Pocket Guide to 

Transportation

2013

RITA Bureau of Transportation Statistics
For additional copies of this guide or information about 

the Bureau of Transportation Statistics and its products 

and services, contact:

Product Orders

Internet: http://www.bts.gov/publications/pocket_guide_

to_transportation/2013/

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 Technology Administration

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ATTN: Product Orders

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Phone: 1-800-853-1351

Email: RITAinfo@dot.gov

January 2013
2013 

Pocket Guide to

Transportation

RITA Bureau of Transportation Statistics
U.S. Department of

Transportation

Ray LaHood

Secretary

John Porcari

Deputy Secretary

Research and

Innovative

Technology

Administration

Gregory Winfree

Deputy Administrator

Bureau of

Transportation

Statistics

Patricia Hu

Director 

Rolf Schmitt

Deputy Director

Produced under the 

direction of:

Michael Sprung

Assistant Director for 

Transportation Analysis

Project Manager

Sean Jahanmir

Contributors

Mindy Liu

William Moore

Long Nguyen

Ken Notis

Alpha Wingfield

Acknowledgments
About the

Pocket Guide to Transportation

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) of the 

Research and Innovative Technology Administration produces the Pocket Guide to Transportation as a compact 

resource that provides snapshots of data on the U.S. 

transportation system and highlights major transportation 

trends. The Pocket Guide contains a wealth of information that supports the U.S. Department of Transportation’s 

Strategic Goals. The Pocket Guide is divided into five 

sections:

• Safety

• The Transportation System and Equipment

• System Use and Livable Communities

• Economic Competitiveness

• Environmental Sustainability

The Pocket Guide to Transportation supports the BTS 

mission to create, manage, and share transportation statistical knowledge, which contributes to data-driven and 

evidence-based decision making.
Contents

Safety................................................................................1

The Transportation System and Equipment..............10

System Use and Livable Communities....................... 14 

Economic Competitiveness.........................................29

Environmental Sustainability ......................................46

Glossary.........................................................................52

America’s transportation system continues to change along with the population, labor force, and 

economy. The following table puts these changes in 

perspective.

A Dynamic System

The American Landscape: 1990 and 2011

1990 2011

Resident population (thousands) 248,791 311,592 

Total area (thousand sq. mi.)a 3,718 3,797 

Total civilian labor force (thousands) 125,840 153,617 

Real gross domestic productb

 (trillions) 8.0 13.3 

Median household incomeb,c 41,430 44,151 

Average household incomeb,c 44,122 56,175 

Average household expendituresb,c 39,320 43,681 

Number of households (thousands) 94,312 121,084 

Life expectancy at birth (years)d 75.4 78.7 a

Total area updated every 10 years; area last updated in 2010. Increase 

in Total area due to change in methodology used to calculate the data 

from 1990 to 2011. b

Data are in 2005 chained dollars (see Glossary for 

definition). c

BTS calculations, September 2012. dLife expectancy shown 

for 2011 is for 2010.

Sources: Population, Area, Households, Median Income—U.S. 

Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. Average Income, 

Labor force, Expenditures—U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of 

Labor Statistics. GDP—U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis. Life expectancy—Department of Health and Human 

Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention accessed September 2012.
Safety 1

1  Safety

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s number one priority is the safety of the traveling public. Highway fatalities 

account for roughly 93 percent of total U.S. transportation 

fatalities. U.S. DOT initiatives helped reduce highway fatalities 

by 28 percent between 1990 and 2011.

1-1 Transportation Fatalities by Mode: 1990, 2000, 2010, 2011

Mode 1990 2000 2010 2011

Aira

Large U.S. air carrier 39 92 2 0

Commuter air carrier 6 5 0 0

On-demand air taxi 51 71 17 41

General aviation 770 596 454 443

Highwayb 44,599 41,945 32,999 32,367

Pipeline, gas and hazardous liquid 9 38 22 14

Railroadc 729 631 592 569

Transitd 235 208 215 229

Waterborne

Vessel-related, commercial ship 85 53 41 28

Nonvessel-related, commercial shipe 101 134 52 34

Recreational boating 865 701 672 758 a

Aircraft and ground fatalities. bMotor vehicle occupant and nonoccupant fatalities, including at railroad crossings. c

Train occupant and nonoccupant fatalities for 

incidents and accidents, not including at public highway-rail grade crossings involving motor vehicles. Includes commuter rail. d

All reportable incident and accident 

fatalities. Includes heavy rail, light rail, motorbus, demand response, van pool, and 

automated guideway. e

Fatalities unrelated to vessel accidents, e.g., individual falling 

overboard and drowning.

