At A Glance

Website

http://ctpp.transportation.org

Purpose

To provide access to U.S. Census data products about transportation to work for individuals aged 16 years and older in the United States (U.S.).

Target Population

Individuals aged 16 years and older employed outside the home who reside in the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.

Conducted

Began in 1970. Products are based on U.S. Decennial Census and American Community Survey (ACS) data. CTPP data release corresponds with some American Community Survey (ACS) packages. The most current is based on 2012-2016 ACS.

Sponsor

State Departments of Transportation contribute to a technical service program at American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Federal Highway Administration is a partner to the project.

Special Note(s)

The current CTPP is a custom tabulation of the American Community Survey (ACS). From 1970 to 2000, the CTPP and its predecessor, the Urban Transportation Planning Package (UTPP), used data from the Decennial Census long form. Because the Census Bureau has replaced the Census long form with the ACS, the current CTPP is based on ACS. In late 2006 the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) committed to a new multi-year Census Transportation Planning Products (CTPP) consolidated purchase. The program was renewed in 2013 and in 2020. Current funding is through 2024.

Sampling

Sample Design

Cross-sectional. Multi-stage, stratified sampling for a nationally representative sample. Learn more about the sampling design.

Sample Size

Approximately 2,143,000 households interviewed in 2018.

Special Note(s)

Data are collected through the American Community Survey, using the same sampling methods and sample.

Key Variables

Demographic

Name
Age of youngest child in household
Race/ethnicity
Household income
Earnings of individual worker
Poverty status
Number of workers in household (excluding home-based workers)
Occupation
Sex

Physical Activity-Related

Name
Usual mode of travel between home and work (e.g., walk, cycle, public transportation, drive)
Commute time to work
Number of cars in household

Other

Name
Population density in residence and work areas
Time departing home for work/work for home

Data Access and Cost

Data Availability

Data based on the 2012-2016 American Community Survey (ACS) forthcoming.

Learn more about obtaining data based on the 1990, 2000, and 2010 decennial censuses. Data can be downloaded at this Web site or ordered on CD.

Learn more about obtaining five year data for 2006-2010.

Learn more about obtaining data based on the 2006-2008 American Community Survey (ACS).

Cost

Free of charge.

Special Note(s)

The most recent year for which data are available is not necessarily the most recent year this survey was conducted.

Geocode/Linkage

Geocode Variable(s)

Region, state, county, and metropolitan areas for residence and workplace.

Existing Linkages

None found.

Selected Publications

Physical Activity-Related

McGuckin NA, Srinivasan N. Journey to work trends in the United States and its major metropolitan areas 1960 – 2000. Washington (DC): Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, June 2003. Report no. FHWA-EP-03-058.

McGuckin NA. Usual journey to work commute mode loyalty. CTPP Status Report, May 2010.

Reschovsky C. Journey to work: 2000. Census 2000 Brief. Washington (DC): U.S. Bureau of the Census, March 2004.

Resources

Data Query System

Placed-based CTPP Profiles: http://ctpp.transportation.org/Pages/profiles.aspx

Documentation/Codebook(s)

Documentation: http://trbcensus.com/drb/westatreport.pdf

Tutorial(s)

CTPP 2006-2010 software tutorial: http://ctpp.transportation.org/Documents/CTPP_tutorial_v02.pdf

Training modules: http://ctpp.transportation.org/Pages/elearningmodules.aspx