# S U M M A R Y O F T R A V E L T R E N D S

2 0 0 9 N a t i o n a l H o u s e h o l d T r a v e l S u r v e yTechnical Report Documentation Page

1

. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient's C atalog No.

FHWA-PL-ll-022 N/A N/A

4

. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date

June 2011 S ummary of Travel Trends: 2009 National Household Travel Survey 6. Performing Organization Code
3301

7. Author(s) 8. Performing Organization Report No.

A. Santos, N. McGuckin, H.Y. Nakamoto, D. Gray, and S. Liss N/A

9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No

. (TRAIS) Adelia Santos, FHWA NHTS Program Manager N/A Nancy McGuckin and Hikari Yukiko Nakamoto, Travel Behavior Associates 11. Contract or Grant No. Danielle Gray and Susan Liss, Cambridge Systematics N/A

13. Type of Report and Period Covered

12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address U.S. Department of Transportation Trends in travel behavior, 1969-2009
F ederal Highway Administration 1200 New Jersey, SE 14

. Sponsoring Agency Code Washington, DC 20590 FHWAIHPPI-30

15. Supplementary Notes

N/A

16

. Abstract The 2009 National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) provides data to characterize daily personal travel patterns across the country. The survey includes demographic data on households, vehicles, people, and detailed information on daily travel by all modes of transportation. NHTS survey data is collected from a sample of households and expanded to provide national estimates of trips and miles of travel by travel mode, trip purpose, and other household attributes. When combined with historical data from the 1969, 1977, 1983,1990, and 1995 NPTS and the 2001 NHTS, the 2009 NHTS serves as a rich source of detailed travel data over time for users.

This document highlights travel trends and commuting patterns in eight key areas

- summary of travel and demographics, household

t ravel, person travel, private vehicle travel, vehicle availability and usage, commute travel patterns, temporal distribution, and special
p opulations.

17. Kef. Words 18. Distribution Statement Trave

, mode, trip purpose, age, gender, travel demographics, No restrictions. This document is available to the public through vehicle, commute, and travel data. the National Technical Information Service, Springfield Virginia 22161.

19. S ecurity Class if

. (of this report) 20. Security Classif. (of this page) 21. No. of Pages 22. Price

Unclassified Unclassified 82 N/A

Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized

### 2009 National Household Travel Survey (NHTS)

NOTICE AND QUALITY ASSURANCE STATEMENT i NOTICE

This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in the interest of information exchange. The U.S. Gover nment assumes no liability for use of the information contained in this document. This report does not constitute a standard, specification or regulation.



### QUALITY ASSURANCE STATEMENT

The Federal Highway Administration provides high

- quality information to serve Government, industry, and the public in a manner that pr omotes public understanding. Standards and policies are used to ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of its information. FHWA periodically reviews quality issues and adjusts its programs and processes to ensure continuous qu ality improvement.

### Summary of Travel Trends

TABLE OF CONTENTS ii T ABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 Introduction

................................ ................................ ................................ ..................... 1

1.1. Profile O f 2009 N H T S

................................ ................................ ................................ .. 2

1.2. Improvements In The N P T S /N H T S Series

................................ ................................ ... 3

1.3. Source A nd Accuracy Statement

................................ ................................ ................. 4

1.4. Reliability O f T he Estimates

................................ ................................ ......................... 5

2.0 Travel A nd Demographics Summary

................................ ................................ ............... 7

3.0 Household Travel

................................ ................................ ................................ ........... 13

4.0 Person Travel

................................ ................................ ................................ ................. 19

5.0 Private Vehicle Travel

................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 31

6.0 Vehicle Use A nd Availability

................................ ................................ ........................... 34

7.0 Commute Travel Patterns

................................ ................................ ............................... 44

8.0 Temporal Distribution

................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 51

9.0 Travel Behavior O f Special

- Populations

................................ ................................ ......... 54
Appendix A : Travel Concepts A nd Glossary O f Terms

................................ ............................ A

- 1
Appendix B. K ey Changes Over Time I n T he N P T S /N H T S Data Series

................................ .. B

- 1

### 2009 National Household Travel Survey (NHTS)

TABLE OF CONTENTS iii LIST OF T ABLES

Table 1. Summary Statistics on Demographic Characteristics and Total Travel

......................... 7 Table 2. Major Travel Indicators by Survey Year an d Region

................................ ..................... 9 Table 3. Summary of Travel Statistics

................................ ................................ ....................... 10 Table 4. Comparison of Survey Estimates with Other Sources

................................ ................. 12 Table 5. Average Annual PMT, Person Trips and Trip Length by Trip Purpose

......................... 13 Table 6. Average Annual VMT, Vehicle Trips and Trip Length by Selected Trip P urposes

........ 15 Table 7. Average Annual Person Trips Per Household by Mode of Transportation and

...... 16

- 17 Table 8. Annual Person Trips per Hou sehold by Household Income

................................ ......... 18 Table 9. Annual Number (in Millions) and Percent of Person Trips by Mode of Transportation and Trip Purpose

................................ ................................ ................................ ................ 19

- 20 Table 10. Annual Person Trips per Person by Trip Purpose and Gender

................................ .. 21 Table 11. Daily Trip and Travel Rates per Person by Trip Purpose

................................ ........... 23 Table 12. Distribution of Daily Person Miles of Travel per Person by Mode of Transportation and Trip Purpose, Adjusted 1990 and 1995 NPTS, 2001 and 2009 NHTS.

................................ 24

- 25
Table 13. Avera ge Daily Person Trips per Person by Age and Gender

................................ ..... 26 Table 14. Person Miles of Travel per Person by Age and Gender

................................ ............. 28
Table 15. Avera ge Minutes Spent Driving a Private Vehicle in a Typical Day by MSA Size

...... 31 Table 16. Average Vehicle Occupancy for Selected Trip Purpose 1977, 1983, 1990, and 1995 NPTS, and 2001 and 2009 NHTS (P erson Miles per Vehicle Mile).

................................ .......... 33 Table 17. Number (Thousands) and Percent of Households by Availability of Household Vehicles

................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 34
Tabl e 18. Distribution of Households by Ho usehold Vehicle Availability & Population Density

.. 36 Table 19. Percent of Households without a Vehicle within MSA Size Group

............................. 38 Table 20. Percent of Vehicles and Average Vehicle Age by Vehicle Type

................................ . 39 Table 21. Distribution of Vehicles by Vehicle Age and Vehicle Type

................................ ......... 40 Table 22. Average Annual Miles per Vehicle by Vehicle Age (Vehicle Owner’s Estimate)

......... 42 Table 23. Average Annual Miles per Licensed Driver By Driver Age a nd Gender

...................... 43 Table 24. Commute Trips and VMT and Total VMT by Year

................................ ..................... 44 Table 25. Distribution of Workers by Usual Commute Mode

................................ ..................... 46 Table 26. Usual Commute Mode to Work vs. Actual Work Trip Mode on Travel Day

................ 47 Table 27. General Commute Patterns by Mode of Transportatio n

................................ ............. 48 Table 28. Average Commute Speed by MSA Size

................................ ................................ .... 50 Table 29. Distribution of Person Trips by Start Time of Trip

................................ ...................... 51 Table 30. Daily Travel Statistics by Weekday vs. Weekend

................................ ...................... 53 Table 31. Daily Travel Statistics of People 65 and Old er 1983, 1 990, and 1995 NPTS

............ 54 Table 32. Selected Data for Older Population Groups

................................ ............................... 55

### Summary of Travel Trends

TABLE OF CONTENTS iv Table 33. Vehicle Miles of Travel (VMT) per day for Younger Population Groups by Urban and Rural Household Location 2009 NHTS.

................................ ................................ .................... 56
Table 34. Annual Expenditures on Gasoline by Urban and Rural Households by Number of Vehicles 2001 and 2009 NHTS.

................................ ................................ ................................ 57
Table 35. Average Number of On

- Line Purchases and Deliveries to U.S. Households in the Last Month 2009 NHTS.

................................ ................................ ................................ ................... 58
Table 36. Special Commute Characteristics by Genera l Occupation

................................ ......... 59



### LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Changes in Summary Statistics on Demographics and Total Travel

........................... 8 Figure 2. Trends in the Distribution of Person Trips per Person by Gender and Trip Purpose

... 22 Figure 3. Average Daily Person Trips by Age

................................ ................................ ............ 27 Figure 4. Average Daily Person Miles of Travel per Person by Gender 1983, 1990,

................. 29 Figure 5. Average Time Spent in a Vehicle by Age, 2001 and 2009 NHTS.

.............................. 30 Figure 6

. Average Time Spent In Vehicles and Miles Traveled

................................ ................. 32 Figure 7. Trends in Household Distribution by Number of Household Vehicles

......................... 35 Figure 8. Percent of Households by Vehicle Ownership and Population Density

....................... 37 Figure 9. Distribution of Vehicles by Vehicle Age

................................ ................................ ...... 41 Figure 10. Trends in the Distribution of Workers by Usual Commute Mode

............................... 45 Figure 11. Average Commute Speeds by MSA Size (All Modes)

................................ .............. 49 Figure 12. Distribution of Vehicle Trips by Trip Purpose and Start Time of Trip

......................... 52

### 2009 National Household T ravel Survey (NHTS)

INTRODUCTION 1 

## SUMMARY OF TRAVEL TRENDS : 2009 National Household Travel Survey

**1.0 INTRODUCTION** 

The National Household Tra vel Survey (NHTS) is the flagship survey of the U.S. Department of Transportation ( DOT ) and is conducted periodically to assess the mobility of the American public. The survey gathers trip

- related data such as mode of transportation, duration, distance,

a nd purpose, and then links the travel related information to demographic, geographic, and economic data for analysis. Policy makers, individual state DOTs, metropolitan planning organizations, industry professionals, and academic researchers use the data t o gauge the extent and patterns of travel, to plan new investments, and for innumerable applications of data on trends in travel for policy and planning.

The 2009 NHTS is a nationally representative survey of travel behavior conducted f rom April 2008 thr ough April 2009. This latest in the series updates information gathered in the Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey (NPTS) conducted in 1969, 1977, 1983, 1990, and 1995, and the National Household Travel Survey conducted in 2001. The 2009 NHTS samp le design was composed of two major sample units. The first sample unit contained 25,000 households representing all 50 U

. S

. S tates and the District of Columbia . The second unit was the Add

- On sample

, which consisted of 20 states and Metropolitan Pl annin g Organizations (MPOs) who collectively purchased an additional 125,000 household sample s for their respective region s

. Th ese two sample units brought the 2009 NHTS sample size to about 150,000 household s and 300,000 people

. During the survey period

, e ach household was sent a travel diary and asked to report all travel by household members on a randomly assigned “travel day”. Interviewers followed up with a phone call that collected detailed information about their travel from each household member. Travel days for daily

- travel trip reporting were assigned for all seven days of the week, including all holidays. Data were weighted to correctly reflect the day of week and month of travel to allow comparisons of weekdays or seasons.

This report uses 2009 NHT S data to highlight travel trends over the forty year data series. There are nine chapters , with each chapter represent ing a topic in travel behavior. The first section of statistical data focuses on demographic trends of households, persons, vehicles, and workers. The next chapter provides statistical data on overall household travel. Person travel, private vehicle travel, vehicle use , and commute travel patterns are discussed in subsequent sections of this report. The final chapter highlights travel behav ior of special populations and some new data elements from the 2009 NHTS

. The research findings in this report do not include a detailed analysis of the 2009 NHTS data set in its entirety , but provide an overview of available data

.

### Summary of Travel Trends

INTRODUCTION 2 **1.1. PROFILE OF 2009 NHTS** 

**C overage**  : The NHTS collected travel data from a national sample of the civilian, non

institutionalized population of the United States. The survey was conducted using Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) technology. The sample frame was a list

- as sisted Ran dom

- Digit Dialing (RDD) set of telephone numbers , which excludes telephones in businesses, hotels and motels, and group quarters (such as nursing homes, prisons, barracks, convents, or monasteries).

Telephones in dorm rooms, group homes, and frat ernity and sorority houses were eligible for sampling, provided that the residence had less than 10 unrelated household members sharing the same phone line. Therefore, students who normally reside at school but were living at home for the summer were not c onsidered household members at their parents’ home.

Household members included people who regularly reside in the sampled household and considered it as their primary place of residence. It included persons who usually stay in the household but were tempor arily away on business, vacation, or in a hospital. It did not include family members temporarily staying with relatives in the household

, such as a mother

- in

- law visiting her newborn grandchild.

**When:** The 2009 NHTS was conducted o ver a 1 3

- month period from April 2008 through April 2009. Travel days were assigned for all seven days, including holidays. The first assigned travel day was on March 28, 2008 and the last assigned travel day was on April 30, 2009.

**Sample Size:** The 2009 NHTS sample size was 15 0,147 households , including a national sample of 25,000 completed households and separate samples from twenty add

- on areas that together added 125,147 completed households :

**•** California DOT ;

**•** Florida DOT ;

**•** Georgia DOT ;

**•** Indiana DOT ;

**•** Iowa DOT ;

**•** New York DOT ;

**•** Nor th Carolina DOT ;

**•** South Carolina DOT ;

**•** South Dakota DOT ;

**•** Tennessee DOT ;

**•** Texas DOT ;

**•** Vermont DOT ;

**•** Virginia DOT ;

**•** Wisconsin DOT ;

**•** Chittenden County MPO; Vermont

**•** Linn County Regional Planning Commission , Iowa ;

**•** Maricop a Association of Governments, Arizona;

### 2009 National Household T ravel Survey (NHTS)

INTRODUCTION 3 **•** Pim a As sociation of Governments, Arizona;

**•** Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation , North Carolina ; and

**•** Omaha

- Council Bluffs Metro Area Planning Agency , Nebraska

**Contents:** The NHTS serves as the nation’s inventory of daily personal travel. It includes data

, but is not limited to:

**•** Household information on the relationship of household members, home ownership and type, income, location characteristics, and other demographic information;

**•** Facts on persons in sampled households including age, education level, wor ker status, driver status, annual miles drive n , and disabilities impacting travel ;

**•** Information on each household vehicle, including year, make, model, odometer reading (mileage accrual ) and estimates of annual miles, length of vehicle ownership, and fuel costs;

**•** Data about drivers, including information on travel as part of work ;

**•** Data about one

- way trips taken during a designated 24

- hour period (the household’s designated travel day), including the time the trip began and ended, length of trip, composition of the travel party, mode of transportation, purpose of the trip, and the specific vehicle used (if a household vehicle);

**•** Information to describe characteristics of the geographic area in which the sample household and workplace of sample persons are locat ed;

**•** Statistics on telecommuting , self

- employed workers, and employees who work at home;

**•** Information on travel to school for children ;

**•** Attitudinal questions on the p ublic ’s perceptions of the transportation system ;

**•** Data on frequency of internet shopping an d deliveries to the hous e h old ;

**•** The number of transit, walk

, bike , and motorcycle trips made over the previous week or month

. For more information on the 2009 survey methodology and procedures, please consult: User’s Guide for the Public Use Data Files, 200 9 National Household Travel Survey available at: http://nhts.ornl.gov/2009/usersguide/index/shtml.



### 1.2. **IMPROVEMENTS IN THE NPTS/NHTS SERIES**

The core elements of the NHTS series remained unchanged from earlier surveys; there were moderate changes to the 2009 NH TS. Those improvements include the following:

**•** Data Collection

– Previous surveys collected both travel day and travel period information. The 2009 NHTS was modified to eliminate retrospective collection of long
distance trip data. Detailed travel informati on was only collected on “daily travel”.

**•** Odometer Reading

– In prior years, the NHTS included two odometer readings. However, second odometer readings for household vehicles were not collected in 2009.

**•** Eligible Household Members

– Only household members wh o were 5 years and older were eligible to participate in the 2009 interview process. In 2001, all members were

### Summary of Travel Trends

INTRODUCTION 4 eligible to participate regardless of age. However, previous surveys had collected data about people aged 5 and older

.

**•** Safe Routes to Schools

– Safe Routes to Schools data was a significant addition to the 2009 NHTS. In households with at least one child aged 5

- 15 years old , a random selection of one child per household was made to obtain information about the youth’s travel to school and the safe ty concerns of his or her parents. Separate weights are provided for these children.

**•** Hybrid Vehicles

– The 2009 NHTS was the first time data was collected on hybrid and alternate fuel vehicles. For each vehicle in the household with a model year of 2002 o r newer, we asked if it was a hybrid or alternate fuel use vehicle.

**•** Employment Questions

- Additional questions were added to better understand details of work

- related travel ; such as whether the worker can set or alter their work schedule

, whether the wo rker has the option of working from home

, frequency of working at home, and self

- employed status.

**•** Internet Purchases and D eliv eries to the H ome

- Questions were added ab out purchases made through the i n ternet and whether those purchases were delivered to the subjects’ home. These questions were added to provide help understand how commerce via the internet impacts trip making.

**•** Most Recent Trip

– If the respondent reported no travel on the assigned day, the number of days s ince the respondent last travel e d was reported. If that was more than 7 days, the respondent was asked whether they would like to travel more frequently.

**•** Geocoding

– 2009 NHTS changed from post

- processing location data to real

- time interactive online geocoding during the interview . If the address information failed in the online coding, an off

- line geo

- coding operation that used multiple databases and detailed manual searches to determine the location was used.

**•** Weighting

– The process for calculating the weights was more detailed that previous
surveys . Several stages of weight generation and adjustment were used. Taken as a whole, the final analytic weight reflects a household’s chance of selection, adjustments for nonparticipation

, and a final alignment to Census population estimates . The final analytic weight was used to generate approximate transportation measures.



### 1.3. **SOURCE AND ACCURACY STATEMENT**

Public

- use national data from the 2009 NHTS is available for download and for on

- line analysis on the NHTS website ( http://nhts.ornl.gov ). Weights and replicates are provided for each of the data files. Weights match the sample of households and persons to the population for demographic characteristics and geographic levels, and replicate weights are used to calculate the margin of error of each estimate.

Please note that in this document

, the estimates from the 2 001 data excludes persons aged 0

- 4 since such persons were not included in the 1990, 1995, and 2009 surveys.