Notes: Highway data for 2011 are preliminary. General aviation, highway, pipeline, 

and railroad data for 2010 are revised. Waterborne data for 2000 and 2010 are 

revised.

Sources: Air—National Transportation Safety Board. Highway—National Highway 

Traffic Safety Administration. Pipeline—Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety 

Administration. Railroad—Federal Railroad Administration, Transit—Federal Transit 

Administration and personal communication. Water—U.S. Coast Guard as cited in 

U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, National Transportation Statistics, available 

at http://www.bts.gov/publications/national_transportation_statistics/ accessed 

December 2012.
2 Pocket Guide to Transportation

1-2 Distribution of Transportation Fatalities: 2011

Category Number Percent

Passenger car occupants 11,981 35.09

Light-truck occupants 9,272 27.15

Motorcyclists 4,612 13.51

Pedestrians struck by motor vehicles 4,432 12.98

Recreational boating 758 2.22

Pedalcyclists struck by motor vehicles 677 1.98

Large-truck occupants 635 1.86

Other and unknown motor vehicle occupants 506 1.48

General aviation 443 1.30

Other nonoccupants struck by motor vehiclesa 198 0.58

Railroad trespassers (excluding grade crossings)b 134 0.39

Heavy rail transit (subway) 97 0.28

Transit buses (motorbus) 92 0.27

Grade crossings, not involving motor vehiclesc 88 0.26

Bus occupants (school, intercity, transit) 54

 41 

0.16

On-demand air taxi 0.12 

Light rail transit 36 0.11

Waterborne transportation (nonvessel-related) 34 0.10

Rail employees on duty and contractorsb 32 0.09

Waterborne transportation (vessel-related) 28 0.08

Gas distribution pipelines 13 0.04

Demand response transit 4 0.01

Railroad, other (off-duty and nontrespassers) 3 0.01

Hazardous liquid pipelines 1 <0.01

Other counts, redundant with above

Crashes involving large trucksd 3,757

Commuter raile 57 a

Includes nonoccupant fatalities in motor vehicle crashes, except pedalcyclists 

and pedestrians. b

Includes fatalities outside trains. cPublic grade crossing fatalities involving motor vehicles are included in motor vehicle counts. d

Unless otherwise noted, includes fatalities outside vehicles. e

Includes fatalities on directly 

operated systems, excluding suicides.

Notes: Highway data for 2011 are preliminary.

Sources: Air—National Transportation Safety Board. Highway—National 

Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Railroad—Federal Railroad Administration. Transit—Federal Transit Administration and personal communication. 

Waterborne—U.S. Coast Guard. Recreational boating—U.S. Coast Guard, 

Office of Boating Safety. Pipeline—Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety 

Administration as cited in U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and 

Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 

National Transportation Statistics, table 2-4, available at http://www.bts.gov/publications/national_transportation_statistics/ accessed December 2012.
Safety 3

1-3 Alcohol-Related Fatalities in Motor Vehicle Crashes by

 Person Type and Crash Type: 2010

Person type, crash category

Total 

fatalities

Alcoholrelated 

fatalities

Alcoholrelated 

fatalities as a 

percentage of 

total fatalities

Occupants 27,805 11,087 39.9

Single-vehicle crashes 14,567 7,165 49.2

Two-vehicle crashes 11,197 3,313 29.6

More than two-vehicle crashes 2,041 608 29.8

Pedestrians 4,280 2,020 47.2

Single-vehicle crashes 3,682 1,731 47.0

Multiple-vehicle crashes 598 290 48.5

Pedalcyclists 618 209 33.8

Single-vehicle crashes 592 196 33.1

Multiple-vehicle crashes 26 13 50.0

Others/unknown 182 49 26.9

Total 32,885 13,364 40.6

Notes: Category numbers may not sum to totals due to rounding. A motor vehicle 

crash is considered alcohol-related if at least one driver or nonoccupant (e.g., a 

pedestrian or pedalcyclist) involved in the crash has a blood alcohol concentration of 

0.01 grams per deciliter or greater. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 

estimates alcohol involvement when test results of alcohol concentration are unknown.

