice_in_the_transportation_field/).
• Guidelines for Ensuring and Maximizing the Quality, Objectivity, Utility, and Integrity of Information Disseminated by Federal AgenciesFederal Register Notice, Vol. 67, No. 36, Feb. 22, 2002, Part IX Office of Management and Budget: (http://www.bts.gov/publications/federal_register_notice/pdf/volume_67_number_36.pdf).
• Guidelines of the Federal Statistical Organizationsan approach to guidelines for statistical information adopted by the Interagency Council on Statistical Policy (ICSP): (http://www.bts.gov/publications/federal_register_notice/pdf/volume_67_number_107.pdf).
• USDOT Report for Implementing OMB's Information Dissemination Quality Guidelines is the USDOT implementation of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) information quality guidelines and correction procedures. The USDOT guidelines permit its agencies to issue their own guidelines, if these guidelines are consistent with the overall USDOT guidelines: (http://docketsinfo.dot.gov/ombfinal092502.pdf).
• Standards and Guidelines for Statistical Surveysadopted September 2006: (http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/inforeg/statpolicy/standards_stat_surveys.pdf).
• Title VConfidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002effective Dec. 17, 2002: (http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/omb/inforeg/cipsea/cipsea_statute.pdf).
• OMB released Statistical Policy Directive No. 4: Release and Dissemination of Statistical Products Produced by Federal Statistical Agencies on Mar. 7, 2008: (http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/omb/fedreg/2008/030708_directive-4.pdf).