### 2009 National Household T ravel Survey (NHTS)

INTRODUCTION 5 **1.4. RELIABILITY OF THE ESTIMATE**  **S**

An estimate based on a sample survey has two types of error s

-- sampling error and non

sampling error. The estimated standard errors provided in this document are approximations of the true sampling errors. They do incorporate the effect of some non

- samp ling errors in response and enumeration, but do not account for any systematic biases in the data.

Non

- sampling error. The full extent of non

- sampling error is unknown, but great effort has been made to quantify some sources of non

- sampling error

. Non

- sam pling errors in surveys can be attributed to many sources, for example, the inability to obtain information about all persons in the sample; differences in the interpretation of questions; inability or unwillingness of respondents to provide correct inform ation; inability of respondents to recall information; errors made in collecting and processing the data; errors made in estimating values for missing data; and failure to represent all sample households and all persons within sample households ( known as u nder

- coverage).

Under

- coverage in the NHTS results from missed housing units and missed persons within sample households. It is known that the NHTS under

- coverage varies with income , race, and Hispanic origin , and household tenure (owner/renter) . Generally in the U.S. , under

- coverage is larger for Blacks, Hispanics, and other races than for Whites. The weighting process adjust s for

some non

- response by match ing independent age

- sex

- race

- ethnicity population controls, which partially corrects for the biases d ue to survey under

- coverage. However, biases exist in the estimates to the extent that missed persons in missed households or missed persons in interviewed households have characteristics different from those of interviewed persons in the
same age

- sex

- rac e

- origin group.

Sampling error. When a sample, rather than the entire population, is surveyed, estimates differ from the true population values that they represent. This difference, or sampling error, occurs by chance, and its variability is measured by th e standard error of the estimate . In this document the standard error is presented as the confidence interval (CI) or margin of error (MOE)

. Sample estimates from a given survey design are unbiased when an average of the estimates from all possible sampl es would yield, hypothetically, the true population value. In this case, the sample estimate and its standard error can be used to construct approximate confidence intervals, or ranges of values that include the true population value with known probabiliti es.

The confidence intervals here are presented at the 95 percent level

. To construct the bounds of the margin of error

— that is a high estimate and a low estimate

— the confidence interval is added to and subtracted from the estimate given. For example, i f the estimate is 500 and the CI or margin of error is 2, then in 95 repeated samples the estimates obtained would fall between 498 and 502, and therefore there is 95 percent confidence that this range bounds the true population value

. For example, Table 3 shows the NHTS 2009 estimate for person trips per person of 3.79 and a 95% confidence interval of 0. 03. If 100 surveys were conducted at the same time period using the same sample and design as the NHTS 2009, 95 of the 100 estimates of person trips from

### Summary of Travel Trends

INTRODUCTION 6 those repeated surveys would fall between 3.76 and 3.82. So there is 95 percent confidence that this range of the estimate of person trips includes the true value.

With a data series such as the NHTS, calculating the confidence interval allows the analyst to

as sess what might be a real trend from one survey to the next and what might just be random movement in the estimate. Resources were not available at the current time to construct confidence intervals for all of the estimates in the data series. For th e trends analysis presented here the confidence interval is compared to the point estimate for 2001. For researchers who want to look deeper into a specific estimate, the resources to calculate margin of error for the previous surveys are available on the NHTS website located at http://nhts.ornl.gov

.

### 2009 National Household T ravel Survey (NHTS)

TRAVEL AND DEMOGRAPHICS SUMMARY 7 

## 2.0 **T RAVEL AND DEMOGRAPHICS SUMMARY** 

Table 1

. Summary Statistics on Demographic Characteristics and Total Travel 1969, 1977, 1983, 1990, and 1995 NPTS

, and 2001 and 2009 NHTS (M illions)

.

Note:

**•** Children aged 0

- 4 are excluded from 2001 NHTS.

**•** All tables reporting totals could include some unreported characteristics.

**•** MOE is Margin of Error. CI is Confidence Interval. Margin of Error calculated using jackknife method and replicate weights

.

**•** 1 990 person and vehicle trips were adjusted to account for survey collection method changes (see 2001 Summary of Travel Trends Appendix 2)

. The survey collection method was changed from a one

- stage survey in 1990 (with retrospective collection of travel day trips) to a two

- stage survey with a t ravel diary in 1995 and later. The result of this improvement was to increase the accuracy and number of trips reported and to decrease the survey response rate. 1969 1977 1983 1990 (adj) 1995 2001 2009 95% CI (MOE)
Households (000)
All 62,504 75,412 85,371 93,347 98,990 107,365 113,101

-

1 person 10,980 16,214 19,354 22,999 24,732 27,718 31,741 106 2 persons 18,448 22,925 27,169 30,114 31,834 35,032 37,728 135 3 persons 10,746 13,046 14,756 16,128 16,827 17,749 18,104 257 4+ persons 22,330 23,227 24,092 24,106 25,597 26,867 25,528 243 Persons (000)

All 197,213 213,141 229,453 239,416 259,994 257,577 283,054

- Under 16 60,100 54,958 53,682 54,303 61,411 44,985 44,724 441 16-19 14,598 16,552 15,268 13,851 14,074 14,296 19,414 743 20-34 40,060 52,252 60,788 59,517 59,494 57,680 50,844 1,089 35-64 62,982 66,988 75,353 82,480 93,766 103,296 129,202 874 65+ 19,473 22,391 24,362 26,955 31,249 32,884 38,870 0 All 16+ 137,113 158,183 175,771 182,803 198,583 208,155 238,330 441 All Male 94,465 102,521 111,514 114,441 126,553 125, 321 139,257 81 All Male 16+ 66,652 74,542 83,645 86,432 95,627 100,308 116,421 338 All Female 102,748 110,620 117,939 124,975 133,441 132,240 143,797 81 All Female 16+ 73,526 83,721 92,080 96,371 102,956 107,847 121,908 338 All 5+ NA 198,434 212,932 222,101 241,675 257,576 283,054

- All Male 5+ NA 95,050 102,633 106,209 117,636 125,321 139,257 81 All Female 5+ NA 103,384 110,299 115,892 124,039 132,239 143,797 81
Licensed Drivers (000)

All 102,986 127,552 147,015 163,025 176,330 190,425 212,309 959 Male 57,981 66,199 75,639 80,289 88,480 94,651 106,813 709 Female 45,005 61,353 71,376 82,707 87,851 95,773 105,496 631
Workers (000)

All 75,758 93,019 103,244 118,343 131,697 145,272 151,373 893 Male 48,487 55,625 58,849 63,996 71,105 78,264 81,939 769 Female 27,271 37,394 44,395 54,334 60,593 67,007 69,434 728 Household Vehicles (000) 72,500 120,098 143,714 165,221 176,067 201,308 210,778 918 Household Vehicle Trips (000,000) 87,284 108,826 126,874 193,916 229,745 233,030 233,849 2,381 Household VMT (000,000) 775,940 907,603 1,002,139 1,695,290 2,068,368 2,274,769 2,245,111 56,157 Person Trips (000,000) 145,146 211,778 224,385 304,471 378,930 384,485 392,023 3,644 Person Miles of Travel (000,000) 1,404,137 1,879,215 1,946,662 2,829,936 3,411,122 3,783,979 3,732,791 141,396

### Summary of Travel Trends

TRAVEL A ND DEMOGRAPHICS SUMMARY 8 During the past four decades, the growth in workers a nd drivers has far outpaced the growth in households and persons.

However, the growth in the number of vehicles has outpaced all other indicators. Since 1969, the annual rate of increase in the number of personal vehicles was almost one and one

- half times the annual rate of incr ease in the number of drivers.

Figure 1

. Changes in Summary Statistics on Demographics and Total Trave l 1969, 1977, 1983, 1990, and 1995 NPT S, and 2001 and 2009 NHTS

.

Note:

**•** The 1969 NPTS did not include pick

- up trucks as household vehicles, t herefore the growth between
1969 and 1977 is exaggerated

. 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5

1969 1977 1983 1990 1995 2001 2009Indexed (1969=1.0) Vehicles

Drivers

Workers

Households

Persons

### 2009 National Household T ravel Survey (NHTS)

TRAVEL AND DEMOGRAPHICS SUMMARY 9 While household size has declined in the U.S.

, all other major travel indicators increased between 1969 and 2009

. Over the last four decades t he typical Americ an household acquired more vehicles , more drivers

, and more workers

. In the Northeast there are slightly less vehicles per driver than any other region , while the West and the Midwest regions have the highest vehicle ownership

.

Table 2

. Ma jor Travel Indicators by Survey Year a nd Region 1969, 1977, 1983, 1990 and 1995 NPTS, and 2001 and 2009 NHTS. Major Travel Indicators by Survey Year

1969 1977 1983 1990 1995 2001 2009

Persons per household 3.16 2.83 2 .69 2.56 2.63 2.58 2.50

Vehicles per household 1.16 1.59 1.68 1.77 1.78 1.89 1.86

Licensed drivers per household 1.65 1.69 1.72 1.75 1.78 1.77 1.88

Vehicles per licensed driver 0.7 0.94 0.98 1.01 1 .00 1.06 0.99

Workers per household 1.21 1.23 1.21 1.27 1.33 1.35 1.34

Vehicles per worker 0.96 1.29 1.39 1.4 0 1.34 1.39 1.39 2009 Major Travel Indicators by Region

Census Region Persons per Household Vehicles per Household Drivers per Household Vehicl es per Driver Workers per Household Vehicles per Worker

ALL 2.50 1.86 1.88 0.99 1.34 1.39

Northe ast 2.49 1.58 1.81 0.87 1.37 1.15

Midw est 2.40 1.95 1.85 1.06 1.31 1.49

South 2.48 1.89 1.87 1.01 1.30 1.46

West 2.65 1.96 1.97 1.0 0 1.41 1.39

Note :

**•** The 1969 survey does not include pickups and other light trucks as household vehicles.

**•** 2009 m argin of error is too small to show (within third decimal)

.

### Summary of Travel Trends

TRAVEL AND DEMOGRAPHICS SUMMARY 10 The trends data indicate that the per capita growth in travel that the U.S. exp erienced over the last four decades may be slowing. Statistically, of the ten major travel indicators shown in Table 3, in 2009

seven estimates were lower than the same estimate in 2001 estimate s and the remai n der are statistically the same (within the co nfidence interval)

. Importantly, all of the travel estimates related to households are slightly lower in 2009 than 2001

-- including person and vehicle trips and the average daily person and vehicle miles generated by U.S.
households. The longstanding decli ne in household size continued between 2001 and 2009. In addition, the average number of vehicle trips and vehicle miles of travel per driver are significantly lower than the 2001 estimate . The data shows both average person trip length and average vehicl e trip length to be about the same as in 2001 (that is

, within the confidence interval).

Table 3

. Summary o f Travel S tatistics
1 969, 1977, 1983, 1990, and 1995 NPTS, a nd 2001 and 2009 N HTS

.

Note :

**•** Average trip length is calculated using only those records with trip mileage information present.

**•** 1990 person and vehicle trips were adjusted to account for survey collection method changes (see 2001 Summary of Travel Trends Appendix 2).

**•** PMT is Person Miles of Travel. VMT is Ve hicle Miles of Travel. CI is Confidence Interval . NPTS is Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey. 1969 1977 1983 1990 1995 2001 2009 95% CI

Daily Person Trips 2.02 2.92 2.89 3.76 4.30 3.74 3.79 0.03 Daily PMT 19.51 25.95 25.05 34.91 38.67 36.89 36.13 1.35

Daily Vehicle Trips 2.32 2.34 2.36 3.26 3.57 3.35 3.02 0.03
Daily VMT 20.64 19.49 18.68 28.49 32.14 32.73 28.97 0.71

Daily Person Trips 6.36 7.69 7.20 8.94 10.49 9.66 9.50 0.09
Daily PMT 61.55 68.27 62.47 83.06 94.41 95.24 90.42 3.38
Daily Vehicle Trips 3.83 3.95 4.07 5.69 6.36 5.95 5.66 0.06
Daily VMT 34.01 32.97 32.16 49.76 57.25 58.05 54.38 1.34

Average person trip length (miles) 9.67 8.87 8.68 9.47 9.13 10.04 9.75 0.36

Average vehicle trip length (miles) 8.89 8.34 7.90 8.85 9.06 9.87 9.72 0.22 Per Trip Per Household Per Driver Per Person

### 2009 National Household T ravel Survey (NHTS)

TRAVEL AND DEMOGRAPHICS SUMMARY 11 Table 4 compares data from NHTS to data from other sources. Each data source has its own goals, scope, methodology, target population, and data validation and estimation procedures. Comparing between data sources is informative, but these difference s should be kept in mind.

For example, NHTS estimates the resident population in non

- group households in the U.S.

, has typically not been collected in a single c alendar year. The Census provides annual estimates of resident and civilian population as of July 1 st of each year

. Data on the number of licensed drivers are reported by Federal Highway Administration in the annual Highway Statistics report (Table DL

- 22). Note that the annual report shows the cumulative number of driver’s licenses issue d , while NHTS estimates the number of people who are drivers and does not specifically ask for licensure status

. Similarly, the NHTS estimates characteristics of the househo ld vehicle fleet, which consists of passenger vehicles ( c ars, station wagons, vans, SUVs, pick

- ups and motorcycles) and does not include rental cars, company or government fleets, or taxis. Highway Statistics reports all vehicles, personal and commercial, categorized by vehicle type.

The analyst should keep in mind the scope, coverage, and methods for the data sources used for each analysis. Details about the scope, coverage, and methods for the NHTS are in the User’s Guide at: http://nhts.ornl.gov.

### Summary of Travel Trends

TRA VEL AND DEMOGRAPHICS SUMMARY 12 Table 4

. Comparison o f Survey Estimates w ith Other Sources (All Numbers i n Thousands, Except VMT (Millions) )
1 969, 1977, 1983, 1990, and 1995 NPTS, and 2001 and 2009 N HTS.

Households Population Licensed Drivers Workers Vehicles VMT 19 69
Other Sources 61,806 199,145 108,306

-- 89,174

-- NPTS 62,504 197,213 102,986 72,500 1977
Other Sources 74,142 218,106 138,121

-- 132,155

-- NPTS 75,412 213,141 127,552 120,098 1983
Other Sources 83,918 232,086 154,389

-- 152,070 1,652,788
NPTS 85,371 229,453 147,015 143,714 1,002,139
1990
Other Sources 91,947 247,826 167,015 115,100 172,902 2,144,362
NPTS 93,347 239,416 163,025 118,343 165,221 1,695,290 1995
Other Sources 97,386 261,538 176,628

-- 180,735 2,422,775
NPTS 98,990 259,9 94 176,330 131,697 176,067 2,068,368 2001
Other Sources 108,209 285,318 191,276 128,300 205,551 2,781,462
N HTS 107,365 277,203 190,425 145,272 202,586 2,274,769 2009
Other Sources 117,181 307,007 208,321 146,266 231,490 2,973,509 NHTS 113,101 283,054 212,309 151,373 210,778 2,245,111
Other Sources:

**•** Households

- 2009 CPS Households from Table AVG

- http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/hh

fam/cps2009/tabAVG1.xls

**•** Population

- 2009 esti mate from http://www.census.gov/popest/states/tables/NST

- EST2009

- 01 .xls

**•** Drivers

- 2008 estimate from Highway Statistics Table DL

- 22 http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics/2008/dl22.cfm

**•** Workers

- 1990, 2000 decennial Census and 2 008 ACS Table S2408 Civilian Employed Population 16
and over http://factfinder.census.gov/

**•** Vehicles and VMT

- http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pol icyinformation/statistics/2008/vm1

. T his includes a ll VMT, not just personal travel

.

Notes:

**•** VMT is Vehicle Miles of Travel. NPTS is Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey

.

### 2009 National Household T ravel Survey (NHTS)

HOUSEHOLD TRAVEL 13 

## 3.0 **HOU SEHOLD TRAVEL** 

Overall, the decreases in person travel shown in Table 3 were indicated in household

- generated travel. Table 5 shows the trends in person trips and person miles of travel (PMT) by purpose. While most estimates are statistically the same as in 2001, i mportant exceptio ns include the significant decrease in person mi les, person trips, and average person trip length for family and personal business ( errands ) , and the decrease in person trips per household and average person trip length for shopping. Another significant change is the number of person trips per hous e hol d to and from work ; although the total PMT and average trip length to work have not changed (the 2001 estimate is within the margin of error of the 2009 estimate)

.

Table 5

. Average Annual PMT, Person Trips a nd Trip Length b y Trip P urpose 1 969, 1977, 1983, 1990, and 1995 NPTS, and 2001 and 2009 N HTS.

Note:

**•** Average person trip length is calculated using only those records with trip mileage information present.

**•** 1990 person and vehicle trips were adjusted to account for survey colle ction method changes (see 2001 Summary of Travel Trends Appendix 2).

**•** 1995 Vehicle Miles of Travel ( VMT ) and vehicle trips with "To or From Work" as a trip purpose is believed to be overstated.

**•** “Other Family/Personal Errands” includes personal business and medical/dental. Please see Appendix A

- Glossary for definition.