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) Database, personal communication, December 2011 as cited in U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and 

Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, National 

Transportation Statistics, table 2-20, available at http://www.bts.gov/publications/

national_transportation_statistics/ accessed October 2012.
4 Pocket Guide to Transportation

1-4 Fatality Rates for Selected Modes: 1985–2010

1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0 Per 100 million vehicle miles

Passenger car occupants

0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0 Per 100 million vehicle miles

Light-truck occupants

0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0 Per 100 million vehicle miles

Large-truck occupants

Per 100 million vehicle miles

Motorcycle riders

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Large air carriers 

0

2

4

6

8

10

Per 100,000 aircraft departures

1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

General aviation

0

1

2

3

4

5

Per 100,000 hours flown

Notes: Not all graph scales are comparable. Air carrier fatalities resulting from 

the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks include only onboard fatalities. In 2011, FHWA 

revised vehicle miles traveled data beginning with 2007 using a new methodology. 

Highway fatality rates may differ from previously published rates.

Sources: Passenger car occupants, Light-truck occupants, Large-truck 

occupants, and Motorcycle riders—U.S. Department of Transportation, National 

Highway Traffic Safety Administration, National Center for Statistics and Analysis. 

Large air carriers and General aviation—National Transportation Safety Board as 

reported in U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology 

Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, National Transportation Statistics, tables 2-9 and 2-14, available at http://www.bts.gov/publications/national_transportation_statistics/ accessed November 2012.
Safety 5

1-5 Injured Persons by Transportation Mode: 

 1990, 2000, 2010, 2011

Mode 1990 2000 2010 2011

Aira 485 359 278 362

Large U.S. air carrier 29 31 16 20

Commuter air carrier 11 7 2 0

On-demand air taxi 36 12 6 15

General aviation 409 309 254 327

Highwayb 3,230,666 3,188,750 2,239,000 2,217,000

Pipeline, gas and 

hazardous liquid 76 81 109 60

Railroadc 25,143 11,643 8,333 8,181

Transitd 54,556 56,697 23,414 22,652

Waterborne U 5,112 3,867 3,867

Vessel-related, 

 commercial ship 175 150 172 105

Nonvessel-related, 

 commercial shipe U 607 542 654

Recreational boating 3,822 4,355 3,153 3,108

a

Includes serious injuries only. bIncludes passenger car occupants, motorcyclists, 

light-duty and large-truck occupants, bus occupants, occupants of unknown vehicle 

types, and pedestrians, pedalcyclists, and other nonmotorists. c

Injuries resulting 

from train accidents, train and nontrain incidents, and occupational illness. Includes 

Amtrak. Also includes train occupants and nonoccupants except motor vehicle 

occupants at grade crossings. d

Injuries resulting from all reportable incidents, not just 

from accidents. Includes commuter rail, heavy rail, light rail, motorbus, on-demand 

service, van pool, and automated guideway. The drop in the number of injuries after 

2008 is due largely to a change in definitions by the Federal Transit Administration. 

Only injuries requiring immediate medical treatment away from the scene now qualify 

as reportable. Previously, any injury was reportable. e

Injuries unrelated to vessel 

operations.

Key: U = unavailable.

Notes: Reporting criteria and/or estimation methods for injuries are not standardized 

across modes. Large U.S. air carrier, general aviation, pipeline, and railroad data for 

previous years are revised. Highway data for 2010 are revised.

Sources: Air—National Transportation Safety Board. Highway—National Highway 

Traffic Safety Administration. Pipeline—Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety 

Administration. Railroad—Federal Railroad Administration. Transit—Federal Transit 

Administration. Waterborne—United States Coast Guard as cited in U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau 

of Transportation Statistics, National Transportation Statistics, table 2-2, available 

at http://www.bts.gov/publications/national_transportation_statistics/ accessed 

December 2012.
6 Pocket Guide to Transportation

1-6 State Laws on Distracted Driving—Bans on Handheld 

 Devices and Texting While Driving accessed September 2012

Notes: While 10 States and DC have universal bans on handheld devices and 

texting, many other States have partial bans on either or both that restrict use 

for novice drivers or bus drivers. In Iowa and Virginia, secondary enforcement is 

applied to texting while driving. In Maryland, secondary enforcement is applied to 

using handheld devices while driving. The term “secondary enforcement” means 

that motorists must be stopped for another violation before they can be cited for 

texting or using a cell phone.

