Comment Period Extended!

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) has extended the public comment period for the Request for Information (RFI) titled, “Shaping the Future of the Bureau of Transportation Statistics” from July 2, 2026 to July 31, 2026.

Overview

As the transportation landscape undergoes rapid shifts driven by new technologies and supply chain evolutions, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) is committed to ensuring our national statistical resources remain relevant, accessible, and technically compatible with modern analytical workflows. Through a Request for Information (RFI) titled, “Shaping the Future of the Bureau of Transportation Statistics” BTS is seeking input on six primary focus areas:

1. Product Portfolio Alignment: Evaluating the alignment of the BTS product suite with public needs. 
2. Identifying Data Gaps: Identifying gaps in the national transportation picture.  
3. Data Utility & Application: Understanding the real-world impact of BTS products.
4. Data Architecture & Technical Integration: Modernizing how data is delivered and consumed.
5. User Experience (UX) & Discovery: Optimizing the experience for data seekers.
6. Strategic Future & Feedback Loop: Aligning BTS resources with long-term industry challenges. 
    

Request for Information (RFI): Share feedback at https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2026-10815

Informational Webinar

BTS hosted an informational webinar following the publication of its Request for Information (RFI) titled, "Shaping the Future of the Bureau of Transportation Statistics." During the webinar, BTS provided a walkthrough of the questions included in the notice and an overview of how comments will be used to guide future initiatives.

Recording: View the webinar recording at https://usdot.zoomgov.com/rec/share/u2vLXL4x2PRfCrNfewOkeW4t9Q72DJTlqgJ… (Passcode: riNs22@p).

Thematic Analysis & Results

BTS is committed to a transparent feedback loop. Following the close of the comment period, we will share findings here.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Submission Mechanics

• Q1: Can the public comment period for this Request for Information (RFI) be extended?
  A: In direct response to feedback received from the public requesting additional time to prepare submissions, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) has officially extended the comment window. The new deadline for all submissions is July 31, 2026. The extension notice can be viewed at https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2026-12605.
• Q2: How do I formally submit a comment?
  A: To ensure your feedback is formally captured, it must be submitted via the methods listed in the Federal Register notice at https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2026-10815 by the comment period deadline, July 31, 2026. One submission method is the Federal eRulemaking Portal which allows you to type your feedback directly into the text box or upload an attachment. At the top of the Federal Register notice, you can select the green button labeled "SUBMIT A PUBLIC COMMENT." Or, you can go to https://www.regulations.gov/, search for Docket ID DOT-OST-2026-1387, and click the blue button labeled "Comment."
• Q3: Do I need to answer every single question or focus area in the notice for our submission to be considered?
  A: You do not need to answer every question or address all six focus areas. BTS fully expects that different stakeholders will have different domains of expertise. We highly encourage you to focus your formal written submission strictly on the specific topics that directly intersect with your organization’s mission, day-to-day workflows, or technical capabilities. Providing a highly detailed response to just one single question is incredibly valuable to our team.
• Q4: Who is eligible to submit a response to this notice?
  A: This RFI is open to the public. BTS welcomes a comprehensive range of contributions from across the entire transportation and data community, including commercial operators, technical developers, regional planners, state and local government agencies, academic researchers, small business owners, and individual data seekers who rely on national transportation statistics.
• Q5: I was unable to attend the live informational webinar on June 17th. Was it recorded?
  A: Yes, the informational webinar was recorded. To get caught up, you can access the recording at https://usdot.zoomgov.com/rec/share/u2vLXL4x2PRfCrNfewOkeW4t9Q72DJTlqgJ… using Passcode: riNs22@p.

Engagement

• Q6: Who can I contact if I have additional questions while trying to submit my comment?
  A: If you encounter any technical issues, experience a procedural hurdle, or require clarification regarding the six focus areas or RFI questions, before the July 31, 2026 deadline, our dedicated Outreach Team is available to assist you at any time. You can reach out to us directly via email at BTSOutreach@dot.gov.
• Q7: Our organization would like to share this RFI opportunity with our professional network, members, or subscribers. Are there resources available to help us promote this?
  A: Yes, we highly encourage you to share this effort with your networks. You can share the link to our main RFI webpage at bts.gov/shaping-the-future, which includes links to the RFI notice and informational webinar recording. You can also reach out to us at BTSOutreach@dot.gov and we’ll be happy to connect you with our partner toolkit.
• Q8: I write for an industry publication, host a podcast, or manage an association newsletter and would like to interview a BTS representative about this initiative. Who should I contact?
  A: BTS welcomes the opportunity to engage with industry media, trade publications, and professional networks to amplify this RFI. If you would like to request an interview, secure a quote from leadership, or coordinate a briefing, please send your inquiry, publication details, and specific areas of interest directly to our Outreach Team at BTSOutreach@dot.gov.
• Q9: Will there be subsequent opportunities for public comment once BTS drafts its proposed long-term strategy?
  A: This RFI is a foundational step in our modernization roadmap. BTS will evaluate all public comments and intends to provide subsequent opportunities for the public to review and engage with the findings.
• Q10: What is the projected timeline for next steps and ongoing stakeholder discussions after the comment period closes?
  A: Following the close of the comment window on July 31, 2026, BTS will begin a comprehensive analysis of the submitted feedback. Over the subsequent months, we plan to compile findings, publish a summary report, and are considering engagement opportunities that will maintain an ongoing, two-way dialogue with the public.

Scope of Feedback

• Q11: Should our recommendations assume BTS's current statutory mission and role remain unchanged, or can we propose broader structural and legislative shifts in the transportation data ecosystem?
  A: While recommendations focused immediately on products, datasets, and technical services are highly actionable, BTS also welcomes feedback on how our overall mission, strategic priorities, and foundational role within the national transportation data ecosystem should evolve over the next decade.
• Q12: Does this initiative look at integrating or providing direction to non-BTS data sources into the BTS portfolio?
  A: BTS invites recommendations on how we can better leverage, catalog, link, or ingest non-BTS datasets to build a more comprehensive, multi-layered picture of national transportation for our stakeholders.
• Q13: For datasets created in collaboration with other modal administrations, what feedback is useful for BTS via this RFI versus what belongs with the individual mode?
  A: For joint or co-created data products, BTS welcomes feedback concerning data utility, technical integration frameworks, metadata standards, and cross-modal analysis gaps. If your feedback relates to regulations or funding structures specific to a single modal administration, BTS recommends continuing to direct those comments to specific modal agencies.
• Q14: Where additional international data program coordination may affect the highlighted focus areas, can we recommend changes to those international activities?
  A: BTS actively participates in international data coordination efforts. If international standards compatibility and data harmonization impacts your technical workflows, BTS welcomes those recommendations in your comment.