**•** PMT is Person Miles of Travel. CI is Confidence Interval

. Trip Purpose 1983 1990 1995 2001 2009 95% CI

All Purposes 22,802 30,316 34,459 35,244 33,004 1,235.1

To/From Work 4,586 5,637 7,740 6,706 6,256 170.1

Work Related Business 1,354 1,043 1,987 2,987 2,078 247.2 Shopping 2,567 3,343 4,659 4,887 4,620 181.4 Other Family/Personal Errands 3,311 7,167 7,381 6,671 5,134 222.8

School/Church 1,522 1,599 1,973 2,060 2,049 123.0

Social and Recreational 8,964 11,308 10,571 10,586 9,989 585.8

Other 500 214 131 1,216 2,878 864.6

All Purposes 2,628 3,262 3,828 3,581 3,466 31.8
To/From Work 537 539 676 565 541 7.9

Work Related Business 62 38 100 109 106 7.4 Shopping 474 630 775 707 725 14.6 Other Family/Personal Errands 456 854 981 863 748 13.9

School/Church 310 304 337 351 333 9.8

Social and Recreational 728 874 953 952 952 14.1

Other 61 22 6 30 61 4.1

All Purposes 8.7 9.5 9.1 10.0 9.7 0.4
To/From Work 8.5 10.7 11.6 12.1 11.8 0.3

Work Related Business 21.8 28.2 20.3 28.3 20.0 2.0 Shopping 5.4 5.4 6.1 7.0 6.5 0.2 Other Family/Personal Errands 7.3 8.6 7.6 7.8 7.0 0.3

School/Church 4.9 5.4 6.0 6.0 6.3 0.3

Social and Recreational 12.3 13.2 11.3 11.4 10.7 0.6
Other 8.2 10.3 22.8 43.1 51.5 14.5 Average Annual PMT per Household

Average Annual Person Trips per Household

Average Person Trip Length (miles)

### Summary of Travel Trends

HOUSEHOLD TRAVEL 14 Table 6 shows the trends in vehicle trips and vehicle miles of travel (VMT) by purpose. In 2009, a typical household generated slig htly fewer vehicle trips and vehicle miles than in 2001

-- the lower estimates for the number of vehicle trips and vehicle miles are statistically significant for all trip purposes except social and recreational travel and shopping.

Interestingly, the vehi cle miles of travel for social and recreational purposes were significantly lower than 2001, but the number of trips remained the same, indicating that people drove to a similar number of social and recreational activities but chose places closer to home. The number of vehicle trips and vehicle miles of travel for shopping stayed about the same as in 2001.

As with person miles and person trips, the decline in vehicle miles and vehicle trips for commuting and for family and personal errands is also notable

. Note that the average vehicle trip length to work was about the same as in 2001, while the household

- generated vehicle miles and vehicle trips for work have declined.

Although U

. S

. households took fewer vehicle trips overall, the average vehicle trip l ength remained the same for a ll trip purposes. None of the differences in average vehicle trip length are statistically significant.

### 2009 National Household T ravel Survey (NHTS)

HOUSEHOLD TRAVEL 15 Table 6

. Average Annual VMT, Vehicle Trips a nd Trip Length b y Selected Trip Purposes 1969, 1977, 1983, 1990, and 1995 NPTS, and 2001 and 2009 NHTS

.

Note:

**•** Average vehicle trip length is calculated using only those records with trip mileage information present.

**•** “Other Family/Personal Errands” includes personal business and medical/dental

. Please see Appendix A

- Glossary for definition.

**•** “ All P urposes ” includes other purposes not shown above, such as trips to school, church, doctor, dentist, and work

- related business trips.

**•** 1 995 Vehicle Miles of Travel ( VMT ) and vehicle trips with “To or From Work” as a trip purpose is believed to be overstated.

**•** 1990 person and vehicle trips were adjusted to account for survey collection method changes (see 2001 Summary of Travel Trends Appendix 2).

**•** NPTS is Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey. CI is Confidence Int erval

. Trip Purpose 1969 1977 1983 1990 1995 2001 2009 95% CI

All Purposes 12,423 12,036 11,739 18,161 20,895 21,187 19,850 490.5

To or From Work 4,183 3,815 3,538 4,853 6,492 5,724 5,513 146.7 Shopping 929 1,336 1,567 2,178 2,807 3,062 2,979 95.9 Other Family/Personal Errands 1,270 1,444 1,816 4,250 4,307 3,956 3,515 120.1

Social and Recreational 4,094 3,286 3,534 5,359 4,764 5,186 4,842 257.8

All Purposes 1,396 1,442 1,486 2,077 2,321 2,171 2,068 20.8

To or From Work 445 423 414 448 553 479 457 7.8 Shopping 213 268 297 431 501 459 468 9.2 Other Family/Personal Errands 195 215 272 579 626 537 500 9.2

Social and Recreational 312 320 335 460 427 441 436 8.4

All Purposes 8.9 8.4 7.9 8.9 9.1 9.9 9.7 0.2

To or From Work 9.4 9.0 8.6 11.0 11.8 12.1 12.2 0.3 Shopping 4.4 5.0 5.3 5.1 5.6 6.7 6.4 0.2 Other Family/Personal Errands 6.5 6.7 6.7 7.4 6.9 7.5 7.1 0.2
Social and Recreational 13.1 10.3 10.6 11.8 11.2 11.9 11.2 0.6 Average Annual VMT per Household

Average Annual Vehicle Trips per Household

Average Vehicle Trip Length (miles)

### Summary of Travel Trends

HOUSEHOLD TRAVEL 16 Table 7

. Average Ann ual Person Trips Per Household b y Mode of Transportation and MSA Size 1977, 1983, 1990, and 1995 NPTS

, and 2001 and 2009 NHTS

. Mode of Transportation

SMSA or MSA Size 1977 1983 1990 1995 2001 2009 95% CI
Private

ALL 2,351 2,152 2,861 3,307 3,090 2,892 30

Not in (S)MSA 2,436 2,322 2,837 3,492 3,076 2,898 72

Less than 250,000 2,517 2,375 3,090 3,503 3,304 2,980 118

250,000

- 499,999 2,574 2,443 3,014 3,472 3,251 2,950 141

500,000

- 999,999 2,628 2,140 2,957 3,509 3,348 3,020 144

1,000,000

- 2,999,999 2,366 2,031 2,986 3,354 3,174 2,951 74
3,000,000 and above 1,785 1,691 2,649 3,075 2,911 2,793 50

Public Transit

ALL 73 60 58 67 58 66 4 Not in (S)MSA 22 11 14 9 6 4 2
Less than 250,000 47 17 30 23 1 2 14 8

250,000

- 499,999 44 23 22 18 18 15 7
500,000

- 999,999 58 48 33 33 11 41 17

1,000,000

- 2,999,999 86 67 52 37 36 39 8
3,000,000 and above 189 181 124 137 128 148 11

* Table 7 i s continued on the following page.

### 2009 National Household T ravel Survey (NHTS)

HOUSEHOLD TRAVEL 17 Table 7. Average Ann ual P erson Trips Per Household b y Mode of Transportation and MSA Size 1977, 1983, 1990, and 1995 NPTS

, and 2001 and 2009 NHTS

. Mode of Transportation

SMSA or MSA Size 1977 1983 1990 1995 2001 2009 95% CI
Walk

ALL 261 226 234 205 309 362 13
Not in (S)MSA 199 211 175 134 221 239 17

Less than 250,000 241 280 212 138 248 270 48

250,000

- 499,999 206 199 203 152 251 268 23

500,000

- 999,999 256 184 161 138 224 314 52

1,000,000

- 2,999,999 295 179 207 162 275 313 20

3,000,000 and above 396 330 337 301 423 514 29

ALL MODES

ALL 2,808 2,628 3,262 3,828 3,581 3,466 32
Not in (S)MSA 2,800 2,766 3,151 3,878 3,435 3,275 77
Less than 250,000 2,944 2,889 3,450 3,926 3,678 3,395 128

250,000

- 499,999 2,945 2,891 3,340 3,894 3,645 3,356 144

500,000

- 999,999 3,049 2,542 3,252 3,916 3,692 3,529 151

1,000,000

- 2,999,999 2,861 2,463 3,344 3,795 3,602 3,446 78

3,000,000 and above 2,459 2,326 3,213 3,765 3,593 3,614 55

Note :

**•** The population size groups for 1977

- 1983 NPTS are Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area ( S MSA ) Size Groups and 1990

- 2009 are Metropolitan Statistical Area ( MSA ) size g roups.

**•** All modes include other modes not specified such as bike, school bus, taxi

, and other.

**•** All tables reporting totals could include so me unreported characteristics.

**•** 1990 pe rson and vehicle trips were adjusted to account for survey collection method changes (see 2001 Summary of Travel Trends Appendix 2).

**•** Public t ransit includes local bus, commuter bus, commuter train, subway, trolley, and streetcar.

**•** Inc reases in w alk trips in 2001 and 2009 are due, at least in part, to respondents being explicitly asked to include walk trips, which was not the case in prior surveys.

**•** NPTS is Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey. CI is Confidence Interval.

### Summary of Travel Trends

HOUSEHOLD TRAVEL 18 Table 8 shows the trends in per son trips per household by household income. Since 1990

, the NHTS sample has only included households with telephones, so care should be taken in interpreting results that might be affected by telephone ownership (which is correlated with family income). For example, the data could underestimate trips made by low

- income households.

The data series clearly shows that more income is related to more travel, but the increase in person trips levels off at the highest income levels. Across the data series the highest income households make about two and one

- half times as many person trips as the lowest income households.

Between the 2001 and 2009 NHTS, significant declines in personal travel were noted for all income groups except the lowest, with the largest declines in the middle

- income households earning $40,000 to $60,000 a year.

Table 8

. Annual Person Trips p er Household b y Household Income 1983, 1990, and 1995 NPTS

, and 2001 and 2009 NHTS

.

Income 1983 1990 1995 2001 2009 95% CI ALL 2,628 3,262 3,828 3,581 3,466 31.8 < $10,000 1,407 2,098 2,137 2,046 2,100 156.3 $10 to $20,000 1,927 2,412 2,790 2,542 2,435 101.9 $20 to $30,000 2,376 3,008 3,522 3,065 2,854 121.4 $30 to $40,000 2,739 3,431 3,980 3,535 3,171 114 .0 $40 to $50,000 3,037 3,791 4,298 3,905 3,321 135.7 $50 to $60,000 3,284 4,138 4,539 4,348 3,748 139.9 $60 to $70,000 3,485 4,458 4,726 4,545 4,178 208.2 $70 to $80,000 3,635 4,659 4,855 4,867 4,350 172.7 $80,000+ 3,602 4,570 4,829 4,934 4,815 87.5 Unreported 2,536 3,424 2,431 2,263 135.1

Note:

**•** Incomes for 1983, 1990, adjusted 1990, and 1995 have been adjusted to 2001 dollars.

**•** All tables reporting totals could include some unreported characteristics.

**•** 1990 person and vehicle trips were adjusted to account for survey collection method changes (see 2001 Summary of Travel Trends Appendix 2).

**•** NPTS is Nationwide Personal Travel Survey. CI is Confidence Interval.

### 2009 National Household T ravel Survey (NHTS)

PERSON TRAVEL 19 

## 4.0 **P ERSON TRAVEL** 

Table 9

. Annual Number (in Millions) and Percent of Person Trips by Mode of Transportation and Trip Purpose
199 0 and 1995 NPTS, and 2001 and 2009 NHTS

.

*Table 9 is continued on the following page.

Note:

**•** All tables reporting totals could include some unreported characteristics.

**•** “Family/Personal Errands ” includes personal business, shopping, and medical/dental. Please see Appendix A

- Glossary for definition.

**•** 1990 person and vehicle trips were adjusted to account for survey collection method changes.

**•** The 1995 Vehicle Miles of Travel (VMT) and vehicle tri ps with “To or From Work” as a trip purpose as believed to overstated.

**•** Increases in walk trips between 1995 and 2009 are due, at least in part, to respondents being explicitly asked to include wal k trips, which was not the case in prior surveys.

**•** Public tra nsit includes local bus, commuter bus, commuter train, subway, trolley, and streetcar.

**•** NPTS is Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey. CI is Confidence Interval. ` 95% CI

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

Private Vehicle To/ From Work 45,856 91.2% 60,740 92.8% 56,054 92.4% 55,969 91.4% 941.4

Work-Related Business 3,178 90.3% 8,835 91.9% 10,648 91.2% 10,525 88.1% 767.1
Family/ Personal Errands 128,368 92.7% 156,065 92.6% 153,270 90.9% 146,158 87.8% 2487.7

School or Church 17,545 61.9% 22,436 69.6% 26,861 71.3% 26,654 70.7% 968.2

Social and Recreational 70,382 86.3% 78,809 87.6% 82,437 80.7% 82,887 76.9% 1583.2

Other 1,629 81.4% 470 83.2% 2,147 67.2% 4,925 71.0% 304.1
Total 267,029 **87.8%** 327,400 **89.3%** 331,791 **86.3%** 327,118 **83.4%** 3468.5

Transit To/ From Work 1,992 4.0% 2,328 3.6% 2,271 3.7% 2,247 3.7% 254.2

Work-Related Business 92 2.6% 123 1.3% 213 1.8% 264 2.2% 93.7
Family/ Personal Errands 1,318 1.0% 2,000 1.2% 1,776 1.1% 2,344 1.4% 264.7

School or Church 1,076 3.8% 826 2.6% 800 2.1% 829 2.2% 131.8

Social and Recreational 946 1.2% 1,350 1.5% 989 1.0% 1,426 1.3% 195.0

Other 35 1.7% 11 1.9% 134 4.2% 409 5.9% 114.5
Total 5,460 **1.8%** 6,638 **1.8%** 6,202 **1.6%** 7,520 **1.9%** 493.4 1990 1995 2001 2009

### Summary of Travel Trends

PERSON TRAVEL 20 Table 9. Annual Number (in Millions) and Percent of Person Trips by Mode of Transportation and Trip Purpose
199 0 and 1995 NPTS, and 2001 and 2009 NHTS

. 95% CI

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

Walk To/ From Work 1,999 4.0% 1,510 2.3% 1,715 2.8% 1,854 3.0% 230.4

Work-Related Business 154 4.4% 240 2.4% 487 4.2% 684 5.7% 136.1

Family/ Personal Errands 7,722 5.6% 8,756 5.0% 11,936 7.1% 15,174 9.1% 818.7

School or Church 3,649 12.8% 2,925 8.8% 3,630 9.6% 3,542 9.4% 479.4

Social and Recreational 8,090 9.9% 6,845 7.3% 14,824 14.5% 18,833 17.5% 768.4

Other 265 13.2% 47 7.6% 507 15.9% 874 12.6% 157.6

Total 21,879 7.2% 20,325 5.4% 33,145 8.6% 40,962 **10.4%** 1493.1

Other To/ From Work 428 0.8% 887 1.3% 584 1.0% 1,144 1.9% 166.1

Work-Related Business 95 2.7% 417 4.2% 317 2.7% 469 3.9% 169.2
Family/ Personal Errands 1,087 0.8% 1,768 1.0% 1,468 0.9% 2,859 1.7% 337.3

School or Church 6,086 21.4% 6,035 18.1% 6,351 16.9% 6,651 17.7% 413.1

Social and Recreational 2,098 2.6% 2,954 3.1% 3,829 3.7% 4,576 4.2% 387.4

Other 73 3.6% 37 6.0% 394 12.3% 725 10.5% 135.1

Total 9,867 3.2% 12,099 3.2% 12.975 3.4% 16,424 **4.2%** 744.7

Total To/ From Work 50,314 100% 66,901 100% 60,690 100% 61,214 100% 901.9

Work-Related Business 3,529 100% 9,860 100% 11,676 100% 11,943 100% 849.2
Family/ Personal Errands 138,559 100% 173,764 100% 168,560 100% 166,535 100% 2536.5

School or Church 28,397 100% 33,355 100% 37,671 100% 37,676 100% 1119.2

Social and Recreational 81,575 100% 94,362 100% 102,165 100% 107,722 100% 1617.9

Other 2,014 100% 623 100% 3,198 100% 6,933 100% 468.3

Total 304,471 **100%** 378,930 **100%** 384,484 **100%** 392,023 **100%** 3644.5 1990 1995 2001 2009

### 2009 National Household T ravel Survey (NHTS)

PERSON TRAVEL 21 Continuing trends noted previously, b oth men and women took fewer trips, on average, in 2009 than in 2001 and 1995. T ravel by men decreased at a greater rate than travel by women. While
tr aditionally less mobile than men, by 2001 women made about the same number of person trips, and by 2009 women made significantly more trips overall than men.

According to the 2009 NHTS, women overall took more trips than men for family errands, including shopping. Men make significantly more trips to and from work, and for work related business. Men and women made about the same number of social and recreational trips (within the margin of error).

Table 10

. Annual Person Trips p e r Person b y Trip Purpose and Gender 1990 and 1995 NPTS, and 2001 and 2009 NHTS

.

Note:

**•** 1990 person and vehicle trips were adjusted to account for survey collection method changes (see 2001 Summary of Travel Trends Appendix 2).

**•** 1995 Vehicle Miles of Travel (VMT) and vehicle trips with "To or From Work" as a trip purpose is believed to be overstated.

**•** In this table, “Family/Personal Errands” includes personal business, shopping, medical/dental. Please see Appendix A

- Glossary for definition.

**•** All tables repor ting totals could include some unreported characteristics.

**•** NPTS is Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey. CI is Confidence Interval. 1990 1995 2001 2009 95% CI 1990 1995 2001 2009 95% CI

Total 1,401 1,558 1,494 1,401 16.4 1,339 1,579 1,491 1,368 15.7

Percent **100% 100%**  **100% 100%**  **100% 100%**  **100% 100%** 

To or From Work 197 229 200 193 4.7 259 327 273 241 4.6

Percent 14.06% 14.70% 13.39% 13.78% 19.34% 20.71% 18.31% 17.62%

Work Related Business 11 23 25 27 2.6 21 60 66 58 5.2

Percent 0.79% 1.48% 1.67% 1.93% 1.57% 3.80% 4.43% 4.24%

Family and Personal Errands 693 786 715 646 12.1 549 648 590 529 10.7

Percent 49.46% 50.45% 47.86% 46.11% 41.00% 41.04% 39.57% 38.67%

School/Church 132 141 151 138 4.5 123 134 141 128 5.3

Percent 9.42% 9.05% 10.11% 9.85% 9.19% 8.49% 9.46% 9.36%

Social and Recreational 358 375 389 375 7.2 377 406 405 386 7.9

Percent 25.55% 24.07% 26.04% 26.77% 28.16% 25.71% 27.16% 28.22%

Other 9 3 12 23 2.0 9 2 13 26 2.4

Percent 0.64% 0.19% 0.80% 1.64% 0.67% 0.13% 0.87% 1.90% Women Men

### Summary of Travel Trends

PERSON TRAVEL 22 One striking gender difference in travel is in the proportion of trips for work and non

- work
purposes

. The 2009 NHTS s hows that women make about 80 percent of the number of trips men make for commuting to and from work, while men make about 80 percent of the number of trips women make for shopping and family and personal errands. Forty

- six percent of all person trips by women w ere for family and personal errands (e.g., grocery shopping, taking children to school or organized sports, everyday errands , and personal business .) The comparable proportion for

men was 38 percent

. This category of trips seems to have registere d the greatest decline since 1995 for both men and women. Since it is a large, catch

- all category further

, research into the specific and detailed trends of travel changes within the category would be enlightening.