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety 

Administration, State Laws on Distracted Driving, available at http://www.distraction.gov/state-laws/ accessed September 2012. TX CA MT AZ ID NV NMCO IL OR UT KS WY IA NE SD MN ND OK FL WI MO WA AL GA ARLA MI IN PA NY NC MS TN VA KYOH SC ME WV NHVT MARI CTNJ DEMDDC Bans on handheld devices and texting Ban on texting No bans AK HI State Laws on Distracted Driving Bans on Handheld Devices and Texting While Driving as of September 2012 Notes: While 10 States and DC have statewide bans on handheld devices and texting while driving, many other States have partial bans on either or both that restrict use for novice drivers or bus drivers. Handheld device bans are subject to secondary enforcement in Maryland and West Virginia. Texting bans are subject to secondary enforcement in Iowa, Nebraska, Ohio, and Virginia.

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, State Laws on Distracted Driving, available at http://www.distraction.gov/state-laws/ as of September 2012.
Safety 7

1-7 Highway Crashes Involving Distraction by Severity: 2005-2010

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Fatal Crashes

Overall 39,252 38,648 37,435 34,172 30,797 30,196

Distraction 4,026 5,245 5,329 5,307 4,898 2,843

Percentage 10.3 13.6 14.2 15.5 15.9 9.4

Injury Crashes

Overall 1,816,000 1,746,000 1,711,000 1,630,000 1,517,000 1,542,000

Distraction 399,000 339,000 309,000 314,000 307,000 279,000

Percentage 22.0 19.4 18.1 19.3 20.2 18.1

Property Damage Only Crashes

Overall 4,304,000 4,189,000 4,275,000 4,146,000 3,957,000 3,847,000

Distraction 900,000 676,000 689,000 650,000 647,000 618,000

Percentage 20.9 16.1 16.1 15.7 16.4 16.1

Notes: Crashes involving distraction in 2010 should not be compared to crashes involving 

distraction for prior years due to significant changes in data collection and methodology. 

Fatal crashes include those in which at least one person was killed. Injury crashes include 

nonfatal crashes in which at least one person was injured. Crashes include single-vehicle, 

multi-vehicle, pedestrian-vehicle, and bicycle-vehicle crashes. Distracted driving is any 

activity that could divert a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving. Fatal 

crash data are reported in the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), a nationwide 

census providing data regarding fatal injuries suffered in motor vehicle crashes. Injury and 

property damage only crash data are estimates from the National Automotive Sampling 

System (NASS) 

General Estimates System (GES), a nationally representative sample of police reported 

motor vehicle crashes.

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 

Distracted Driving, http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811650.pdf accessed October 2012.
8 Pocket Guide to Transportation

1-8 Hazardous Materials Transportation Incidents, Injuries,

 and Fatalities: 1990, 2000, 2010, 2011

1990 2000 2010 2011

Highway 7,296 15,063 12,649 12,801 

Accident related 249 329 321 332 

Injuries 311 164 152 129 

Fatalities 8 16 8 11 

Rail 1,279 1,058 749 743 

Accident related 48 62 35 40 

Injuries 73 82 13 20 

Fatalities 0 0 0 1 

Air 297 1,419 1,293 1,400 

Accident related 0 3 2 2 

Injuries 39 5 2 7 

Fatalities 0 0 0 0 

Water 7 17 105 71 

Accident related 0 0 1 0 

Injuries 0 0 2 8 

Fatalities 0 0 0 0 

Pipeline 379 380 587 596 

Natural Gas Distribution 110 154 121 122 

 Injuries 52 59 44 57 

 Fatalities 6 22 11 13 

Natural Gas Transmission 89 80 118 126 

 Injuries 17 18 61 1 

 Fatalities 0 15 10 0 

Liquid 180 146 348 348 

 Injuries 7 4 4 2 

 Fatalities 3 1 1 1 

Notes: Accident related excludes human errors, package failures, and unreported cases. Water data are for incidents involving packaged materials only 

and do not include incidents where the vessel is the container (e.g., a barge or 

oil tanker). Nonpipeline reporting requirements changed in 2002. Pipeline data 

contain all incidents reported to PHMSA based on the reporting criteria in effect 

at the time of the incidents. Natural gas transmission includes the gathering system. Data for 2010 are revised.

Sources: Highway, Rail, Air and Water—U.S. Department of Transportation, 

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Office of Hazardous 

Material Safety, Incident Statistics, available at http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/

hazmat/library/data-stats accessed August 2012. Pipeline—USDOT, PHMSA, 

Office of Pipeline Safety, Accident/Incident Summary Statistics, available at 

http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/pipeline/library/data-stats accessed August 2012. 
Safety 9

1-9 International Piracy and Armed Robbery at Sea: 

 2000–2011

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

Number of incidents

Note: Incidents include attempts and threatening actions.

