§6302. Bureau of Transportation Statistics
(a)
(b)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(A)
(i) serve as the senior advisor to the Secretary on data and statistics; and
(ii) be responsible for carrying out the duties described in subparagraph (B).
(B)
(i) ensure that the statistics compiled under clause (vi) are designed to support transportation decisionmaking by-
(I) the Federal Government;
(II) State and local governments;
(III) metropolitan planning organizations;
(IV) transportation-related associations;
(V) the private sector, including the freight community; and
(VI) the public;
(ii) establish on behalf of the Secretary a program-
(I) to effectively integrate safety data across modes; and
(II) to address gaps in existing safety data programs of the Department;
(iii) work with the operating administrations of the Department-
(I) to establish and implement the data programs of the Bureau; and
(II) to improve the coordination of information collection efforts with other Federal agencies;
(iv) continually improve surveys and data collection methods of the Department to improve the accuracy and utility of transportation statistics;
(v) encourage the standardization of data, data collection methods, and data management and storage technologies for data collected by-
(I) the Bureau;
(II) the operating administrations of the Department;
(III) State and local governments;
(IV) metropolitan planning organizations; and
(V) private sector entities;
(vi) collect, compile, analyze, and publish a comprehensive set of transportation statistics on the performance and impacts of the national transportation system, including statistics on-
(I) transportation safety across all modes and intermodally;
(II) the state of good repair of United States transportation infrastructure;
(III) the extent, connectivity, and condition of the transportation system, building on the national transportation atlas database developed under section 6309;
(IV) economic efficiency across the entire transportation sector;
(V) employment in the transportation sector;
(VI) the effects of the transportation system, including advanced technologies and automation, on global and domestic economic competitiveness;
(VII) demographic, economic, and other variables influencing travel behavior, including choice of transportation mode and goods movement;
(VIII) transportation-related variables that influence the domestic economy and global competitiveness;
(IX) economic costs and impacts for passenger travel and freight movement;
(X) intermodal and multimodal passenger movement;
(XI) intermodal and multimodal freight movement; and
(XII) consequences of transportation for the human and natural environment;
(vii) build and disseminate the transportation layer of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure developed under Executive Order 12906 (59 Fed. Reg. 17671) (or a successor Executive Order), including by coordinating the development of transportation geospatial data standards, compiling intermodal geospatial data, and collecting geospatial data that is not being collected by other entities;
(viii) issue guidelines for the collection of information by the Department that the Director determines necessary to develop transportation statistics and carry out modeling, economic assessment, and program assessment activities to ensure that such information is accurate, reliable, relevant, uniform, and in a form that permits systematic analysis by the Department;
(ix) review and report to the Secretary on the sources and reliability of-
(I) the statistics proposed by the heads of the operating administrations of the Department to measure outputs and outcomes as required by the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (
(II) at the request of the Secretary, any other data collected or statistical information published by the heads of the operating administrations of the Department; and
(x) ensure that the statistics published under this section are readily accessible to the public, consistent with applicable security constraints and confidentiality interests.
(c)
(d)
(1)
(A) to obtain the approval of any other officer or employee of the Department with respect to the collection or analysis of any information; or
(B) prior to publication, to obtain the approval of any other officer or employee of the United States Government with respect to the substance of any statistical technical reports or press releases lawfully prepared by the Director.
(2)
(A) all hiring, grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts awarded by the Bureau to carry out this section; and
(B) the disposition and allocation of amounts paid to the Bureau for cost-reimbursable projects.
(3)
(4)
(Added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Executive Order 12906, referred to in subsec. (b)(3)(B)(vii), is Ex. Ord. No. 12906, Apr. 11, 1994, 59 F.R. 17671, which is set out as a note under section 1457 of Title 43, Public Lands.
The Government Performance and Results Act of 1993, referred to in subsec. (b)(3)(B)(ix)(I), is
Amendments
2021-Subsec. (b)(3)(B)(vi)(V) to (XII).
2019-Subsec. (d)(4).
2015-Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (b)(3)(B)(vi)(III).
Subsec. (d).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2019 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 2015 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date
Section effective Oct. 1, 2012, see section 3(a) of
Transitional and Savings Provisions
For transitional and savings provisions related to the amendment of this section and other provisions of law by title III of
Bureau of Transportation Statistics
"(a)
"(b)
"(1) Aircraft cleaning necessitated by the death of a passenger.
"(2) Aircraft damage caused by extreme weather, foreign object debris, or sabotage.
"(3) A baggage or cargo loading delay caused by an outage of a bag system not controlled by a carrier or its contractor.
"(4) Cybersecurity attacks (provided that the air carrier is in compliance with applicable cybersecurity regulations).
"(5) A shutdown or system failure of government systems that directly affects the ability of an air carrier to safely conduct flights and is unexpected.
"(6) Overheated brakes due to a safety incident resulting in the use of emergency procedures.
"(7) Unscheduled maintenance, including in response to an airworthiness directive, manifesting outside a scheduled maintenance program that cannot be deferred or must be addressed before flight.
"(8) An emergency that required medical attention through no fault of the carrier.
"(9) The removal of an unruly passenger.
"(10) An airport closure due to the presence of volcanic ash, wind, or wind shear.
"(c)
"(1)
"(2)
"(d)
"(1)
"(2)
"(A) in the Air Travel Consumer Report issued by the Office of Aviation Consumer Protection of the Department of Transportation; and
"(B) on the family seating dashboard required by subsection (a)(2).
"(3)
Federal Support for Local Decisionmaking
"(a)
"(1) States;
"(2) political subdivisions of States;
"(3) cities;
"(4) metropolitan planning organizations;
"(5) regional transportation planning organizations; and
"(6) federally recognized Indian Tribes.
"(b)
"(1)
"(2)
"(A) a description of the data analysis tools identified that would benefit infrastructure decision-making by local governments and address the goals described in subsection (c);
"(B) a review of the datasets that local governments need to effectively use the data analysis tools described in subparagraph (A);
"(C) an identification of existing or proposed data analysis tools that use publicly available data;
"(D) the estimated cost of obtaining each dataset described in subparagraph (B);
"(E) the estimated cost to develop the data analysis tools described in subparagraph (A);
"(F) a prioritization for the development of data analysis tools described in subparagraph (A); and
"(G) a determination as to whether it would be appropriate for the Federal Government to develop the data analysis tools described in subparagraph (A).
"(c)
"(1)
"(2)
"(A) Improving maintenance of existing assets.
"(B) Rebuilding infrastructure to a state of good repair.
"(C) Creating economic development through infrastructure development.
"(D) Establishing freight plans and infrastructure that connects the community to supply chains.
"(E) Increasing options for communities that lack access to affordable transportation to improve access to jobs, affordable housing, schools, medical services, foods and other essential community services.
"(F) Reducing congestion.
"(G) Improving community resilience to extreme weather events.
"(H) Any other subject, as the Director determines to be necessary.
"(d)
"(e)
Office of Airline Information