Federal Highway Administration Research and Technology Evaluation: National Household Travel Survey Program Final Report

Appendix C. Email Contact Language

C.1 Email Outreach—Initial

Dear XXX,

In support of the Federal Highway Administration, the Volpe Center (U.S. Department of Transportation) is conducting an evaluation of the National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) Program to understand and document the impacts of this Program. As a user of the NHTS data, you can inform this evaluation.

One of the key objectives of the evaluation is to provide evidence of how NHTS data (and the outputs produced by that data, such as trend analyses, reports, papers, models etc.) impact decision-making, particularly with respect to the process of developing or modifying policies, programs or projects.

You can help by responding to the following questions:

1. Can you briefly describe one or two examples of how you use (or have used) NHTS data in your work, including:
   
   
   • Purpose of your research effort/work?
   • NHTS data you used or analyzed (e.g. vehicle occupancy, demographic, vehicle fleet)?
   • The intended audience?
   • The outputs of your work (e.g., model, report, publication)?

Please also provide any citations for the work if appropriate

2. Are you familiar with examples of your own work or other people’s work in which NHTS data (or outputs from the data, such as papers, reports, models etc.) has informed any phase of a project, program or policy-making effort?
   
   
   • We are interested in impacts to decisions made at the Federal, State, regional and local level.

If yes, please describe, and provide us with any relevant citations.

3. Can you provide us with additional contacts who may be familiar with the impacts of NHTS data on decision-making?

We are requesting that you please respond by XXX. If you feel it would be useful or easier to discuss these questions by phone, I would be happy to set up a meeting. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.

Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Sincerely,

XXX

C.2 Email Outreach—Follow-Up Conversation

Dear XXX,

In support of the Federal Highway Administration, the Volpe Center (U.S. Department of Transportation) is conducting an evaluation of the National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) to understand and document the impacts of this program. I have been in touch with… [EXPLAIN WHY WE ARE CONTACTING THE INTERVIEWEE]. As a user of the NHTS data, you can provide valuable assistance.

The key objectives of the evaluation are to understand the breadth and depth of NHTS data use and to provide qualitative evidence of how NHTS data (and the outputs produced by that data, such as trend analyses, reports, papers, models etc.) inform decision-making, particularly with respect to the process of developing or modifying policies, programs or projects. We understand that [PROVIDE EXAMPLE OF INTERVIEWEE’S RESEARCH].

I’d like to schedule a brief call (no more than 30 minutes) to discuss how you are using NHTS data and to obtain your thoughts on the ways in which NHTS data might inform decision making.

Can you please let me know your availability on the following dates? If the dates below are not convenient, please feel free to suggest an alternate date. Based on your response, I will send a meeting invite.

Possible dates:

• Date – Time
• Date – Time
• Date – Time

Thank you in advance for your consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

XXX