Source: International Maritime Organization, Reports on Acts of Piracy and 

Armed Robbery Against Ships: Annual Report, available at http://www.imo.org 

accessed August 2012.
10 Pocket Guide to Transportation

2  The Transportation System and

 Equipment

The U.S. transportation system is an extensive, interconnected network of public and private roads, airports, railroads, transit 

routes, waterways, terminals, ports, and pipelines. Millions of 

people and businesses rely on this expanding system to get to 

work, conduct business, ship goods within the United States and 

abroad, and travel on vacations. The transportation system links 

regions and joins urban and rural areas, and connects the United 

States (people and goods) with the rest of the world.

2-1 The Transportation Network: 2011

Mode Components

Highway Miles of public road 4,059,339

Interstate Highway System (2008) 47,011

Other National Highway System (2008) 117,084

Other roads (2008) 3,895,244

Air Airports 19,782

Public use 5,172

Private use 14,339

Military 271

Rail Miles of railroad operated 161,195

Class I freight railroadsa 95,514

Regional freight railroads (2010) 12,000

Local freight railroads (2010) 32,456

Amtrak (passenger)b 21,225

Public transit Directional route-milesc 242,306

Busd 220,076

Bus rapid transitd 119

Commuter busd 10,721

Trolley busd 456

Commuter rail 7,576

Heavy rail 1,617

Hybrid rail 207

Light rail 1,398

Streetcar rail 136

continued next page
State of Good Repair 11

2-1—continued

The Transportation Network: 2011

Mode Components

Public transit

(cont.)

Stations 3,155

Commuter rail 1,219

Heavy rail 1,041

Hybrid rail 49

Light rail 761

Streetcar rail 85

Water Miles of navigable waterways 25,320

Direction route-miles of ferry routes (2010) 697

Commercial waterway facilitiese

 (2010) 8,184

Great Lakes 647

Inland 1,949

Ocean 5,588

Lock chambers (2010) 238

Pipeline Miles of pipeline 1,735,237

Hazardouds liquid 177,631

Gas transmission and gathering 324,606

Gas distribution 1,233,000 a

Includes 561 miles of the U.S. Class I freight railroad system owned by Canadian 

railroads. b

Approximately 97 percent of the trackage on which Amtrak operates is 

owned by other railroads. c

Directional route-miles includes both directly operated 

and purchased transport service. d

Includes directional route-miles on exclusive 

right-of-way, controlled right-of-way, and mixed traffic. e

See Glossary for definitions.

Note: Data are for 2011 unless indicated otherwise. 

Sources: Highway—USDOT, FHWA, Highway Statistics 2008, table HM-18. 

Air— USDOT, Federal Aviation Administration, Administrator’s Fact Book, June 

2012. Railroad—Association of American Railroads, Railroad Facts 2012. Transit—USDOT, Federal Transit Administration, National Transit Database 2011, tables 

21, 23, and 24. Water—Commercial waterway facilities—U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Institute for Water Resources, Navigation Data Center, U.S. Waterway System Facts, November 2012. Navigable channels—U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as 

cited in USDOT, RITA, BTS, National Transportation Statistics, table 1-1 accessed 

November 2011. Pipeline—PHMSA as cited in USDOT, RITA, BTS, National Transportation Statistics, tables 1-1 and 1-10 accessed October 2012.
12 Pocket Guide to Transportation

2-2 Number of Aircraft, Railcars, Vehicles, and Vessels: 2007-2010

Mode 2007 2008 2009 2010

Air

Air carrier 8,044 7,856 7,771 7,431

General aviation 231,607 228,663 223,877 223,370

Highway

Light duty vehiclesa 235,678,150 236,448,155 234,467,679 230,444,440

Motorcycles 7,138,476 7,752,926 7,929,724 8,212,267

Busesb 834,436 843,308 841,993 846,051

Trucks 10,752,019 10,873,275 10,973,214 10,770,054

Rail—Passenger

Amtrak–Cars 1,164 1,177 1,214 1,274

Amtrak–Locomotives 270 278 274 282

Commuter railcars 

 and locomotives 6,279 6,494 6,722 6,768

Transitc 13,024 13,325 13,520 13,606

Rail—freight

Class I–Freight cars 460,172 450,297 416,180 397,730

Class I–Locomotives 24,143 24,003 24,045 23,893

Other freight carsd 925,537 942,675 947,253 911,299

Waterborne

Non-self-propelled

 vessels (barges)e 31,654 31,238 31,008 31,412

Self-propelled vessels 9,041 9,063 9,101 9,100

Oceangoing ships 

 (1,000 gross tons 

 and over) 275 272 196 U

Recreational boats 

 (numbered boats) 12,873,091 12,692,892 12,721,541 12,438,926 a

Light duty vehicles include passenger cars, light trucks, vans and sport utility vehicles regardless 