Figure 2

. Tr ends in the Distribution o f Per son Trips per Person by Gender a nd Trip Purpose 1990 and 1995 NPTS

, and 2001 and 2009 NHTS

.

*NPTS is Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey. 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900

1990 1995 2001 2009 1990 1995 2001 2009

Women MenAnnual Person Trips per Person

To or From Work Family and Personal Errands Social and Recreational

### 2009 National Household T ravel Survey (NHTS)

PERSON TRAVEL 23 Continuing the tre nds seen between 1995 and 2001, the number of person trip s per day per person again decreased between 2001 and 2009

. Reasons for this trend require further study, but could reflect the aging of the population, more people not in the workforce, increased use of communications technology, and other social or econ omic factors.

T he person miles of travel per person declined nearly ten percent from the 2001 estimate. On average (including travelers and non

- travelers), a person 5 years or older travel ed about 36 miles per day, with one

- third for family errands, one

- third for social and recreational purposes, and the remaining for other purposes including work.

Table 11

. Daily Trip and Travel Rates p er Person b y Trip Purpose

1977, 1983, 1990, and 19 95 NPTS, and 2001 and 2009 NHTS

.

1977 1983 1990 1995 2001 2009 95% CI Person Trips per Day Total 2.92 2.89 3.76 4.30 4.09 3.79 0.03 To or From Work 0.57 0.59 0.62 0.76 0.65 0.59 0.01 Family/Personal Errands 0.91 1.02 1.71 1.97 1.79 1.61 0.02 School/Church 0.35 0.34 0.35 0.38 0.4 0.36 0.01 So cial and Recreational 0.71 0.8 1.01 1.07 1.09 1.04 0.02 Other 0.38 0.14 0.06 0.12 0.16 0.18 0.01 Person Miles of Travel per Day Total 25.95 25.05 34.91 38.67 40.25 36.13 1.35 To or From Work 5.16 5.04 6.49 8.69 7.66 6.85 0.19 Family/Personal Errands 5 .68 6.46 12.1 13.51 13.2 10.68 0.31 School/Church 1.61 1.67 1.84 2.21 2.35 2.24 0.13 Social and Recreational 7.81 9.85 13.02 11.86 12.09 10.93 0.64 Other 5.68 2.04 1.46 2.39 4.8 5.43 0.99
Note:

**•** All tables reporting totals could include some unreported characteristics.

**•** Trip rates are calculated including travelers and non

- travelers, resulting in travel estimates per

- capita.

**•** 1990 person and vehicle trips were adjusted to account for survey collection method changes (see 2001 Summary of Travel Trends Appe ndix 2).

**•** The 1995 "To or From Work" person trips and person miles are believed to be overstated. Other trip purpose includes trips for work

- related business.

**•** “Family/Personal E rrands” includes personal business , shopping, medical/dental

. Please see Appendi x A

- Glossary for definition.

**•** NPTS is Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey. CI is Confidence Interval.

### Summary of Travel Trends

PERSON TRAVEL 24 In addition to fewer person trips, t he average person traveled fewer miles overall in 2009 compared to 1995 and 2001 . The data indicates about 10 percent fewer miles by private vehicle and other means, but about the same number of miles by transit (the 2001 estimate is within the margin of error of 2009).

As seen previously, the declines were significant in person miles of travel per person for work, personal and family errands, and social and recreational travel.

Table 12

. Distribution of Daily Person Miles of Travel per Person by Mode of Transportation and Trip Purpose

, Adjusted 1990 and 1995 NPTS, 2001 and 2009 NHTS.

*Table 12 is continued on the following page. 1990 1995 2001 2009 95% CI 1990 1995 2001 2009 95% CI

TOTAL 30.85 35.26 35.49 31.92 0.88 0.74 0.82 0.47 0.53 0.11

Percent **88.37% 91.18%**  **88.17% 88.35%**  **2.12% 2.12%**  **1.17% 1.47%** 

To or From Work 6.15 8.09 7.11 6.47 0.17 0.27 0.30 0.24 0.18 0.04

Percent 17.62% 20.92% 17.66% 17.91% 0.77% 0.78% 0.60% 0.50%

Work Related Business 0.63 1.85 2.27 1.88 0.21 0.01 0.02 0.01 0.02 0.01

Percent 1.80% 4.78% 5.64% 5.20% 0.03% 0.05% 0.02% 0.06%

Family/Personal Errands 11.39 12.7 12.77 10.30 0.32 0.14 0.19 0.10 0.10 0.02

Percent 32.63% 32.84% 31.73% 28.51% 0.40% 0.49% 0.25% 0.28%

School/Church 1.32 1.68 1.87 1.80 0.13 0.12 0.07 0.04 0.05 0.01

Percent 3.78% 4.34% 4.65% 4.98% 0.34% 0.18% 0.10% 0.14%

Social and Recreational 11.12 10.83 11.01 9.98 0.52 0.18 0.24 0.07 0.10 0.03

Percent 31.85% 28.01% 27.35% 27.62% 0.52% 0.62% 0.17% 0.28%

Other 0.23 0.10 0.36 1.49 0.35 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.08 0.09

Percent 0.66% 0.26% 0.89% 4.12% 0.03% 0.00% 0.00% 0.22% Private Public Transit

### 2009 National Household T ravel Survey (NHTS)

PERSON TRAVEL 25

Table 12

. Distribution of Daily Person Miles of Travel per Person by Mode of Transportation and Trip Purpose, Adjusted 1990 and 1995 NPTS, 2001 and 2009 NHTS.

Note:

**•** All tables reporting totals could inc lude some unreported characteristics.

**•** 1990 person and vehicle trips were adjusted to account for survey collection method changes (see 2001 Summary of Travel Trends Appendix 2).

**•** In 2009, the mode “Bus” was divided into “Local Public Transit Bus,” “Commuter Bus,” “Charter/tour bus,” and “City to city bus.” Only “Local Public Transit Bus” and “Commuter Bus” are included in public transit
calculations , along with commuter train, subway, trolley, and streetcar

.

**•** Percents are a percentage of total daily person m iles of travel.

**•** NPTS is Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey. CI is Confidence Interval. 1990 1995 2001 2009 95% CI 1990 1995 2001 2009 95% CI

TOTAL 3.31 2.2 4.10 3.68 0.96 34.91 38.67 40.25 36.13 1.35

Percent **9.48% 5.69%**  **10.19% 10.19%**  **100.00% 100.00%**  **100.00% 100.00%** 

To or From Work 0.06 0.22 0.30 0.20 0.09 6.49 8.69 7.66 6.85 0.19

Percent 0.17% 0.57% 0.75% 0.55% 18.59% 22.47% 19.03% 18.96%

Work Related Business 0.56 0.34 1.12 0.38 0.15 1.20 2.23 3.41 2.28 0.27

Percent 1.60% 0.88% 2.78% 1.05% 3.44% 5.77% 8.47% 6.31%
Family/Personal Errands 0.57 0.49 0.32 0.28 0.04 12.10 13.51 13.2 10.68 0.31

Percent 1.63% 1.27% 0.80% 0.77% 34.66% 34.94% 32.80% 29.56%

School/Church 0.40 0.44 0.44 0.40 0.03 1.84 2.21 2.35 2.24 0.13

Percent 1.15% 1.14% 1.09% 1.11% 5.27% 5.72% 5.84% 6.20%

Social and Recreational 1.71 0.66 1.01 0.85 0.35 13.02 11.86 12.09 10.93 0.64

Percent 4.90% 1.71% 2.51% 2.35% 37.30% 30.67% 30.04% 30.25%

Other 0.01 0.05 0.87 1.57 0.87 0.25 0.15 1.39 3.15 0.95

Percent 0.03% 0.13% 2.16% 4.35% 0.72% 0.39% 3.45% 8.72% Other Means Total

### Summary of Travel Trends

PERSON TRAVEL 26 T able 13

. Average Daily Person Trips p er Person b y Age and Gender 1983, 1990, and 1995 NPTS

, and 2001 and 2009 NHTS

.

Note:

**•** All tables reporting totals could include some unreported characteristics.

**•** 1990 person and vehicle trips were adjusted to account for survey collection method

c hanges (see 2001 Summary of Travel Trends Appendix 2).

**•** NPTS is Nationwide Personal Travel Survey. C I is Confidence Interval. 

### 1983 1990 1995 2001 2009 95% CI
Total 2.9 3.8 4.3 4.1 3.8 0.03 Under 16 2.3 3.1 3.7 3.4 3.2 0.07
16 to 20 3.3 4.2 4.6 4.1 3.5 0.11
21 to 35 3.5 4.4 4.6 4.3 3.9 0.09
36 to 65 2.9 3.9 4.6 4.5 4.2 0.05 Over 65 1.8 2.4 3.4 3.4 3.2 0.07

1983 1990 1995 2001 2009 95% CI
Total 2.9 3.7 4.3 4.1 3.7 0.04 Under 16 2.3 3 3.7 3.5 3.2 0.09
16 to 20 3.2 4.2 4.6 4.0 3.3 0.13
21 to 35 3.4 4.2 4.5 4.2 3.7 0.11
36 to 65 2.9 3.7 4.6 4.4 4.1 0.06 Over 65 2.2 2.8 3.9 3.8 3.5 0.10

1983 1990 1995 2001 2009 95% CI
Total 2.9 3.8 4.3 4.1 3.8 0.04 Under 16 2.3 3.1 3.8 3.4 3.2 0.10
16 to 20 3.4 4.2 4.7 4.2 3.7 0.15
21 to 35 3.5 4.6 4.8 4.5 4.1 0.12
36 to 65 3 4.1 4.6 4.5 4.3 0.06 Over 65 1.5 2.2 3 3.1 2.9 0.09

Age **Total**

Age **Men**

Age **Women**

### 2009 National Household T ravel Survey (NHTS)

PERSON TRAVEL 27 M en and women of all age groups reported fewer person trips in 2009 compared to 2001. Figure 3 shows that the 2009 estimate of person trips per person was significantly lower for the entire population and for every age group.

The chart shows the high and low 2009 estimates (the actual estimate plus and minus the confidence interval ) compared to the actual 2001 estimate. The greatest decrease in trip

- making was for people ages 16

- 20, followed by people ages 21

- 35.

Figure 3

. Average Daily Person Trips by Age 2001 and 2009 with Margin of Error (High and Low Estimates).

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5

0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0

Total Under 16 16 to 20 21 to 35 36 to 65 Over 65Person Trips per Person per Day

Age Group 2009 High
2009 Low
2009 Est.
2001 Est.

### Summary of Travel Trends

PERSON TRAVEL 28 Table 14

. Per son Miles o f Trav el p er Person b y Age and Gender
1983 , 1990, and 1995 NPTS, and 2001 and 2009 NH TS

.

Note:

**•** All tables reporting totals could include some unreported characteristics.

**•** 1990 person and vehicle trips were adjusted to account for survey collection method changes (see 2001 Summary of Travel Trends Appendix 2).

**•** NPTS is Nationwide Personal T ravel Survey. CI is Confidence Interval. 

### Total 25.1 34.9 38.7 40.2 36.1 1.4 Under 16 16.2 20.1 25 24.5 25.3 3.5
16 to 20 22.2 34.4 36.4 38.1 29.5 1.8
21 to 35 31.1 44.3 46 45.6 37.7 1.9
36 to 65 29.2 40.1 45.1 48.8 44.0 1.9 Over 65 12.0 18.4 24.4 27.5 24.0 1.2

2001 2009 Total 27.7 38.0 43.9 45.0 40.9 2.1 Under 16 16.8 20.3 23.7 24.6 27.2 6.3
16 to 20 23.0 36.9 37.6 34.1 28.2 2.3
21 to 35 32.8 48.2 51.3 49.8 40.5 2.8
36 to 65 33.6 43.4 53.2 57.7 50.9 3.0 Over 65 14.8 22.5 31.7 32.9 30.5 1.9

2001 Total 22.6 32.1 33.8 35.7 31.5 1.0 Under 16 15.4 19.9 26.2 24.4 23.3 2.7
16 to 20 21.5 32.2 35 42.5 31.0 2.8
21 to 35 29.5 40.7 40.8 41.5 35.0 2.3
36 to 65 25.2 37 37.5 40.4 37.0 1.6 Over 65 10.2 15.3 19.2 23.5 19.3 1.2

Age TOTAL

1983 1990 1995 2001 2009 95% CI

Age Men

1983 1990 1995 95% CI

Age Women

1983 1990 1995 2009 95% CI

### 2009 National Household T ravel Survey (NHTS)

PERSON TRAVEL 29 On average in 2009

, men traveled about 10 more miles per day than women, although they also exhibited the greatest decline in miles per day since 2001. Overall, people reported traveling 36.1 miles per day, by a ll means of transportation and for all purposes.

Table 14 and Figure 4 show that women have traditionally traveled fewer miles per day than men, regardless of age. In their highly mobile age group of 35

- 65 years old, men travel over fifty miles per day per capita, which includes travelers and non travelers (Table 14 ). While women in this age group take more trips than men (Table 13), women's trips are markedly shorter.

Figure 4

. Average Daily Person Miles of Travel per Person b y Gender 1983, 1990, 1995 NPTS

, and 2001 and 2009 NHTS.

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

1983 1990 1995 2001 2009Daily Person Miles of Travel

Men

Women

### Summary of Travel Trends

PERSON TRAVEL 30 The average amount of time spent in a vehicle (as a driver or passenger) was about an hour overall but varied greatly by an individual’s age. Minors (5

- 18) and older individuals (65 and over)
sp end the least amount of time in a vehicle, either as a driver or a passenger. Compared to 2001, Americans of all ages spent less time on an average day in a private vehicle.

Figure 5

. Average Time Spent in a Vehicle by Age, 200 1 and 2009 NHTS

.

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 5

- 18 19

- 24 25

- 34 35

- 44 45

- 54 55

- 64

65+

Minutes per Day in a Vehicle as Driver or Passenger

2009 2001

### 2009 National Household T ravel Survey (NHTS)

PRIVATE VEHICLE TRAVEL 31 

## 5.0 **PRIVATE VEHICLE TRAVEL**

The average amount of time spent driving was calculated using two different methods: (1) by including all drivers, even those who did not drive a private vehicle on the designated travel day, and (2) by excluding any drivers who did not drive on the designated travel day. I n 2009, drivers spent fewer minutes in travel overall than in 2001, and those declines were seen in metropolitan areas of every size. People living in smaller cities generally spent slightly l ess time driving than those living in more populated areas.

Table 15

. Average Minutes Spent Driving a Private Vehicle in a Typical Day by MSA Size
1990 and 1995 NPTS, and 2001 and 2009 NHTS

.

All Drivers

MSA Size 1990 1995 2 001 2009 95% CI

ALL 49.35 56.28 62.32 56.09 0.71

Rural, Not in MSA 48.85 56.47 61.83 55.87 1.80

< 250,000 48.36 53.98 60.22 55.01 4.02

250,000 to 499,999 47.82 55.96 59.63 54.79 2.68

500,000 to 999,999 50.20 56.91 62.59 55.21 2.36

1 to 2.9 million 50 .61 56.48 62.89 56.20 1.76

3+ million 49.38 56.49 63.29 56.85 1.15 Only Persons Who Drove

O n Their Travel Day

MSA Size 1990 1995 2001 2009 95% CI

ALL 71.88 73.24 81.35 76.37 0.87

Rural, Not in MSA 69.20 72.96 81.74 76.28 2.13

< 250,000 67.94 69. 35 76.40 73.30 4.75
250,000 to 499,999 71.66 71.72 76.50 72.55 3.42

500,000 to 999,999 72.42 73.35 79.34 73.57 2.86

1 to 2.9 million 74.38 72.19 79.55 73.64 1.96

3+ million 71.08 75.02 85.12 80.48 1.34
Note:

**•** 1990 person and vehicle trips were adjuste d to account for survey collection method changes (see 2001 Summary of Travel Trends Appendix 2).

**•** “Rural, Not in Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)” includes only areas outside of MSAs. There
may also be rural areas included within MSA boundaries.

**•** NPTS is Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey. CI is Confidence Interval.

### Summary of Travel Trends

PRIVATE VEHICLE TRAVEL 32 Figure 6

. Average Time Spent In Veh icles and Miles Traveled
2001 a nd 2009 NHTS.



### 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Rural, Not in a MSA < 250M 250K

- < 500K 500K

- < 1M 1M

- < 3M 3M+ AverageMinutes or Miles



### 2001 Minutes 2001 Miles 2009 Minutes 2009 Miles

### 2009 National Household T ravel Survey (NHTS)

PRIVATE VEHICLE TRAVEL 33 The trend of declining vehicle occupancy may have started to reverse , as overall occupancy shows an increase in 2001 and 2009

. In 2009, the rise in occupancy was the result of a sig nificant rise in vehicle occupancy for social and recreational travel

– changes in occupancy for other purposes
were not noteworthy . The calculated occupancy in this table is miles

- weighted, using the reported number of people on the trip and the length of the trip together.

Table 16

. Average Vehicle Occupancy for Selected Trip Purpose 1977, 1983, 1990, and 1995 NPTS

, and 2001 and 2009 NHTS ( Person Miles p er Vehicle M ile )

.

Trip Purpose 1977 1983 1990 1995 2001 2009 95% CI

To or From Work 1.3 1.29 1.14 1.14 1.14 1.13 0.0 1

Shopping 2.1 1.79 1.71 1.74 1.79 1.78 0. 05 Other Family/Personal Errands 2 1.81 1.84 1.78 1.83 1 .84 0. 04

Social and Recreational 2.4 2.12 2.08 2.04 2.03 2.20 0.06

All Purposes 1.9 1.75 1.64 1.59 1.63 1.67 0.03
Note:

**•** All purposes includes other trip purposes not shown, such as trips to school, church, and work

- related business

.

