In gathering data to support urban transportation planning, name the unit of geographic area at which data supporting an inventory of existing conditions are summarized. Note the factors that are considered in delineating these geographic units.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The unit of a defined geographic area is called a transportation analysis
zone (TAZ). Often, census tracts or census enumeration districts are used as
TAZs. Within each TAZ, inventories and surveys are made to determine traffic
volumes, land uses, origins and destinations of travelers, population, employment,
and economic activity. Inventories are made of existing transportation facilities,
both highway and transit. Capacity, speed, travel time, and traffic volume are
determined. Criteria used in the delineation of TAZs include:
1. Socioeconomic characteristics should be homogeneous.
2. Intra-zonal trips should be minimized.
3. Physical, political, and historical boundaries should be utilized where
possible.
4. Zones should not be created within other zones.
5. The zone system should generate and attract approximately equal trips,
households, population, or area. For example, labor force and employment
should be similar.
6. Zones should use census tract boundaries where possible.