The NHTS is a survey of travel by U.S. households conducted every 5 to 7 years by the FHWA. The next NHTS is scheduled for 2008 data collection. The study provides detailed information on the public usage of the transportation system by all motorized and non-motorized modes. Using a 1-day travel diary, the NHTS obtains detailed household, person, vehicle, and trip information to support modeling, planning, and policymaking. Starting in 1990, the add-on program was initiated to allow States and MPOs to purchase NHTS samples to create a household travel survey dataset for their area. Data on trips of all lengths, for all purposes, and by all modes is collected. Add-on areas will receive a fully documented and quality reviewed final geocoded database. Examples of MPO and State applications of the NHTS include: o Trip Generation Rates--estimates of the amount and type of travel generated by households are used to develop trip generation models for travel demand forecasting and long-range plans. o Statewide Travel Trends--Trends in demographics and travel behavior are applied to safety, congestion, and system integration planning and program development. o Air Quality Analysis--Data allows for independent analysis of overall VMT by vehicle type and cold starts and hot soaks.

This proposal provides transportation agencies at the State, regional, and local level with a mechanism for collecting quality travel survey data. The NHTS Add-On program¿s objective is to supply transportation agencies with quality household travel survey data. The outcome is a final data set with key transportation performance indicators that supports data analysis on significant trends in user demographics and travel behavior. Household travel survey data is critical for modeling, planning, and decision making in the context of limited infrastructure options and a heightened emphasis on safety and congestion planning.

The contractor will develop a detailed work plan for the achievement of the intended project goal. The work plan will contain a detailed project schedule including milestones, interim deliveries, and final deliverables. The following key tasks will be completed for the NHTS Add-On program 1. Study and Sample Design 2. Survey Instrument and Field Materials Design, Programming, and Printing 3. Database Development and Documentation 4. Pretest 5. Interviewer training and continuous monitoring 6. Data Collection 7. Data processing and Quality Assurance 8. Data Weighting and Expansion 9. Final Data Set Development 10. Full Study Methods and Data Documentation 11. Users Guide

The estimated cost of the NHTS Add-On Program is $175 per completed households. This covers the cost of survey data collection and in-house data quality review and monitoring for each participating agency. Deliverables to Add-On participants include (1) Edited, weighted, quality reviewed final data set, (2) Full data and methods documentation, (3) Origin and Destination geocodes for all trip ends, (4) Transit, walk, and bike trip data including for access and egress, and (5) User support.