**•** “Other Family/Perso nal Errands” includes personal business and medical/dental

. Please see Appendix A

- Glossary for definition.

**•** NPTS is Nationwide Personal Transportati on Survey. CI is Confidence Interval

.

### Summary of Travel Trends

VEHICLE USE AND AVAILABILITY 34 

## 6.0 **V EHICLE**  **USE AND AVAILABILITY** 

Between 2001 and 2009, the number an d percent of households with no vehicle available grew by nearly one million households, from 8.1 percent of all households to 8.7 percent.

The biggest change was the growth in households with one vehicle

— in the 2009 NHTS 32.3 percent of all households re ported owning one vehicle, nearly 2.8 million more than in 2001.

The percent of households with two or more vehicles decreased slightly, from 60.4 percent of all households to 59.0 percent, while number of households with two or more vehicles increased by nearly 2 million households.

Table 17

. Number ( T housands) and Percent of Households by Availability of Household Vehicles 1969, 1977, 1983, 19 90, and 1995 NPTS

, and 2001 and 2009 NHTS

.

Note:

**•** The 1969 survey does not include pick ups or other light trucks as household vehicles.

**•** Standard error of the estimate of household vehicles is too small to show (0.0000108).

**•** NPTS is Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey. CI is Confidence Interval. Households with -- 1969 1977 1983 1990 1995 2001 2009 95% CI No Vehicle 12,876 11,538 11,548 8,573 7,989 8,716 9,828 49

Percent 20.6% 15.3% 13.5% 9.2% 8.1% 8.1% 8.7%

One Vehicle 30,252 26,092 28,780 30,654 32,064 33,757 36,509 302

Percent 48.4% 34.6% 33.7% 32.8% 32.4% 31.4% 32.3%

Two Vehicles 16,501 25,942 28,632 35,872 40,024 39,938 41,077 274

Percent 26.4% 34.4% 33.5% 38.4% 40.4% 37.2% 36.3%

Three or More Vehicles 2,875 11,840 16,411 18,248 18,914 24,955 25,688 270

Percent 4.6% 15.7% 19.2% 19.6% 19.1% 23.2% 22.7%

ALL 62,504 75,412 85,371 93,347 98,990 107,365 113,101 0

Percent **100% 100%**  **100% 100%**  **100% 100%**  **100%**

Vehicles Per Household 1.16 1.59 1.68 1.77 1.78 1.89 1.86 0.01

### 2009 National Household T ravel Survey (NHTS)

VEHICLE USE AND AVAILABILITY 35 Approximately 40 million households hav e owned either zero or one vehicle since 1969. In 1969 those forty million households represented nearly 70 percent of households , while in 2009 the same number is less than 40 percent of all households.

On the other hand, just 2.8 million households in 1969 owned three or more vehicles, less than 5 percent of all households. That number has grown by nearly tenfold

-- to 25 million households, which in 2009 represented 23 percent of all households

.
Figure 7

. Trends in Household D istribution by Number of Household Vehicles 1969, 1977, 1983, 19 90 and 1995 NPTS

, and 2001 and 2009 NHTS

.

0 20,000 40,000 60,000 80,000 100,000 120,000

1969 1977 1983 1990 1995 2001 2009Number of Households (thousands)

Three or More Vehicles

Two Vehicles

One Vehicle

No Vehicle

### Summary of Travel Trends

VEHICLE USE AND AVAILABILITY 36 The traditional correlation between high population density and the percent of households with fewer or no vehicles is shown in the NHTS data se ries. Almost thirty percent of the households in areas with a population density greater than 10,000 persons per square mile did not own a vehicle in 2009, a proportion that has remained steady since 1995.

On the other hand, almost seventy percent of t he households in the least densely

- populated areas owned two or more vehicles, a proportion that has also remained about the same since 1995. Note that many more households in the U.S. are in lower density areas

-- for example 45 percent of all U.S.
househol ds are located in areas with less than 2,000 persons per square mile.

Table 18

. Distribution of Households by Household Vehicle Availability and Population Density 1990 and 1995 NPTS and 2001 and 2009 NHTS.

Note:

**•** CI is Confidence Interval. 1990 1995 2001 2009 95% CI 1990 1995 2001 2009 95% CI

ALL 100% 100% 100% 100% 0.00 100% 100% 100% 100% 0.00

No Vehicle 6.10% 3.60% 3.77% 4.38% 0.41 7.60% 5.84% 5.76% 6.39% 0.84

One Vehicle 30.40% 26.64% 25.76% 26.78% 0.76 33.40% 33.31% 32.80% 34.07% 1.47

Two or More Vehicles 63.50% 69.76% 70.47% 68.84% 0.89 59.00% 60.84% 61.44% 59.54% 1.66

1990 1995 2001 2009 95% CI 1990 1995 2001 2009 95% CI
ALL 100% 100% 100% 100% 0.00 100% 100% 100% 100% 0.00

No Vehicle 10.90% 7.72% 8.08% 8.43% 0.73 35.10% 27.41% 26.33% 28.44% 1.40

One Vehicle 38.20% 37.16% 36.30% 37.49% 1.36 40.00% 41.78% 40.28% 39.89% 1.68

Two or More Vehicles 50.90% 55.13% 55.63% 54.08% 1.34 24.90% 30.81% 33.39% 31.67% 1.55 Household Vehicle Availability 2,000 to 4,000

10,000 or more Population Density (Persons per Square Mile)

Household Vehicle Availability Less than 2,000

4,000 to 10,000

### 2009 National Household T ravel Survey (NHTS)

VEHICLE USE AND AVAILABILITY 37 Figure 8

. Percent of Households by Vehicle Own ership and Population Density 2009 NHTS

.

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

< 2,000 pop/sq mi. 2,000

- 4,000 4,000

- 10,000 10,000 or more

No Vehicles One Vehicle Two or more vehicles

### Summary of Travel Trends

VEHICLE US E AND AVAILABILITY 38 Larger metro areas have a higher proportion of households with no vehicle than smaller towns and rural areas. The proportion of households without a vehicle available overall was 15.3 percent in 1977, and fell to 8.1 percent in 1995 and 2001, rising to 8.7 percent in 2009.

The most recent data shows a small but significant increase in the percent of households with no vehicle in areas with one million to 2.9 million people, and in areas of 3 million people or more. In large cities, some households chose not to own a vehicle d ue to the high cost or inconvenience

, and the av ailability of other modes. The re is also a considerabl e increase in the proportion of households without a vehicle in metro areas of 500,000 to less than one million people.

Table 19

. Percent of Households w ithout a Vehicle w ithin MSA Size Group 1977, 1983, 1990 and 199 5 NPTS

, and 20 01 and 2009 NHTS.

Note:

**•** “Rural, Not in Metropolitan Statistical Area ( MSA ) ” includes only areas outside of MSAs. There may also be rural areas included within MSA boundaries.

**•** The population size groups for 1977

- 1983 Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ( NPTS ) are Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area ( SMSA ) Size Groups and 1990

- 2009 are MSA Size Groups.

**•** All tables reporting totals could include some unreported characteristics.



### MSA Size
2001 95% CI
Rural, Not in MSA 12.2% 10.5% 7.7% 5.3% 5.8% 5.6% 0.14

< 250,000 13.7% 10.1% 8.6% 4.8% 5.8% 6.3% 0.12

250,000 to 499,999 12.2% 8.1% 5.7% 7.3% 5.2% 5.6% 0.09

500,000 to 999,999 14.0% 14.3% 8.4% 6.3% 7.0% 8.3% 0.12

1 to 2.9 million 14.2% 12.1% 8.2% 6.9% 6.4% 7.2% 0.15

3+ million 26.1% 25.4% 12.4% 11.2% 11.9% 12.6% 0.14

ALL 15.3% 13.5% 9.2% 8.1% 8.1% 8.7% **0.04** Percent Households Within An Area Without a Vehicle

1977 1983 1990 1995 2009

### 2009 National Household T ravel Survey (NHTS)

VEHICLE USE AND AVAILABILITY 39 The share of passenger cars ( autos ) in the household vehicle flee t decline d between 2001 and 2009 . From the 80 percent share of all vehicles in 1977, the passenger car fell to just under one

half of all household vehicles in 2009. On the other hand the proportion of Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV) nearly tripled since fi rst being included as a separate category in 1995.

The household vehicle fleet continues to age

-- the most recent data shows the average vehicle owned by U.S. households is 9.4 years old. The av er ag e age of vehicles in every common vehicle class is signif icantly older than in 2001

-- including autos, vans, SUVs, and pick

- up trucks.

Table 20

. Percent of Vehicle s and Average Vehicle Age by Vehicle Type
19 7 7, 1983, 1990 and 199 5 NPTS

, and 2001 and 2009 NHTS.

Note:

**•** The 1990 and earli er surveys do not inclu de a separate category for SUVs.

**•** The 1995 and later surveys did not include a separate category for Moped

.

**•** In 2009 the survey included Light Electric Vehicles (LEV) as a separate classification. Motorcycle, moped, LEVs and other POV are excluded from the calculation of vehicle age.

**•** All tables reporting totals could include some unreported characteristics

.

**•** CI is Confidence Interval. 1977 1983 1990 1995 2001 2009 95% CI

TOTAL 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 0.00

Auto 79.6% 75.9% 74.7% 64.3% 56.8% 49.9% 0.45

Van 2.8% 3.6% 5.5% 7.8% 9.0% 8.2% 0.28 Sport Utility NA NA NA 6.9% 12.1% 19.4% 0.35
Pickup 12.8% 15.2% 17.2% 17.7% 18.4% 17.8% 0.29

Other Truck 1.3% 1.5% 0.6% 0.4% 0.5% 0.4% 0.08
RV/Motor Home 0.4% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.7% 0.5% 0.06
Motorcycle/Moped 2.9% 3.1% 1.4% 0.9% 2.1% 3.3% 0.24
Light Electric Vehicle (LEV) NA NA NA NA NA 0.0% 0.01

Other 0.2% 0.2% 0.1% 0.1% 0.5% 0.3% 0.05

TOTAL 6.60 7.60 7.71 8.33 8.87 9.38 0.10

Auto 6.40 7.20 7.61 8.24 8.98 9.57 0.11

Van 5.50 8.45 5.88 6.68 7.56 8.68 0.18 Sport Utility NA NA NA 6.56 6.44 7.09 0.15 Pickup 7.30 8.54 8.43 9.65 10.05 11.10 0.21

Other Truck 11.60 12.39 14.48 14.93 17.72 17.76 1.74
RV/Motor Home 4.50 10.69 10.44 13.21 13.49 15.46 1.47 Distribution of Vehicles

Average Vehicle Age

### Summary of Travel Trends

VEHICLE USE AND AVAILABILITY 40 Over the last decades one striking feature of the household vehicle fleet is the increase in the

num ber of years an average vehicle is operated. In 1977, about one out of six vehicles were 10 years old or older and automobiles averaged 6.4 years of age

. In 2009, vehicles averaged 9.6 years of age

– a 50 percent increase of 3.2 years and nearly two out o f five cars were in the oldest age category.

In the past, trucks and vans tended to be in operation longer than automobiles. However, beginning in 2001

, this trend began to shift as automobiles were in operati on longer than trucks and vans.

Table 21

. Distribution of Vehicles by Vehicle Age and Vehicle Type 1977, 1983, 1990, and 1995 NPTS, and 2001 and 2009 NHTS (Percent )

.

Note:

**•** The 1969 survey does not include pickups and other light trucks as household vehicles.

**•** Totals do not include any unreported vehicle ages, but do include vehicle types such as motorcycle, RV, etc. that are not shown.

**•** NPTS is Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey. 0 to 2 years 3 to 5 years 6 to 9 years 10 or more Total Average Age

1977 Auto 27.3% 30.4% 26.7% 15.6% 100.0% 6.4 Truck/Van 29.9% 25.6% 21.1% 23.4% 100.0% 5.6
All 27.8% 29.6% 25.7% 16.9% 100.0% 6.6
1983 Auto 20.0% 28.0% 27.4% 24.6% 100.0% 7.2 Truck/Van 16.6% 26.6% 25.0% 31.8% 100.0% 7.8
All 19.2% 27.6% 26.9% 26.3% 100.0% 7.6
1990 Auto 15.6% 27.7% 26.8% 29.9% 100.0% 7.6 Truck/Van 19.7% 27.2% 20.9% 32.2% 100.0% 8.0
All 16.6% 27.5% 25.3% 30.6% 100.0% 7.7
1995 Auto 14.9% 21.7% 30.3% 33.1% 100.0% 8.2 Truck/Van 19.2% 21.6% 25.5% 33.7% 100.0% 8.3
All 16.2% 21.5% 28.5% 33.8% 100.0% 8.3
2001 Auto 13.3% 20.4% 25.5% 40.9% 100.0% 9.0 Truck/Van 18.6% 23.5% 22.6% 35.4% 100.0% 8.5
All 15.4% 21.5% 24.1% 39.0% 100.0% 8.9
2009 Auto 12.4% 19.7% 27.0% 40.9% 100.0% 9.6 Truck/Van 12.8% 23.6% 27.1% 36.6% 100.0% 9.0
All 12.7% 21.6% 26.8% 38.9% 100.0% 9.4 2009 95% CI Auto 0.49 0.58 0.70 0.74 0.00 0.11 Truck/Van 0.49 0.60 0.69 0.66 0.00 0.11 All 0.36 0.42 0.49 0.54 0.00 0.10 Vehicle

Type Survey Year Vehicle Age

### 2009 National Household T ravel Survey (NHTS)

VEHICLE USE AND AVAILABILITY 41 Figure 9

. Distribution of Vehicle s by Vehicle Age 1977, 1983, 1990, and 1995 NPTS

, and 2001 and 2009 NHTS

.

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

1977 1983 1990 1995 2001 2009Percent of Household Vehicles

10 or more 6 to 9 years 3 to 5 years 0 to 2 years

### Summary of Travel Trends

VEHICLE USE AND AVAILABILITY 42 Based on vehicle owners’ estimates, a vehicle was driven, on average, slightly more than 10,000 miles a year in 2009 . This estimate is a decrease of nearly 10 percent from 2001, which showed a decrease o f nearly 10 percent from 1995. Regardless of vehicle age, vehicles were driven less in 2009, on average, than in 1995 or 1990. This reflects both increases in vehicle owners hip and decreases in total vehicle travel.

Table 22

. Ave rage Annual Miles per Vehicle by Vehicle Age (Vehicle Owner’s Estimate) 1969, 1977, 1983, 1990 and 199 5 NPTS, and 2001 and 2009 NHTS.

Note:

**•** The 1969 survey does not include pickups and other light trucks as household vehicles.

**•** All tables reporting total s could include some unreported characteristics

.

**•** CI is Confidence Interval. Vehicle Age 1969 1977 1983 1990 1995 2001 95% CI

0 to 2 years 15,700 14,460 15,292 16,811 16,092 14,892 13,851 533

3 to 5 years 11,200 11,074 11,902 13,706 14,004 13,230 12,042 198

6 to 9 years 9,700 9,199 9,253 12,554 12,608 11,603 10,741 280

10 or more years 6,500 6,755 7,023 9,176 8,758 7,863 7,401 160

ALL 11,600 10,679 10,315 12,458 12,226 11,078 10,088 **133** 2009

### 2009 National Household T ravel Survey (NHTS)

VEHICLE USE AND AVAILABILITY 43 Although t he number of miles driven per licensed driver seemed to decrease for all but the oldest age groups between 2001 and 2009 , t he decrease in annual miles was significant for only the youngest two age groups (the 2001 estimate was higher than the margin of error of the 2009 estimate ). For both the highly

- mobile middle

- age d groups and for the estimate for all drivers the differences are with in the margin of error. However

, t he growth in annual miles of driving was sizable for the oldest age group

-- people ages 65 and older.

Table 23

. Average Annual Miles per Licensed Driver By Driver Age and Gender (Driver’s Self Estimate) 1969, 1977, 1983, 1990 a nd 1995 NPTS, and 2001 and 2009 NHTS.

Note:

**•** All tables reporting totals could include some unreported characteristics.

**•** In 1995, some drivers reported zero annual miles

-- these were changed to miles not reported.

**•** CI is Confidence Interval. 16 to 19 4,633 5,662 4,986 8,485 7,624 7,331 6,244 540

20 to 34 9,348 11,063 11,531 14,776 15,098 15,650 13,709 615

35 to 54 9,771 11,539 12,627 14,836 15,291 15,627 15,117 321

55 to 64 8,611 9,196 9,611 11,436 11,972 13,177 12,528 387

65+ 5,171 5,475 5,386 7,084 7,646 7,684 8,250 346

ALL 8,685 10,006 10,536 13,125 13,476 13,827 12,888 **204**

16 to 19 5,461 7,045 5,908 9,543 8,206 8,228 6,652 633

20 to 34 13,133 15,222 15,844 18,310 17,976 18,634 15,716 1041

35 to 54 12,841 16,097 17,808 18,871 18,858 19,287 17,654 450

55 to 64 10,696 12,455 13,431 15,224 15,859 16,883 15,117 555

65+ 5,919 6,795 7,198 9,162 10,304 10,163 10,322 324

ALL 11,352 13,397 13,962 16,536 16,550 16,946 15,139 **328**

16 to 19 3,586 4,036 3,874 7,387 6,873 6,106 5,753 881

20 to 34 5,512 6,571 7,121 11,174 12,004 12,266 11,484 472

35 to 54 6,003 6,534 7,347 10,539 11,464 11,590 12,035 381

55 to 64 5,375 5,097 5,432 7,211 7,780 8,795 9,544 407

65+ 3,664 3,572 3,308 4,750 4,785 4,803 5,824 646
ALL 5,411 5,940 6,382 9,528 10,142 10,267 10,244 **213** Women

Men 2009

ALL 2001 Driver's Age 95% CI 1969 1977 1983 1990 1995

### Summary of Travel Trends

COMMUTE TRAVEL PATTERNS 44 

## 7.0 **COMMUTE TRAVE L PATTERNS** 

The number of commute vehicle trips, the vehicle miles of travel (VMT) for commuting, and the t ot al vehicle miles for commuting are about the same as the 2001 estimate (within the margin of e r ror). The total estimated number of workers increase d between 2001 and 2009 , while the annual commute vehicle trips per worker d ecreased.

