README for “Freight Analysis Framework Regions (FAFR) 2013-Present [supporting datasets]” dataset. U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS); U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) [distributor] 2025-07-01 ---------------------------------------------------------------- LINKS TO DATASET ---------------------------------------------------------------- A. Dataset archive link: https://doi.org/10.21949/1520849 B. NTAD catalog dataset link (Current Year): https://doi.org/10.21949/1522103 C. Dataset Documentation Link: https://doi.org/10.21949/1519110 ---------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY OF DATASET ---------------------------------------------------------------- The Freight Analysis Framework Regions (FAFR) 2013-Present [supporting datasets] dataset is from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), and is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)/Bureau of Transportation Statistics’s (BTS's) National Transportation Atlas Database (NTAD). The 2017 Commodity Flow Survey (CFS) contains 132 zones for U.S. domestic regions, which are directly carried over to the geography definitions for the FAF (Version 5) Regions. These geographic areas can be classified as one of the following three types: (1) Metropolitan Area (MA): The state part of a selected metropolitan statistical area (MSA) or combined statistical area (CSA). (2) The Remainder of State (ROS): The portion of a state containing the counties that are not included in the MA type CFS Areas defined above. (3) Whole State: An entire state where no MA type CFS Areas are defined within the state. ---------------------------------------------------------------- TABLE OF CONTENTS ---------------------------------------------------------------- A. General Information B. Sharing/Access & Policies Information C. Data and Related File Overview D. Methodological Information E. Data-Specific Information for: Freight Analysis Framework Regions (FAFR) 2013-Present [supporting datasets] [datasets] F. Update Log ---------------------------------------------------------------- A. GENERAL INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------------------------- 0. Title of Dataset: Freight Analysis Framework Regions (FAFR) 2013-Present [supporting datasets] 1. Description of Dataset: The Freight Analysis Framework Regions (FAFR) 2013-Present [supporting datasets] dataset is from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), and is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)/Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ (BTS's) National Transportation Atlas Database (NTAD). The 2017 Commodity Flow Survey (CFS) contains 132 zones for U.S. domestic regions, which are directly carried over to the geography definitions for the FAF (Version 5) Regions. These geographic areas can be classified as one of the following three types: (1) Metropolitan Area (MA): The state part of a selected metropolitan statistical area (MSA) or combined statistical area (CSA). (2) The Remainder of State (ROS): The portion of a state containing the counties that are not included in the MA type CFS Areas defined above. (3) Whole State: An entire state where no MA type CFS Areas are defined within the state. 2. Dataset archive link: https://doi.org/10.21949/1520849 3. Authorship Information: Principal Data Creator or Data Manager Contact Information Institution: U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) Address: 1200 New Jersey Ave SE, Washington D.C. 20590 Contact: bts@dot.gov Data Distributor Contact Information Name: National Transportation Atlas Database (NTAD) Institution: U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), Office of Spatial Analysis and Visualization (OSAV) Address: 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, Washington D.C. 20590 Email: ntad@dot.gov 4. Date of data collection and update interval: Updates occur every 5 years, years that end in 2 and 7 Updates occur every 5 years, years that end in 2 and 7 Dataset Manager is contacted to verify changes to data resulting in NTAD update. The metadata is updated in the same manner. For the most recent data, please visit the NTAD catalog at https://doi.org/10.21949/1522103 5. Geographic location of data collection: United States of America 6. Information about funding sources that supported the collection of the data: Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) ---------------------------------------------------------------- B. SHARING/ACCESS & POLICIES INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------------------------- 0. Recommended citation for the data: U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) [distributor]. Freight Analysis Framework Regions (FAFR) 2013-Present [supporting datasets] [datasets]. https://doi.org/10.21949/1520849 1. Licenses/restrictions placed on the data: These data are in the Public Domain. 2. Was data derived from another source?: Yes. Some data derived from the states. 