of wheelbase. b

Includes municipally owned transit and commercial, Federal, and school buses. c

Includes light and heavy rail only. dIncludes Non-class I and car companies’ and shippers’ freight 

cars only. e

See Glossary for definitions. 

Key: U = unavailable

Sources: Air—Federal Aviation Administration. Highway—Federal Highway Administration. Rail—Amtrak and Association of American Railroads. Transit—American Public 

Transportation Association. Waterborne—U.S. Army, Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast 

Guard, and Maritime Administration as cited in U.S. Department of Transportation, 

Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 

National Transportation Statistics, table 1-11, available at http://www.bts.gov/publications/

national_transportation_statistics/ accessed September 2012.
State of Good Repair 13

2-3 Condition of U.S. Highway Bridges: 2000–2011

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

Urban areas

Functionally obsolete

Not identified as structurally deficient 

or functionally obsolete 

Structurally deficient

Rural areas

Not identified as structurally deficient or functionally obsolete 

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

300,000

350,000

400,000

Structurally deficient

Functionally obsolete

Note: Structurally Deficient and Functionally Obsolete are defined in Glossary.

Sources: 2000-U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Innovative 

Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics; based on data 

from Federal Highway Administration, Office of Bridge Technology, National 

Bridge Inventory (NBI), personal communication, Aug. 14, 2001. 2001-2011-

U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Office of 

Bridge Technology, National Bridge Inventory (NBI), Count of Bridges by Highway System, available at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge/britab.htm accessed 

Aug. 9, 2012.
14 Pocket Guide to Transportation

3  System Use and Livable

 Communities

The U.S. transportation system makes possible a high degree of personal mobility and freight activity. This 

section presents data showing changes in passenger travel 

and freight shipments over time. Factors influencing these 

changes include vehicle availability, travel costs, population, congestion, the economy, and consumer income.

3-1 Vehicle-Miles: 2007–2010 (millions)

Mode 2007 2008 2009 2010

Air

Air carrier 6,733 6,446 5,935 5,976

Highway

Light duty vehiclesa 2,691,034 2,630,213 2,633,248 2,647,659

Motorcycles 21,396 20,811 20,822 18,462

Busesb 14,516 14,823 14,387 13,789

Trucks 304,178 310,680 288,306 286,585

Railc

Transitd 741 762 775 759

Commuter 325 337 337 342

Intercity/Amtrake 267 272 282.764 295

Class I freight 38,186 37,226 32,115 35,541

Other transitf 916 989 1,061 1,055 a

Light duty vehicles include passenger cars, light trucks, vans and sport utility 

vehicles regardless of wheelbase. b

Includes municipally owned transit and commercial, Federal, and school buses. c

Car-miles. dIncludes light and heavy rail only. e

Fiscal year data. fIncludes on-demand service and other unspecified forms of 

transit.

Notes: Air carrier, highway, transit, intercity/Amtrak, Class I freight, and other transit data for 2009 are revised.

Sources: Air Carrier—Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Highway—Federal 

Highway Administration. Class I freight and Intercity/Amtrak—Association of 

American Railroads. Transit and Commuter Rail—American Public Transportation Association and Federal Transit Administration as cited in U.S. Department 

of Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau of 

Transportation Statistics, National Transportation Statistics, table 1-35, available 

at http://www.bts.gov/publications/national_transportation_statistics/ accessed 

September 2012.
System Use and Livable Communities 15

3-2 Passenger-Miles: 2007–2010 (millions)

Mode 2007 2008 2009 2010

Air

Air carrier 607,564 583,292 551,741 564,790

Highway

Light duty vehiclesa 4,341,984 4,248,783 3,625,598 3,645,368

Motorcycles 27,173 26,430 22,428 19,886

Busesb 307,753 314,278 305,014 292,319

Trucks 304,178 310,680 288,306 286,585

Rail

Transitc 18,068 18,931 19,001 18,580

Commuter 11,137 11,032 11,129 10,774

Intercity/Amtrakd 5,784 6,179 5,914 6,420

Other transite 2,125 2,390 2,500 2,535

a

Light duty vehicles include passenger cars, light trucks, vans and sport utility vehicles regardless of wheelbase. b

Includes municipally owned transit and commercial, 

federal, and school buses. c

Includes light and heavy rail only. dFiscal year data. e

Includes on-demand service, ferryboat, and other unspecified means of transit.