Table 24

. Commute Trips and VMT and Total VMT by Year 1969, 1977, 1983, 1990 and 1995 NPTS, and 2001 and 2009 NHTS.

Note:

**•** 1995 Vehicle Miles o f Travel ( VMT ) and vehicle trips with "To or From Work" as a trip purpose is believed to be overstated.

**•** Slightly different approaches were used in defining workers and commute trips between the 1990 and 1995 Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ( NPTS )

.

**•** CI is Confidence Interval. 1969 1977 1983 1990 1995 2001 2009 95% CI
Commute Vehicle Trips (000,000) 27,844 31,886 35,271 41,792 54,782 51,395 51,699 897

Commute VMT (000,000) 260,716 287,710 301,644 453,042 642,610 614,548 623,479 16,794

Total VMT (000,000) 775,940 907,603 1,002,139 1,695,290 2,068,368 2,274,797 2,245,112 56,158

% Commute VMT of Total VMT 33.60% 31.70% 30.10% 26.72% 31.07% 27.02% 27.77%

Workers (000) 75,758 93,019 103,244 118,343 131,697 145,272 151,373 893

Annual Commute Vehicle Trips per Worker 368 343 342 353 416 354 342 5.41

### 2009 National Household T ravel Survey (NHTS)

COMMUTE TRAVEL PATTERN S 45 Figure 10

. Trends in the Distribution of Workers by Usual Commute Mode 1969, 1977, 1983, 1990 and 1995 NPTS, and 2001 and 2009 NHTS.

Note:

**•** The usual mode is defined as the means of transporta tion usually used to go to work in the week prior to the travel day.

**•** The 1969 survey excluded walk trips

.

**•** Public Transit includes local bus, commuter bus, commuter train, subway, trolley, and streetcar

.

**•** Other includes other modes not shown above such as mo torcycle, Amtrak, airplane, taxi, bike, school bus, and other.

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

1969 1977 1983 1990 1995 2001 2009Percent of Workers

Auto, Truck, Van, or SUV Public Transit Walk Other

### Summary of Travel Trends

COMMUTE TRAVEL PATTERNS 46 Since 1969, w orkers in the U.S. predominately traveled to work in privately

- owned vehicles. The proportion of workers who usually commute by transit has remained about the same since 1995

-- 5 .1 % of the commuters reported public transit as their usual mode to work.

Table 25

. Distribution of Workers by Usual Commute Mode 1969, 1977, 1983, 1990 and 1995 NPTS, and 2001 and 2009 NHTS.

Note:

**•** Usual mode is defined as the means of transportation usually used to go to work during the week before the interview.

**•** Data in this table are derived from the person file.

**•** The 1969 survey excludes walk trips.

**•** All modes do not include workers who worked at home or any unreported modes

.

**•** Other includes other modes not s hown above such as motorcycle, Amtrak, airplane, taxi, bike, school bus, and other.

**•** Public Transit includes local bus, commuter bus, commuter train, subway, trolley, and streetcar. Usual Commute Mode 1969 1977 1983 1990 1995 2001 2009 95% CI

All Modes **100 100**  **100 100**  **100 100**  **100 0.00**  Auto, Truck, Van, or SUV 90.8 87.0 88.6 87.8 91.0 90.8 89.4 0.52

Public Transit 8.4 6.0 5.3 5.3 5.1 5.1 5.1 0.41

Walk N/A 4.1 4.3 4.0 2.6 2.8 2.8 0.34

Other 0.8 2.9 1.8 2.9 1.3 1.3 2.7 0.25

### 2009 National Household T ravel Survey (NHTS)

COMMUTE TRAVEL PATTERNS 47 Table 26

. Usual Commute Mode t o Work v s

. Actual Work Trip Mode o n Travel Day 2009 NHTS

.

Note:

**•** Based on w orkers who reported both a usual commute mode 'last week' and a work trip mode on the assigned travel day

. 

### Drove Alone Carpool Transit Walk Bike Other

Drove Alone 93.5 5.6 0.1 0.5 0.1 0.4 Carpool 42.9 54.8 0.5 1.0 0.0 0.8
Transit 13.2 9.2 68.3 6.6 0.8 1.9

Walk 6.1 9.3 3.4 80.2 0.2 0.7
Bike 13.8 3.3 6.0 2.6 73.0 1.4 Other 64.1 19.0 4.2 4.3 0.3 8.0 'Usual' Commute Mode: On Travel Day Commuted by:

### Summary of Travel Trends

COMMUTE TRAVEL PATTERNS 48 Table 27

. General Commute Patt erns by Mode of T ransportation

1977, 1983, 1990, and 1995 NPTS, and 2001 and 2009 NHTS

.

Note:

**•** Trip miles and travel times were calculated using actual trips to and from work as reported in the travel day file.

**•** Average commute speed was calculated using only those trips with both trip mileage and travel time information present.

**•** Average commute trip length was calculated using only those records with trip mileage information present.

**•** In 200 1 the mode "Bus" was divided into "Local Public Transit Bus," "Com muter Bus," "Charter/tour bus," and "City to city bus." Only "Local Public Transit Bus" and "Commuter Bus" are included in public transit calculations.

**•** Public t ransit includes local bus, commuter bus, commuter train, subway, trolley, and streetcar.

**•** Commute time for public transit includes total trip time in 2001 and 2009, including access and egress.

**•** NPTS is Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey. CI is Confidence Interval. 1977 1983 1990 1995 2001 2009 95% CI

All

Average Commute Trip Length (miles) 9.06 8.54 10.65 11.63 12.11 11.79 0.29

Average Commute Travel Time (minutes) 19.23 18.20 19.60 20.65 23.32 23.85 0.35

Average Commute Speed (miles per hour) 34.72 26.84 33.35 34.67 32.23 27.50 0.33

Private Vehicle

Average Commute Trip Length (miles) 9.61 8.86 11.02 11.84 12.10 12.09 0.25

Average Commute Travel Time (minutes) 18.95 17.62 19.05 20.10 22.49 22.85 0.34

Average Commute Speed (miles per hour) 37.50 27.78 31.49 35.18 32.27 28.87 0.31

Public Transit

Average Commute Trip Length (miles) 7.48 9.00 12.75 12.88 11.73 10.18 1.54

Average Commute Travel Time (minutes) 37.59 37.79 41.10 41.95 55.50 52.98 4.19

Average Commute Speed (miles per hour) 12.58 15.44 18.02 18.22 12.96 11.42 0.99

Walk

Average Commute Trip Length (miles)

- - 0.83 0.74 0.91 0.98 0.23

Average Commute Travel Time (minutes)

- - 9.79 10.86 14.06 16.15 2.28

Average Commute Speed (miles per hour)

- - 4.99 3.58 3.18 4.77 0.51 All Modes

Private Vehicle

Public Transit

Walk

### 2009 National Household T ravel Survey (NHTS)

COMMUTE TRAVEL PATTERNS 49 The average speed of commuting has declined slightly in all metro areas, reg a rdless of size. Since 1990, the middle

- sized metro areas have seen the greatest decline in commute speed (including all modes of travel) . For instance, in 1990 areas between 500 thousand and one million in population had calculated average commute speed s of 31 miles per hour. In 2009, the average commute speed in the same sized areas had declined over ten percent to about 28 miles per hour.

F igure 11

. Average Commute Speeds by MSA Size (All Modes)
1990 and 1995 NPTS and 2001 a nd 2009 NHTS.

Note:

**•** The U.S. Census Bureau defin es the geographic boundaries of Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) in urbanized areas based on U.S. population data . The 2009 NHTS includes the 2003 U.S. Census definitions for statistical ar eas and established benchmarks based on those definitions. 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

< 250K < 500K < 1M 1M

- < 3M 3M+Miles Per Hour for Commutes

1990 1995 2001 2009

### Summary of Travel Trends

COMMUTE TRAVEL PATTERNS 50 Table 28

. Average Commute Speed by MSA Size 1977, 1983, 1990, and 1995 NPTS, and 2001 and 2009 NHTS (Miles per Hour )

.

Note:

**•** Average Commute Speed is calculated using only those trips with both trip mileage and travel time information present

.

**•** All trip miles and travel times were calculated using actual trips to and from work as reported in the travel day file.

**•** Average commute speed for 'All Modes' does not include wait time for transit.

**•** The population size groups for 1977

- 1983 Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey ( NPTS ) are Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area ( SMSA ) Size Groups and 1990

- 2001 are MSA Size Groups.

**•** CI is Confidence Interval. POV is Privately Ow ned Vehicle. MSA is Metropolitan Statistical Area. 

### Rural, Not in (S)MSA Less than 250,000 250,000 to 499,999 500,000 to 999,999 1 to 2.9 million 3 million and

over

1977

- 29.1 26.5 26.7 29.0 22.0

1983 29.6 26.0 26.7 27.9 28.2 27.0

1990 33.4 30.7 31.1 32.5 31.4 30.2

1995 32.1 30.0 30.7 31.2 30.6 30.3

2001 32.6 29.1 28.8 29.3 28.7 27.1

2009 32.5 28.4 28.4 28.8 28.7 26.8

95% CI 0.82 0.82 0.02 0.81 0.63 0.51

1977

- 25.8 26.5 26.5 27.5 20.0

1983 28.9 25.6 26.3 27.3 27.4 24.8

1990 32.0 29.7 30.4 31.4 30.2 27.7

1995 31.2 28.9 30.0 30.4 29.9 28.4

2001 31.9 28.5 28.3 28.8 27.9 25.4

2009 31.6 27.6 27.6 28.1 27.8 24.7

95% CI 0.77 0.77 0.23 0.85 0.70 0.52 

### MSA Size

POV

ALL MODES (INCLUDING POV)

### 2009 National Household T ravel Survey (NHTS)

TEMPORAL DISTRIBUTION 51 

## 8.0 **TEMPORAL DISTRIBUTION**

The percent of person tri ps by time of day has remained about t he same during the past decade

– more than two

- fifths of all person trips started between 9 o’clock in the morning a nd 4 o’clock in the afternoon.

Table 29

. Distribution of Person Trips by Start Time of Trip 1983, 1990, and 1995 NPTS, and 2001 and 2009 NHTS (Percent)

.

Note:

**•** All tables reporting totals could include some unreported characteri stics.

**•** 1990 person and vehicle trips were adjusted to account for survey collection method changes (see 2001 Summary of Travel Trends Appendix 2).

**•** NPTS is Nationwide Personal Travel Survey. CI is Confidence Interval. 

### 10 pm - 1 am 4.0 4.1 3.5 2.9 2.6 0.13

1 - 6 am 3.3 1.8 1.7 1.8 1.8 0.08

6 - 9 am 14.4 12.5 13.8 14.4 15.0 0.21
9 am - 1 pm 23.4 20.6 24.2 24.6 24.8 0.29 1 - 4 pm 20.8 20.7 22.1 22.1 22.4 0.34 4 - 7 pm 21.2 22.9 23.0 22.3 22.6 0.29 7 - 10 pm 12.3 13.2 11.8 11.7 11.0 0.23

ALL **100.0 100.0**  **100.0 100.0**  **100.0 0.00**  Time of Day 1983 1995 95% CI 2009 2001 1990

### Summary of Travel Trends

TEMPORAL DISTRIBUTION 52 Looking at vehicle trips by time o f day and purpose shows that the morning and evening peak peri ods include not just commutes, but family and personal errands, school trips, and other non

work trips which add to the number of vehicles during the peak periods. As expected, commuting to and from work began predominately between 6 and 9 o’clock in the morning and between 4 and 7 o’clock in the afternoon while more than half of non work

- related trips started between 9 am and 4 pm.

Figure 

### 12

. Distribution of Vehicle Tr ips by Trip Purpose and Start Time o f Trip
2009 N HTS.

0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 12,000 14,000 16,000 18,000 20,000

Midnight 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Noon 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11Vehicle Trips/Day (millions)

Start Hour 

### Number of Vehicle Trips by Start Time and Purpose

Commute Fam/Pers (inc. Shop) School/Ch Soc/Rec Total

### 2009 National Household T ravel Survey (NHTS)

TEMPORAL DISTRIBUTION 53 Table 30

. Daily Travel Statistics by Weekday vs. Weekend
1990 and 1995 NPTS and 2001 and 2009 NHTS

.

Daily Travel Statistics 1990 1995 2001 2009 95% CI

Weekday Sat/Sun Weekday Sat/Sun Weekday Sat/Sun Weekday Sat/Sun Weekday Sat/Sun

Vehicle Trips per Driver 3.41 2.89 3.81 2.99 3.56 2.85 3.21 2.53 0.03 0.05

% work trips 27.80% 9.70% 31.90% 12.50% 31.20% 10.60% 30.99% 10.14% 0.58 0.65

% non

- work trips 72.20% 90.30% 68.10 % 87.50% 68.80% 89.40% 69.01% 89.86% 0.58 0.65

VMT per Driver 28.54 28.36 33.46 28.87 34.35 28.70 30.55 25.01 0.89 1.05
Average Vehicle Trip Length 8.47 9.96 8.85 9.73 9.75 10.22 9.62 10.03 0.26 0.46

Average Time Spent Driving (in minutes) 50.68 46.07 5 9.48 48.05 64.79 52.39 59.83 46.68 0.84 1.32

Person Trips 3.82 3.60 4.43 3.96 4.18 3.86 3.91 3.51 0.04 0.07

P erson Miles of Travel 32.6 40.64 37.68 41.14 39.41 42.31 35.76 37.05 1.33 3.32

Average Person Trip Length 9.47 11.51 8.63 10.53 9.60 11.18 9.37 10.80 0.34 0.99

Note:

**•** Average time spent driving includes all drivers, even those who did not drive a private vehicle on the day in which the house hold was interviewed.

**•** Average trip length is calculated using only those records with trip mileage informati on present.

**•** 1990 person and vehicle trips were adjusted to account for survey collection method changes (see 2001 Summary of Travel Trends Appendix 2).

**•** "% Work Trips" also includes Work

- Related Business

.

**•** NPTS is Nationwide Personal Travel Survey. CI is Con fidence Interval. VMT is Vehicle Miles of Travel. PMT is Person Miles of Travel.

### Summary of Travel Trends

TRAVEL BEHAVIOR OF SPECIAL POPULATIONS 54 

## 9.0 **TRAVEL BEHAVIOR OF SPECIAL**

**- POPULATIONS** 

On a daily basis, individuals 65 and older took fewer trips in 2009 than in 2001 and in 1995. The average time spent driving (inclu ding drivers who reported trips and those that did not) was less in 2009 than in 2001. Person trips and person miles of travel by all means (PMT) was less than in 2001. However, the average person trip length was about the same in 2009 as in 2001 (the 200 1 estimate is within the margin of error).

T able 31

. Daily Travel Statistics of People 65 and Older 1983, 1990, and 1995 NPTS and
2001 and 2009 NHTS.

Note:

**•** Average time spent driving includes all drivers, even those who did not drive a private vehicle on the day in which the household was interviewed.

**•** Average trip length is calculated using only those records with trip mileage information present.

**•** 1990 person and vehicle trips were adjusted to account for survey collection meth od changes (See 2001 Summary of Travel Trends Appendix 2).

**•** "% Work Trips" also includes Work

- Related Business.

**•** NPTS is Nationwide Personal Travel Survey. CI is Confidence Interval. VMT is Vehicle Miles of Travel. 

### Daily Travel Statistics 1983 1990 1995 2001 2009 95% CI

Vehicle Trips per Driver 1.66 2.27 2.94 2.84 2.67 0.05

% work trips 10.20% 4.80% 8.50% 6.20% 10.60% 0.97

% non-work trips 89.80% 95.20% 91.50% 93.80% 89.40% 0.97

VMT per Driver 9.8 14.83 19.56 21.13 19.69 0.75

Average Vehicle Trip Length 5.92 6.61 6.69 7.51 7.46 0.29

Average Time Spent Driving (in minutes) NA 30.83 42.89 49.11 46.37 1.26

Person Trips per Person 1.82 2.49 3.43 3.42 3.21 0.07

PMT per Person 12.21 19.85 25.24 28.04 24.96 1.25

Average Person Trip Length 6.7 8.12 7.46 8.35 7.99 0.42

### 2009 National Household T ravel Survey (NHTS)

TRAVEL BEHAVIOR OF SPECIAL POPULATIONS 55 Table 32

. Select ed Data f or Older Population Groups 2009 NHTS

.

Note:

**•** Percent with Disability is based on respondents who answered that they had a temporary or permanent condition that makes it difficult for them to travel outside of the home.

**•** CI is Confidence Interval

. Percent Drivers 95% CI Vehicle Miles/Driver 95% CI Percent with Zero Vehicles Available 95% CI Percent Who Did Not Travel on Travel Day 95% CI Percent with Disability 95% CI

All Age Groups 50 and Older 87.9% 0.52 26.83 0.6665 7.7% 0.40 17.3% 0.60 17.5% 0.53

50-59 93.7% 0.69 31.51 1.2909 4.9% 0.54 11.2% 0.71 10.9% 0.91

60-69 91.4% 0.89 27.63 1.1838 6.8% 0.92 14.9% 0.94 15.8% 0.87

70-79 83.0% 1.32 18.77 1.1409 10.3% 1.28 24.3% 1.58 22.6% 1.30

80 and older 61.7% 2.17 12.04 1.029 17.6% 1.84 38.0% 2.91 41.3% 2.11

Men 50 and Older 93.2% 0.50 33.55 1.1435 5.2% 0.47 14.3% 0.83 14.4% 0.71

50-59 95.7% 0.67 37.63 1.7578 4.5% 0.67 10.8% 1.11 9.9% 1.19

60-69 95.1% 0.94 34.62 2.2505 5.2% 1.09 12.8% 1.13 13.5% 1.26

70-79 90.8% 1.42 26.51 2.1808 5.4% 1.27 18.3% 1.87 18.6% 1.70

80 and older 77.4% 2.76 16.98 2.2002 9.0% 2.84 31.2% 3.90 34.2% 2.95

Women 50 and Older 83.3% 0.86 20.33 0.8645 9.9% 0.61 20.0% 0.84 20.2% 0.72

50-59 91.8% 1.19 25.29 1.8228 5.2% 0.94 11.7% 0.83 11.8% 1.26

60-69 88.2% 1.52 20.92 1.1825 8.3% 1.18 16.7% 1.40 17.9% 1.21

70-79 77.1% 1.97 11.84 0.7852 14.0% 1.90 28.9% 2.14 25.7% 2.01

80 and older 52.4% 2.73 7.76 0.8063 22.7% 2.23 42.1% 3.42 45.4% 2.77

### Summary of Travel Trends

TRAVEL BEHAVIOR OF SPECIAL POPULATIONS 56 Younger drivers drove fewer miles per capita (including people who drove on the travel day and those who did not) in 2009 than in 1995 or 2001. In urbanized areas, where the majority of the population lives, the declines in vehicle miles of driving per day are significant for 16

- 34 but not for drivers 35 and older. In rural areas, the d rops are only significant for drivers 25 years and older, not for the youngest age group. In 2009, drivers 35 to 44 years old drove more vehicle miles per day in both urb an and rural areas than other age groups.

