The data needs associated with national transit'trategic p, lanning tor the 1990 are outlined in thi paper. The major new i ues that transit strategic planning in the 1990s will likely deal with are addres ed. Based n an examination of the e issues and available data resources, the need for additional ongoing data-collection efforts in support of national (and local) strategic decision making are noted. The reation of the Interstate Highway Program in 1956 set the tone for all federal grant-in-aid to transportation programs that followed. Con truction of the Inter! ate y tem i supported by user fee placed in a tru t fund. It is administered by an arm of the federal government, but actual p. lanning and construction is carried out by the tate using a common et of standards that they developed both in cooperation with other tales and in cooperation with the federa. I government. Finally, reflecting the national interest in defense, interstat commerce, and travel, th clear majority (90 percent) f th~ nst f the Interstate &ystem is pnid by f dcral taxes. For such arrangements Lo work whether they are for construction of a highway ystem the implementation of new public transportation services and facilities, ra new airport and airway y tem a variety of data mu t be available 10 upport federal strategic deci ion making-that is, deci ions on the nature and magnitude of federal transportation programs. This information, r. on i tent with the nature of strategic planning, must focus on those factors related to the need fi r the basic" product" that the federal government provides, financial assi tance.

F r public tran ponation, four major type of data are needed for federal strategic planning. The first consi ts of the factors that influence tran it demand, the second describe. system extent, the third, describes system operations and related costs and the fourth, describes system condition, in no particular order. A number of data resources are useful for identifying changes in the factors influencing the demand for public trnn portation. One is obviously the decennial Census and others include national surveys such as the Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey (NPTS). Most of the second and third types of information, describing the extent of the nation's tran ii system, their operations, and costs, have come from the data collected und· r the rubric of" Section 15," a part of the federal transit law requiri11g the collection of a uniform data set as a prerequisite for receiving federal assistance.