3. This document was created to meet the requirements enumerated in the U.S. Department of Transportation's 'Plan to Increase Public Access to the Results of Federally-Funded Scientific Research' Version 1.1 << https://doi.org/10.21949/1520559 >> and guidelines suggested by the DOT Public Access website << https://doi.org/10.21949/1503647 >>, in effect and current as of December 03, 2020. ---------------------------------------------------------------- C. DATA & RELATED FILE OVERVIEW ---------------------------------------------------------------- 1. File List for the Freight Analysis Framework Regions (FAFR) 2013-Present [supporting datasets] dataset A. Filename: bts_NTAD_FAF_Regions_DMP_20250701.pdf Short description: A PDF file containing the Data Management Plan that was created for current and future management of the data and associated files. B. Filename: bts_NTAD_FAF_Regions_README_20250701.txt Short description: The README.txt file that includes human-readable information about the data, variable definitions, contact information, and other contextual information. The file you are reading now. C. File List for the FAF3_Regions_NTAD2013_NTAD2016.zip collection. Ca. File List for NTADXXXX_SHP_Final_FAF3_Regions_2012.zip collection Ca 1. Filename: faf_regions.shp Short description: A shapefile containing the geospatial data for Freight Analysis Framework Regions (FAFR) 2013-Present [supporting datasets] dataset. This includes associated files with extensions .prj, .dbf, .sbn, .sbx, .shx. Shapefile (SHP) folders are classified by NTAD publication year and data vintage date respectively. Data are classified by data publication year. Ca 2. Filename: faf_regions.xml, faf_regions.txt, and faf_regions.shp.xml Short description: Text files containing key metadata and documentation information such as methodology, procedures, data dictionary, etc. Files are classified by data vintage date. Cb. File List for FAF4_NTAD2017_NTAD2021.zip and FAF5_NTAD2022_Present.zip collections Cb 1. Filename: NTADXXXX_GDB_Final_FAFX_Regions_XXXX_XX_XX.gdb.zip (Folder) Short description: Compressed file folders containing the geospatial data for Freight Analysis Framework Regions (FAFR) 2013-Present [supporting datasets] dataset. File folders are classified by NTAD publication year, FAF version, and data vintage date respectively. Geodatabase (GDB) folders contain all the necessary components to view and otherwise interact with their data. ---------------------------------------------------------------- D. METHODOLOGICAL INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Description of methods used for collection/generation of data: Update and integrate intermodal terminals. States geo-location matched and attributes verified. Update NHS and intermodal connector links. States edge matched and NHS attributes verified with HPMS 2012. Modified NHS codes as per direction of the FHWA to align with the MAP-21 changes as reported to HPMS 2012 database. Update National Network (NN) codes based on the information from FHWA Truck Size and Weight Regulation Study, 1998 as well as the HPMS “Truck” attribute. Update LCV codes based on FHWA Truck Size and Weight Regulations. Verified with state specific input from DOT website or direct contact. Modified NHS based on amendments. Update truck route restrictions code and include restrictions due to height and hazmat designation using the State data sources, and the Rand McNally truck road atlas. Verified Intermodal terminals. 2. Instrument- or software-specific information needed to interpret the data: The shapefile data can be opened with Esri ArcGIS and any GIS software package. File geodatabase data can only be opened with Esri ArcGIS. The documentation files can be opened with any basic text editor. ---------------------------------------------------------------- E. DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Freight Analysis Framework (FAF) Regions data table Due to the size of the data, it is not described in detail here. Review the data dictionary present in the data folders for information on the data table. A. Number of variables (columns): The data dictionary found in FAF_Regions.txt or FAF_Regions.xlsx provides definitions for the variables B. Data Dictionary/Variable List: Because of the large number of variables, please refer to the Data Dictionary found within the file FAF_Regions.txt or FAF_Regions.xlsx for names, definitions, and formats of variables. C. Missing data codes: None ---------------------------------------------------------------- F. UPDATE LOG ---------------------------------------------------------------- This bts_FAF_Regions_20250701_README.txt file was originally created on 2021-02-18 by Dominic Menegus, Geographer, dominic.menegus@dot.gov [Note changes or update to the readme.txt file, e.g.:] 2021-02-17: Original file created 2025-07-01: File revision, including dataset descriptions and file organization