Table 33

. Vehi cle Miles of Travel (VMT) per day f or Youn ger Population Groups by Urban a nd Rural Household Location 2009 N HTS.

Note:

**•** Urban and Rural are based on the household location and the Census 2000 Urbanized areas

.

**•** Totals can include some unreported characteristics

.

**•** VMT is Vehicle Miles of Travel. CI is Confidence Interval. All All 25.06 28.50 29.54 25.77 0.64

All 16-24 22.38 22.55 22.40 17.43 1.13

All 25-34 31.93 33.48 32.82 26.79 1.67

All 35-44 30.87 34.55 36.36 32.54 1.79

All 45+ 19.41 24.96 27.28 25.23 0.77

Urban All 22.41 25.00 27.30 23.14 0.72

Urban 16-24 20.22 19.71 20.89 14.61 0.98

Urban 25-34 28.54 30.06 30.71 24.51 2.00

Urban 35-44 27.36 30.33 33.34 30.11 2.14

Urban 45+ 16.97 21.46 25.02 22.41 0.83

Rural All 29.61 34.63 37.56 34.18 1.15

Rural 16-24 26.85 28.17 28.19 25.84 3.08

Rural 25-34 38.65 40.06 42.11 34.61 2.58

Rural 35-44 36.86 41.55 47.12 40.45 3.22

Rural 45+ 23.00 30.77 34.58 34.22 1.70 95% CI Household Location Age 1990 1995 2001 2009

### 2009 National Household T ravel Survey (NHTS)

TRAVEL BEHAVIOR OF SPECIAL POPULATIONS 57 The NHTS includes information on th e household

- based vehicle fleet , including the fuel efficiency of each ve hicle, annual miles of vehicle use, the resulting amount of gallons of gasoline, and the average cost of gasoline at the household location during the interview period. The most recent NHTS was collected from April 2008 through April 2009. The average cos t for a gallon of gasoline during that 13

- month period was $ 2

. 96 , although the summer of 2008 saw prices spike as high as $4.00.

When weighted to an annual estimate, an average household in the 2009 NHTS sample spent about $3,300 per year for gasoline for all the vehicles in the household. The same estimate for an average household in the 2001 NHTS was $1,275. These data show that the average expenditures on gasoline by U .S. households have more than double d since 2001.

Urban households spend less overall th an rural households because they travel fewer miles for everyday trips and generally own smaller vehicles that are more fuel efficient.

Table 34

. Annual Expenditures o n Gasoline b y Urban a nd Rural Households b y Number o f Vehicles 2001 and 2009 NHTS

.

Note:

**•** Only households with one or more vehicles are included

.

**•** Gasoline prices were assigned based on the household location and average pump price for the week of the interview. For more information, see http://nhts.ornl.gov/publications.shtml

.

**•** All tables reporting totals could include some unreported characteristics.

**•** CI is Confidence Interval. All $ 1,274.55 $ 3,308.38 36.3

One Vehicle $ 556.13 $ 1,431.74 32.5

Two Vehicle $ 1,324.72 $ 3,414.65 46.6

Three or more Vehicles $ 2,166.10 $ 5,805.61 106.7

All Urban $ 1,178.07 $ 2,981.09 32.2

Urban One Vehicle $ 538.12 $ 1,382.15 35.0

Urban Two Vehicle $ 1,285.99 $ 3,290.29 45.7

Urban Three or more Vehicles $ 2,065.38 $ 5,402.64 115.1

All Rural $ 1,622.62 $ 4,338.65 110.4

Rural One Vehicle $ 660.79 $ 1,701.37 115.7

Rural Two Vehicle $ 1,469.22 $ 3,804.67 127.7

Rural Three or more Vehicles $ 2,379.02 $ 6,515.68 197.2 95% CI Household Location 2009 Dollars/Year 2001 Dollars/Year

### Summary of Travel Trends

TRAVEL BEHAVIOR OF SPECIAL POPULATIONS 58 The data indicates that on

- line shopping is more prevalent in households with childr en, especially teens and young adults (children aged 16

- 21). Overall the average household reported purchasing three items from on

- line sources in t he last month, and 4 out of 5 of the on

- line purchase (2.4 items) were delivered to the household. Household s with older children aged 16

- 21 years old reported purchasing the most items on

- line last month

– 5.2 purchases.

Table 35

. Average Number of On

- Line Purchases and Deliveries t o U.S. Households in t he Last Month 2009 NHTS.

Note:

**•** The 2009 NHTS was the first time data was collected on home deliveries from Internet shopping and on

- line purchases. A trend analysis over time is not available.

**•** CI is Confidence Interval.

Household Type/Presence of Children On-Line Purchases per Household in

the Last Month 95% CI Number of Purchases Delivered to the

Household 95% CI

All Households 3.0 0.1 2.4 0.1

Households without Children 2.1 0.1 1.6 0.1

Households with Children 5-15 4.5 0.2 3.7 0.2

Households with Children 16-21 5.2 0.7 4.2 0.6

### 2009 National Household T ravel Survey (NHTS)

TRAVEL BEHAVIOR OF SPECIAL POPULATIONS 59 The 2009 NHTS included detail s about workers, such as general occupation categories, questions to identify self

- employed workers and workers who work at home, and more detail on commute options, such as arrival time flexibility.

The data shows that many workers have the ability to set or change their arrival time at work

-- well over

one

- third of all workers and nearly half of those in professional, managerial, or technical occupations can set or change their arrival time at work.

One out of five workers either works exclusively from home (8.7 percent) or has the op tion to work at home instead of going into their regular workplace (10.9 percent). Over 18 percent of workers in professional occupations have the option of working at home.

Table 36

. Special Commute Characteristics b y General Occ upation
2009 NHTS

.

Note:

**•** T he question on flexible arrival time was: "Do you have the ability to set or change your own start work time?"

**•** The option to work at home: "Do you have the option of working at home instead of going into you r primary workplace?"

**•** Workers who work exclusively at home were not asked the previous questions

.

**•** "Other" and "all" can include workers with no fixed work place, self

- employed, and unclassified occupations

. General Occupation Percent with Flexible Arrival Time 95% CI Has the Option of Working at Home 95% CI Percent who Work Exclusively at
Home 95% CI

Of All Workers 34.8% 0.6 10.9% 0.4 8.7% 0.4

Clerical or Adminstrative Support 36.0% 2.2 6.1% 0.9 4.4% 0.7 Manuf./Cons, Maintenance or Farming 20.7% 1.3 3.6% 0.7 11.4% 1.1 Professional, Managerial, or Technical 46.8% 1.1 18.3% 0.9 7.3% 0.5
Sales or Service 27.5% 1.0 7.2% 0.7 10.2% 0.8 Other 1.9% 0.3 8.8% 3.5 0.0% 0.0

### 2009 National Household T ravel Survey (NHTS)

APPENDIX A

– TRAVEL CONCEPTS AND GLOSSARY OF TERMS A

- 1 

## APPENDIX A: TRAVEL CONCEPTS AND GLOSSARY OF TERMS

### Summary of Travel Trends

APPENDIX A

– TRAVEL CONCEPTS AND GLOSSARY OF TERMS A

- 2 A BBREVIATIONS

AAPOR American Association for Public Opinion Research AHI At Home Interviewers CASRO Council of American Survey Research Organizations CATI Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing CBSA Core Based Statistical Area CMSA Consolidated Metropolitan Stat istical Area CPS Current Population Survey CSA Combined Statistical Area DOT Department of Transportation FHWA Federal Highway Administration FTA Federal Transit Administration FIPS Federal Information Processing Standards HH Household HHM Househol d Member ID Identification Number METDIV Metropolitan Division MPO Metropolitan Planning Organization MSA Metropolitan Statistical Area NHTS National Household Travel Survey NHTSA National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NPTS National Personal Transportation Survey PMSA Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area PMT Person Miles of Travel POV Privately Operated Vehicle PSU Primary Sampling Unit RDD Random Digit Dialing RTI Research Triangle Institute SAS Statistical Analysis System TRC Telep hone Research Center VMT Vehicle Miles of Travel

TRAVEL CONCEPTS

PERSON TRIP DEFINITION

- A trip from one address to another by one person in any mode of transportation. This is the most basic and universal measure of personal travel. Each record in the Travel Day file in the NHTS dataset represents one person trip.

EXAMPLES

- Two household members traveling together in one car are counted as two person trips. Three household members walking to the store together are counted as three person trips.

PERSON DEFINITION

– For NHTS data, person travel includes all person trips
TRAVEL including but not limited to walking, biking, transit, and vehicle trips

.

### 2009 National Household T ravel Survey (NHTS)

APPENDIX A

– TRAVEL CONCEPTS AND GLOSSARY OF TERMS A

- 3 COMMENTS

- It excludes c ommercial trips, such as hauling freight, serving as a bus driver or an a irline pilot. However, it does include the personal travel of work ers in commercial driver occupations.

PERSON DEFINITION

- The number of miles traveled by each person on a trip. The MILES OF purpose is to account for all MILES traveled by all people dur ing one shared TRAVEL (PMT) trip

.

EXAMPLES

- A four

- mile van trip with a driver and three passengers counts as 16 person miles of travel (4 people times 4 miles).

VEHICLE TRIPS DEFINITION

- A trip by a single privately operated vehicle (POV)

, regardless of the number of persons in the vehicle.

EXAMPLES

- Two people traveling together in a car would be counted as one vehicle trip. Four people going to a restaurant in a van is considered one vehicle trip.

NH TS MODE RESTRICTIONS

- To be considered a vehicl e trip in NHTS, the trip must have been made in a POV, namely a household

- based car, van, sport utility vehicle, pickup truck, other truck, recreational vehicle, motorcycle or other POV. The vehicle does not need to belong to the household , but must be
op erational and available for use.

Trips made in other highway vehicles, such as buses, streetcars, taxis, and school buses are collected in the NHTS, but these are shown as person trips by those modes. The design of the NHTS is such that it does not serve as a source for non

- POV trips, vehicle trips in modes such as buses, because there is no way to trace the movement of the bus fleet throughout the day. Those interested in vehicle trips by buses, taxis, etc. need to use a data source that relies on report s from the fleet operators of those vehicles. The National Transit Database of the Federal Transit Administration is one such source. http://www.ntdprogram.gov/ntdprogram/

VEHICLE MILES OF DEFINITION

- One vehicle mile of travel is the movement of one pr ivately TRAVEL (VMT) operated vehicle (POV) for one mile, regardless of the number of people in the vehicle.

EXAMPLES

- Wh en one person drives a car 12 miles to work, 12 vehicle miles of travel have been made (number of vehicles times the number of miles traveled). If two people travel three miles by pickup, three vehicle miles of travel have been made.

NHTS MODE RESTRICTIONS

- For NHTS data, vehicle miles are restricted to the same privately

- operated vehicles as vehicle trips (see above), that is a hou sehold

- based car, van, sport utility vehicle, pickup truck, other truck, recreational vehicle, or other POV.

### Summary of Travel Trends

APPENDIX A

– TRAVEL CONCEPTS AND GLOSSARY OF TERMS A

- 4 VEHICLE DEFINITION

- For NHTS data, vehicle occupancy is generally computed OCCUPANCY i n two ways: mile

- based method or trip

- based method. The m ile

- based method calculates person miles of travel per vehicle mile

. The trip

- based method is calculated from the number of persons per vehicle trip (referred to as the number on trip ).

COMMENTS

- Because longer trips often have higher occupancies, the m ile

based method generally yields a higher rate than the trip

- based method. The calculation of the mile

- based method requires that trip miles be reported, and so may be calculated on a smaller number of trips as it excludes non

- reports.

### 2009 National Household T ravel Survey (NHTS)

APPENDIX A

– TRAVEL CONCEPTS AND GLOSSARY OF TERMS A

- 5 GLOSSARY

This g lossary provides definitions of the most common terms used in the National Household Travel Survey ( NHTS ).

Adult A person 18 years or older.

Block Group A subdivision of a Census Bureau tract that averages 1,000 to 1,100 people, and approximately 400

- 500 housing units. The source used for the 2009 NHTS was TeleAtlas MatchMaker (derived from the Census 2000 definition).

Census Region The Census Bureau divides the country into four regions and nin e and Division divisions.

Note that the states are w ithin their respective divisions and these divisions are wholly contained within a region, i.e., region lines do not split division lines. The regions and their component divisions are:

Northeast Region:

**•** New England Division: Connecticut, Maine, Massach usetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont

**•** Middle Atlantic Division: New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania

North Central Region:

**•** East North Central Division: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin

**•** West North Central Division: Iowa, Kansas, Minnesot a, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota

South Region

**•** South Atlantic Division: Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia

**•** East South Central Division: Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee

**•** W est South Central Division: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas

West Region

**•** Mountain Division: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming

**•** Pacific Division: Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington

For the 2009 NHTS the s ource used for the 2000 Census Region was: http://www.census.gov/geo/www/cob/rg2000.html

The source used for the 2000 Census Division was: http://www.census.gov/geo/www/cob/dv2000.html

### Summary of Travel Trends

APPENDIX A

– TRAVEL CONCEPTS AND GLOSSARY OF TERMS A

- 6 Census Tract A small subdivision of a county, containing approximately 4,000 persons. Tracts can range in population from 2,500 to 8,000. The geographic size of the tract may vary considerably, depending on population density. Tracts were designed to be homogeneous in regard to population characteristics, economic status and living conditions when they were first delineated. Since the first tracts were defined for the 1890 Census and have remained unchanged , today’s tracts may no longer be consistent . The sou rce used for the 2009 NHTS was TeleAtlas MatchMaker (derived fr om the Census 2000 definition).

Combined Census states that combined statistical areas (CSAs) are groupings of Statistical Area adjacent metropolitan and/or micropolitan statistical areas that have social (CSA) and economic ties as measured by commuting to work, but at lower levels than are found among counties within individual metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas. Combined statistical area s represent larger regions that share broader social and economic interactions, such as wholesaling, com modity distribution, and weekend recreation activities . The CSAs, are likely to be of considerable interest to local and regional government authorities and to the private sector

. The source used for the 2009 NHTS was 2003 Metropolitan and Micropolitan Sta tistical Areas: Cartographic Boundary Files. File cs99_03c.shp from http://www.census.gov/geo/www/cob/mmsa2003.html

For more information on Census statistical area definitions, please see http: //www.census.gov/population/www/metroareas/metroarea.html

Consolidated A large metropolitan complex of one million or more population, containing Metropolitan two or more identifiable component parts designated as Primary Statistical Area Metropolitan St atistical Areas (PMSAs). (CMSA) For more information on Census statistical area definitions, please see http://www.census.gov/population/www/metroareas/metroarea.html

Core Based Census states that each metropolitan or micropolitan statistical that St atistical Area make up the collective CBSA consists of a core area containing a substantial (CBSA) population nucleus, together with adjacent communities having a high degree of economic and social integration with that core. Metropolitan statistical

area s contain at least one U.S. Census Bureau

- defined urbanized area of 50,000 or more population; micropolitan statistical areas contain at least one Census Bureau

- defined urban cluster of at least 10,000 and less than 50,000 population. The source used for t he 2009 NHTS was 2003 Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas: Cartographic Boundary Files. File cb99_03c.shp from http://www.census.gov/geo/www/cob/mmsa2003.html

For more information on Census statistical area definitions, please see http://www.census.gov/population/www/metroareas/metroarea.html

Destination The destination is the point at which there is a break in travel, except if the break

### 2009 National Household T ravel Survey (NHTS)

APPENDIX A

– TRAVEL CONCEPTS AND GLOSSARY OF TERMS A

- 7 is only to change vehicles or means of tran sport. For example, when a person leaves home and walks to the subway and then takes the train to work, the destination is work, not the subway AND work. However, if this person were to stop for coffee before going to the office, it would count as two trip s (i.e., for the first trip, the origin is home and the coffee shop is a destination and , for the second trip, the origin is the coffee shop and the place of employment is destination

.

Driver A driver is a person who operates a motorized vehicle, whether licensed or not. If more than one person drives on a single trip, the person who drives the most miles is classified as the principal driver.

Employed A person is considered employed if (s)he worked for pay or profit in the week before the interview, eit her full time or part time.

Education Level The number of years of regular schooling completed in any graded public, private, or parochial schools, that advances a person toward an elementary or high school diploma , or attends a college , university, or p rofessional school

, whether day school or night school is counted when applicable . In the NHTS, education level is collected for those 18 and older.

Household (HH) A group of persons whose usual place of residence is a specific housing unit; these person s may or may not be related to each other. The total of all U.S. households represents the total civilian

, non

- institutionalized population. In NHTS an eligible sampled h ousehold does not include 10 or more persons living together, none of whom are relat ed.