Notes: Air carrier and highway data for 2000 and 2009 are revised.

Sources: Air Carrier—Bureau of Transportation Statistics, General Aviation—

National Transportation Safety Board, Highway—Federal Highway Administration, 

Intercity/Amtrak—Association of American Railroads, Transit and Commuter 

Rail—American Public Transportation Association as cited in U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau of 

Transportation Statistics, National Transportation Statistics, table 1-40, available 

at http://www.bts.gov/publications/national_transportation_statistics/ accessed 

September 2012.
16 Pocket Guide to Transportation

3-3 Annual Percent of Person Trips by Mode of Transportation: 

 1995, 2001, 2009

1995 2001 2009

Private Vehicle 89.3 86.4 83.4

Bus 3.0 2.8 3.3

Rail 0.6 0.6 0.6

Air 0.1 0.1 0.1

Walk 5.5 8.7 10.4

Bike 0.9 0.8 1.0

Other/Unknown 0.5 0.6 1.1

Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Notes: Totals include unreported characteristics. Bus includes local transit bus, commuter bus, school bus, charter/tour bus, and city-to-city bus. Rail includes subway/

elevated rail, street car/trolley, and Amtrak/intercity train. Totals may not sum to 100 

due to rounding. Other/Unknown includes: ferry, hotel/airport shuttle, light electric 

vehicle, limousine, passenger line/ferry, sailboat/motorboat/yacht, ship/cruise, special 

transit, taxicab, other, and unknown.

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, National 

Household Travel Survey, available at http://nhts.ornl.gov/ accessed October 2012.
System Use and Livable Communities 17

3-4 Trends in Transit Ridership: 1990–2010

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

Unlinked passenger trips (millions)

Note: Transit ridership in this table includes the following modes: bus, commuter 

rail, demand response, heavy rail, light right, trolley bus, ferry boat, aerial tramway, automated guideway transit, cable car, inclined plane, monorail, and other.

Source: American Public Transportation Association, Public Transportation Fact 

Book 2012, available at http://www.apta.com/resources/statistics/Pages/transitstats.aspx accessed August 2012.
18 Pocket Guide to Transportation

3-5 Passenger Travel and Freight Transportation Per Person

Passenger Transportation (2009) Daily Annual

Person trips per person 3.8 1,383.4

Person miles of travel per person 36.1 13,187.5

Vehicle trips per driver 3.0 1,102.3

Vehicle miles of travel per driver 29.0 10,574.1

Domestic Freight Transportation (2010) Annual

Tons per capita 55.2

Ton-miles per capita 17,957.4

Notes: Tons per capita is calculated using BTS methodology based on data from 

the Freight Analysis Framework. The 2010 data are provisional estimates based on 

selected modal and economic trend data. Data based on the National Household 

Travel Survey presented here use the source frame population estimate, which does 

not include persons under 5 years of age.

Sources: Passenger—U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway 

Administration, 2009 National Household Travel Survey, available at http://nhts.

ornl.gov/ accessed October 2012. Freight—U.S. Department of Transportation, 

Federal Highway Administration, Freight Analysis Framework, version 3.3, available 

at http://faf.ornl.gov/ accessed October 2012. Population—U.S. Department of 

Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division, Annual Population Estimates, December 2009, available at http://www.census.gov/popest/estbygeo.html 

accessed October 2012.
System Use and Livable Communities 19

3-6 Households by Number of Motor Vehicles: 2011

0 vehicles

(9.3%)

1 vehicle

(34.1%)

2 vehicles

(37.5%)

3 vehicles

(13.5%)

4+ vehicles

(5.7%)

Note: Data cover the household population and exclude the population living in 

institutions, college dormitories, and other group quarters.

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau, 2011 American 

Community Survey, table B25044, available at http://www.census.gov/acs 

accessed September 2012.
20 Pocket Guide to Transportation

3-7 International Visitors To and From the United States:

 2000, 2010, 2011

Millions of visitors

2000 2010 2011

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

Overseas overnight

North American overnight

North American same-day

Note: North American visitors come from Canada and Mexico, and overseas 

visitors come from all other countries. 

