New IT office to manage transportation data

A new Office of Information Technology was created last week at the Bureau of Transportation Statistics to keep the agency on the cutting edge of data storage and analysis.

The growth of BTS as a focal point for transportation data used by the public, analysts and government decision-makers prompted the Transportation Department to create an office devoted to the infrastructure used to gather, store and access the data, said Terry Klein, program manager for the new Office of IT.

To start, the office is looking at recruiting more workers for activities such as routine maintenance of computers.

"For now, we're looking for good athletes," Klein said. Once those skilled IT workers are settled in, the office will begin to tackle more long term initiatives, such as updating the IT architecture at BTS, implementing office automation activities and distributing BTS products through electronic means, he said.

The e-commerce efforts will be in line with the vision of DOT chief information officer George Molaski, to move to digital government, Klein said.