Household Income Household income is the pay earned by all family members in a household, including those temporarily absent , during t he 12 months preceding the interview. Household income includes monies from all sources, such as wages and salary, co mmissions, tips, cash bonuses, income from a business or farm, pensions, dividends, interest, unemployment or workmen’s compensation, social security, veterans’ payments, rent received from owned property (minus the operating costs), public assistance paym ents, regular gifts of money from friends or relatives not living in the household, alimony, child support, and other kinds of periodic money income other than earnings. Household income excludes in

- kind income such as room and board, insurance payments, lump

sum inheritances, occasional gifts of money from persons not living in the same household, withdrawal of savings from banks, tax refunds, and the proceeds of the sale of one’s house, car, or other personal property.

Household Household members includ e all people, whether present or temporarily Member (HHM) absent, whose usual place of residence is in the sample unit. Household members also include people staying in the sample unit who have no other usual place of residence elsewhere.

### Summary of Travel Trends

APPENDIX A

– TRAVEL CONCEPTS AND GLOSSARY OF TERMS A

- 8 Household Veh icle A household vehicle is a motorized vehicle that is owned, leased, rented or
company

- owned and available to be used regularly by household members. Household vehicles include autos used solely for business purposes or business

- owned vehicles, so long as they are driven home and can be used for the home

- to

- work trip, (e.g., taxicabs, police cars, etc.). Household vehicles include all autos that were owned or available for u se by members of the household on the travel day, even though a vehicle may have been sold before the interview. Vehicles excluded from household vehicles are those that are not working and were not expected to be working, and vehicles that were purchased or received after the designated travel day.

Means of A mode of travel used for going from one place (origin) to another Transportation (destination). A means of transportation includes private and public modes, as well as walking.

The following transportation modes, grouped by major mode, are included in the NHTS data:

Pr ivate Vehicle

**•** Car. Includes autos and station wagons. Leased and rented cars are included if they are privately operated and not used for picking up passengers in return for fare.

**•** Van. Includes vans or minivans designed to carry 5 to 13 passengers, or to haul cargo.

**•** Sport Utility Vehicle. Includes vehicles that are a hybrid of design elements from a van, a pickup truck and a station wagon. Examples include a Ford Explorer, Jeep Cherokee, or Nissan Pathfinder.

**•** Pickup Truck. Includes vehicles with an enc losed cab that usually accommodates 2

- 3 passengers, and has an open cargo area in the rear. Late model pickups often have a back seat that allows for total seating of 4

- 6 passengers. Pickup trucks usually have the same size of wheel

- base as a full

size st ation wagon. This category also includes pickups with campers.

**•** Other Truck: This category consists of all trucks other than pickup trucks (e.g., dump trucks, trailer trucks, etc.).

**•** RV or Motor Home: An RV or motor home includes a self

- powered recreational vehicle that is operated as a unit without being towed by another vehicle (e.g., a Winnebago motor home).

**•** Motorcycle: This class includes large, medium, and small motorcycles and mopeds.

**•** LEV/ Golf Cart: This grouping includes all electric or gas operated vehicles designed for use on a golf course, but whose use has recently extended to use within smaller, often gated, communities.

**•** Other POV: A privately owned or operated vehicle that cannot be classified into one of the categories above (e.g., snowmobiles)

.
Public Transportation , as used in FHWA publications and analysis of NHTS data, typically includes the following that are indicated in bold below, mass

### 2009 National Household T ravel Survey (NHTS)

APPENDIX A

– TRAVEL CONCEPTS AND GLOSSARY OF TERMS A

- 9 transit bus, commuter bus, commuter train, subway/elevated rail, and streetcar/trolley.

Bus: The bu s category includes:

 Mass Transit S ystems : general public transit buses ,

 Commuter B uses : buses used for short

- distance public transport purposes (e.g., city bus or public bus),school buses, and

 Shuttle B uses : that shuttle passengers from one fixed plac e to another (e.g., airport shuttles),

 Charter/Tour B uses : private buses operating on a fixed schedule between population centers, and

 City to City B uses : buses that run from one urban center to the other (e.g., Greyhound).

Train: This category includ es:

 Amtrak and intercity trains that run from one urban center to another on heavy rail tracks;

 Commuter and passenger trains.

 Subway and elevated rail (also known as rail rapid transit) is a high capacity system operated on a fixed rail or guide way sys tem on a private right of way ; and

 Trolley/streetcars run on a fixed rail system powered by electricity obtained from an overhead power distribution system.

Other Modes

**•** Taxi. Taxis include the use of an auto by a passenger for fare, including limousines. The taxi category does not include rental cars if they are privately operated.

**•** Ferry. This group includes travel by passenger line ferries.

**•** Airplane. Airplanes include commercial airplanes and smaller planes that are available for use by the general publ ic in exchange for a fare. Private and corporate planes and helicopters are also included.

**•** Bicycle. This category includes bicycles of all speeds and sizes that do not have a motor.

**•** Walk. This category includes walking and jogging.

**•** Special Transit for P eople with Disabilities. This group includes paratransit programs like “Dial

- A

- Ride”.

**•** Other. Includes any type of transportation not previously listed, (e.g. skate boards, roller blades, sailboats, cruise ships, etc). Metropolitan A Metropolitan Statist ical Area containing a single core with a population of Division at minimum 2.5 million may be subdivided into areas known as Metropolitan Divisions. The source used for the 2009 NHTS was 2003 Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas: Cartographic Boundary Files. File md99_03c.shp from http://www.census.gov/geo/www/cob/mmsa2003.html

### Summary of Travel Trends

APPENDIX A

– TRAVEL CONCEPTS AND GLOSSARY OF TERMS A

- 10 Metropolitan Except in the New England States, a Metropolitan Statistical Area is a Statistical Area cou nty or group of contiguous counties which cont ain at least one city of (MSAs) 50,000 inhabitants or more or ‘twin cities’ with combined populations of 50,000 or more. Each metro area consists of one or more counties and includes the counties containing th e core urban area, as well as any adjacent counties that have a high degree of social and economic integration (as measured by commuting patterns to work) with the urban core. For more information, see: http://www.census.gov/population/www/metroareas/metroarea.html

Motorized Vehicle V ehicles are all vehicles that are licensed for highway driving.

Occupancy T he number of persons, including driver and passenger(s) in a vehicle. NH TS provides this number in the variable NUMONTRP.

Origin Origin is the starting point of a trip.

Passenger For a specific trip, a passenger is any occupant of a motorized vehicle, other than the driver.

Person Miles PMT is a primary measure of perso n travel and is described in the Travel of Of Travel (PMT) Concepts section at the beginning of this Glossary.

Person Trip A person trip is a trip from one address to another by one or more persons in any mode of transportation. Each person is conside red as making one person trip. For example, four persons traveling together in one auto are counted as four person trips.

POV A privately

- owned vehicle or privately

- operated vehicle. This is not a vehicle available to the public for a fee, such as a bus, subway, taxi, etc.

Public Transportation See Mode of Transportation

Travel Day A travel day is a 24

- hour period from 4:00 a.m. to 3:59 a.m. designated as the reference period for studying trips and travel by members of a sampled household.

Travel D ay Trip A travel day trip is defined as any time the respondent went from one address to another by private motor vehicle, public transportation, bicycle, walking, or other means. However, a separate trip is not counted in two instances:

1. When the sole purpose for the trip is to get to another vehicle or mode of transportation in order to continue to the destination.

### 2009 National Household T ravel Survey (NHTS)

APPENDIX A

– TRAVEL CONCEPTS AND GLOSSARY OF TERMS A

- 11 2. Travel within a shopping center, mall or s hopping areas of 4

- 5 blocks is considered travel to one destination.

Travel Day A trip pur pose is the primary purpose of a trip. Trip Purpose There are 36 travel day trip purposes used in the 2009 NHTS.

For each trip, the origin and destination are documented in specific terms if properly reported by the respondent (e.g. from place of em ploy ment ). The 36 trip reasons are defined below. The numbers in parentheses represent the value of WHYTO (trip purpose) in the dataset.

Return Trip:

1. To Home (01). A trip to the respondents’ primary residence.

To Work: 2. Go to Work (11). T he first trip to t he work location on travel day.

Return Trip: 3. Return to Work (12). A trip to work that is not the first trip to the workplace on the travel day (e.g., returning to work after lunch).

Work

- Related: 4. Attend Business Meeting/Trip (13). A work

- related trip s uch as a business meeting. 5. Other Work Related (14). A work

- related trip with an unspecified purpose

.

School/Church: 6. Go to School as a Student (21). A trip to school as a student. 7. Go to Religious Activity (22). A trip to a place to attend a religious ac tivity. 8. Go to Library, School Related (23). A trip to go to the library as part of a school related activity. 9. Go to Daycare/Before or After School Care (24). A trip to attend day care or a supervised before or after school care program. 10. Other School/Relig ious Activity (20). S chool and religious activities that are not captured in WHYTO 21

- 24 above.

Medical Dental: 11. Medical/Dental Services (30). A trip made to obtain medical, dental, or mental health treatment, or other related professional services.

Fa mily and Personal Business/Errands: 12. Shopping/Errands (40). S hopping and errand trips that are not captured in WHYTO 41

- 43 above. 13. Buy Goods: groceries/clothing/hardware store (41). A shopping trip to purchase commodities for use or consumption elsewhere. Th is trip can also include shopping trips even if nothing is purchased. 14. Buy Services (42)

. This category includes the purchase of services other than medical/dental or other professional services , including v i deo rentals,

### Summary of Travel Trends

APPENDIX A

– TRAVEL CONCEPTS AND GLOSSARY OF TERMS A

- 12 dry cleaning, post office, car serv ice, or a bank

. 15. Buy Gas (43). A trip made specifically to get gas. 16. Use Professional Services: (61). A trip made for to engage professional services (such as an attorney or accountant) other than for medical/dental purposes. 17. Attend Funeral/Wedding (62). A trip to attend a funeral or a wedding. 18. Use Personal Services (63). A trip for personal services such as a massage, manicure, or a haircut. 19. Pet Care (64). Walking the dog or veterinary visits 20. Attend Meeting (65). A trip t o attend a non

- work related meetin g, such as a community meeting

, PTA home owner’s associate, or local government meetings. 21. Family Personal Business/Obligations (60). Represents a trip for personal business but is not captured in WHYTO 61

- 65 above. 22. Pick up Someone (71). A trip to pick up a passenger. 23. Take and Wait (72). A trip to take someone to a destination, then wait with or for them at the destination, and then depart together. 24. Drop Someone Off (73). A trip to drop off a passenger but not wait for them. 25. Transport Someone (70). A tri p with a passenger that involves picking up or dropping off someone but is not captured in WHYTO 71

- 73 above.

Social and Recreational : 26. Social/Recreational (50). This category includes social and recreational trips that are not captured in WHYTO 51

- 55 abo ve. 27. Go to the Gym/Exercise/Play Sports (51). A trip to engage in exercise or to participate in a sport. 28. Rest or Relaxation/Vacation (52). A trip for relaxing or taking a vacation that does not include visiting family. 29. Visit Friends/Relatives (53). A soci al/recreational trip to visit with family and friends. 30. Go out/Hang out (54). A trip for entertainment (i.e. theatre/sports event/go to bar/seeing friends) that typically take place in a public venue. 31. Visit Public Place (55). A trip purpose that is educatio nal or enlightening. 32. Get/Eat Meal (82). A trip to get and eat a meal. 33. Coffee/Ice Cream/Snacks (83). A trip to get/eat a quantity of snack or drink that is , something less than a meal. 34. Meals (80). A trip to eat or get a meal that is not captured in WHYTO 8 1

- 83 above. 35. Social Event (81). A trip to attend a social event where eating a meal is not a key component of the event.

Other: 36. Other (97). A trip purpose not captured by any of the specific WHYTO categories described above.

Urban and Rural The NHTS 2009 used the available Urban a nd Rural classifications at the Classification time of data coding, which were from the Census 2000. For Census 2000, the Census Bureau classified as "urban" all territory, population, and housing units located within an urbaniz ed area (UA) or an urban

### 2009 National Household T ravel Survey (NHTS)

APPENDIX A

– TRAVEL CONCEPTS AND GLOSSARY OF TERMS A

- 13 cluster (UC). It defines UA and UC boundaries to encom pass densely settled territory that consists of:

**•** c ore C ensus block groups or blocks that have a population density of at least 1,000 people per square mile and

**•** surrounding cen sus blocks that have an overall density of at least 500 people per square mile

In addition, under certain conditions, less densely settled territory may be part of each UA or UC.

The Census Bureau's classification of "rural" consists of all territory, po pulation, and housing units located outside of UAs and UCs. The rural component contains both place and nonplace territory. Geographic entities, such as C ensus tracts, counties, metropolitan areas, and the territory outside metropolitan areas, often are "s plit" between urban and rural territory, and the population and housing units they contain often are partly classified as urban an d partly classified as rural. For more information, see: http://www. census.gov/geo/www/ua/ua_2k.html

Urbanized Area An urbanized area consists of the built

- up area surrounding a central core (or central city), with a population density of at least 1,000 persons per square mile. Urbanized areas do not follow jurisdiction al boundaries, therefore it is common for the urbanized area border to divide a county. For the 2009 NHTS, Urban areas were coded in the variable URBAN. Four codes are used:

01 = In an urban area 02 = In an Urban cluster 03 = In an area surrounded by urban areas 04 = Not in urban area

Vehicle I ncludes autos, passenger vans, sport utility vehicles, pickups and other light trucks, RV’s, motorcycles and mopeds

, and golf carts owned and/ or available to the household for regular use.

Vehicle Miles of VM T is a unit to measure vehicle travel mad e by a private vehicle, such as Travel (VMT ) an automobile, van, pickup truck, or motorcycle. Each mile traveled is counted as one vehicle mile regardless of the number of persons in the vehicle.

Vehicle Occupa ncy Vehicle occupancy is the number of persons, including driver and passenger(s) in a vehicle; also includes persons who did not complete a whole trip. NHTS provides this number in the variable NUMONTRP. Mile

- based v ehicle
occupancy is calculated using N UMONTRP weighted per vehicle mile.

Vehicle Trip A trip by a single privately

- operated vehicle (POV) regardless of the number of persons in the vehicle.

### Summary of Travel Trends

APPENDIX A

– TRAVEL CONCEPTS AND GLOSSARY OF TERMS A

- 14 Vehicle Type O ne of the following:

1. Automobile (including station wagon)

2. Van

3. Spor t Utility Vehicle

4. Pickup Truck (including pickup with camper)

5. Other Truck

6. RV or Motor Home

7. Motorcycle

8. Other

See Means of Transportation for definitions of these vehicle types. Much of the analysis conducted using the NHTS dat a limits vehicle types t o privately operated vehicles (POVs) because other vehicles that the respondent may have

r idden in (e.g., bus) were not tracked throughout the entire day.

Worker See Employed

.

### 2009 National Household T ravel Survey (NHTS)

APPENDIX B

– KEY CHANGES OVER TIME IN THE NPTS/NHTS DATA SERIES B

- 1 

## APPENDIX B. KEY CHANGES OVER TIME IN THE NPTS/NHTS DATA SERIES

### Summary of Travel Trends

APPENDIX B

– KEY CHANGES OVER TIME IN THE NPTS/NHTS DATA SERIES B

- 2 

### Key Changes Over Time in t he NPTS/NHTS Data Series 

## 1969 1977 1983 1990 1995 2001 2009

15,000 18,000 6,500 18,000 national and 4,300 add

on 21,000 national and 21,000 add

on 26,000 national and 44,000 add

on 25,000 national

a nd 125,000 add

on (Combined into single

sample)

Outgoing panels of Census Quarterly Housing Survey Outgoing panels of Census Current Popula tion

Survey Outgoing panels of Census Current Popula tion

Survey RDD Telephone

sample RDD Telephone sample RDD Telephone sample RDD Telephone sample plus Cell Phone Only sample

In

- home interview with

some telephone follow

- up In

- home interview with

some telephone follow

- up In

- home interview with

some telephone follow

- up One

- stage: CATI recruit

and recall Two stage: CATI recruit

mail out diary

CATI collection Two stage: CATI recruit

- mail out

diary

- CATI collection Two stage: CATI recruit

- mail out

diary

- CATI collection

None None N one None Advance Letter and 2$ per person with diary Advance Letter and 2$ per person with diary Advance Letter and 2$ per person with diary

None: Respondent recalled 'yesterday' None: Respondent recalled 'yesterday' None: Respondent recalled 'yesterday' None: Respondent recalled 'yesterday' Diary as a memory jogger Diary as a memory jogger Diary as a memory jogger

None None None None Full day trip rostering by begin time only Full day t r ip rostering by time and destin ation Full day tr ip rostering by time and destin ation

### 2009 National Household T ravel Survey (NHTS)

APPENDIX B

– KEY CHANGES OVER TIME IN THE NPTS/NHTS DATA SERIES B

- 3 

## 1969 1977 1983 1990 1995 2001 2009

All household members All household members All household members Household members aged

5 and older Household membe rs aged

5 and older All household members Household members aged 5 and older

No Proxy Allowed No Proxy Allowed No Proxy Allowed Proxy reports required for household members 13

years and under, adult proxy allowed Proxy rep orts required for 13

and under.

parental approval for 14

-

15 year olds. Adult proxy from

diary allowed. Proxy reports required for 13

and under.

Parental approval for 14

-

15 year olds. Adult proxy from diary after 3 days. Proxy reports required for 13

and under. Parental approval

for 14

- 15 year olds. Adult proxy from diary after

three days.

Travel by walking within a defined area (such as

a strip mall) not counted Travel by walking within

a block area

(such as a strip mall) not counted Travel by walking within

a block area

(such as a strip mall) not counted Travel by walking within

a block area (such as a strip mall) not counted Any stop from one address to another, including trips to change transportation mode Any trip from

one a d dress to another, mode

changes not included (access and egress asked separately) Any trip from one ad d ress to another, mode

changes not included (access and egress asked separately)

None None None None None Prompt s to include walk/bike trips Prompts to include walk/bike

-

- added transit

Did not collect walk and bike trips Collected walk and bike Collected walk and bike Collected walk and bike Collected walk and bike Collected walk

an d bike. Split home

- to

- home trips to geocode trip location Collected walk and bike. Split home

- to

- home trips to geocode trip location