Sources: Overseas overnight and North American overnight—U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, Office of Travel and 

Tourism Industries, International Visitation to the United States: A Statistical 

Summary of U.S. Visitation (2011), available at http://tinet.ita.doc.gov accessed 

October 2012. North American same-day, Canada and North American 

same-day, Mexico—North American Transportation Statistics Database, tables 

9-1b and 9-1c, available at http://nats.sct.gob.mx accessed October 2012.
System Use and Livable Communities 21

3-8 U.S.-Mexican Border Land-Passenger Entries: 

 2011 (thousands)

Entering the U.S.

Total for all U.S.-Mexico crossings

Personal vehicles 61,180

Personal vehicle passengers 110,962

Buses 208 

Bus passengers 2,720

Train passengers and crew 4

Pedestrians 40,021

Personal vehicles—top 3 gateways

San Ysidro, CA 12,373

El Paso, TX 9,148

Hidalgo, TX 4,878

Personal vehicle passengers—top 3 gateways

San Ysidro, CA 21,523

El Paso, TX 14,941

Hidalgo, TX 9,040

Buses—top 3 gateways

San Ysidro, CA 61

Laredo, TX 43

Otay Mesa, CA 35

Bus passengers—top 3 gateways

Laredo, TX 934

El Paso, TX 478

San Ysidro, CA 467

Train passengers and crew—top 3 gateways

Nogales, AZ 2.8

Otay Mesa, CA 0.5

Calexico East, CA 0.3

Pedestrians—top 3 gateways

San Ysidro, CA 8,454

El Paso, TX 6,172

Calexico, CA 4,451

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Border Crossing/Entry Data, available at http://www.bts.gov/programs/international/ 

accessed August 2012 as reported in U.S. Department of Transportation, 

Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, National Transportation Statistics, table 1-48, available 

at http://www.bts.gov/publications/national_transportation_statistics/ 

accessed August 2012.
22 Pocket Guide to Transportation

3-9 U.S.-Canadian Border Land-Passenger Entries: 2011 

 (thousands)

Entering the U.S.

Totals for all U.S.-Canada crossings

Personal vehicles 31,596

Personal vehicle passengers 59,192

Buses 114

Bus passengers 2,452

Train passengers and crew 277

Pedestrians 407

Personal vehicles—top 3 gateways

Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY 5,912

Blaine, WA 4,289

Detroit, MI 4,174

Personal vehicle passengers—top 3 gateways

Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY 12,687

Blaine, WA 8,313

Detroit, MI 7,203

Buses—top 3 gateways

Detroit, MI 28

Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY 26

Blaine, WA 16

Bus passengers—top 3 gateways

Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY 729

Champlain-Rouses Point, NY 396

Blaine, WA 328

Train passengers and crew—top 3 gateways

Blaine, WA 75

Skagway, AK 73

Champlain-Rouses Point, NY 48

Pedestrians—top 3 gateways

Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY 283

Sumas, WA 27

Detroit, MI 21

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Border Crossing/Entry 

Data, available at http://www.bts.gov/programs/international/ accessed August 

2012 as reported in U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, National 

Transportation Statistics, table 1-47, available at http://www.bts.gov/publications/national_transportation_statistics/ accessed August 2012.
System Use and Livable Communities 23

3-10 Percentage of Amtrak On-Time Arrivals and

 Hours of Delay by Cause: 2008–2011

2008 2009 2010 2011

On-time performance

Total (weighted) 71.2% 80.4% 79.7% 78.1%

Short distance 

 (<400 miles)a 73.6% 81.1% 80.5% 79.7%

Long distance 

 (>400 miles) 52.0% 75.5% 73.7% 65.8%

Hours of delay by cause 

Totalb 94,566 79,304 79,976 86,021

Amtrakc 23,223 21,813 23,404 26,121

Host railroadd 64,724 46,842 44,090 48,707

Othere 6,618 10,648 12,482 11,192

a

Includes all Amtrak Northeast Corridor and Empire Service (New York 

State) trains. b

Numbers may not add to totals due to rounding. cIncludes all 

delays when operating on Amtrak-owned tracks and delays for equipment 

or engine failure, passenger handling, holding for connections, train servicing, and mail/baggage handling when on tracks of a host railroad. d

Includes 

all operating delays not attributable to Amtrak when operating on tracks of 

a host railroad (e.g., track- and signal-related delays, power failures, freight 

and commuter train interference, routing delays). e

Includes delays not 

attributable to Amtrak or host railroads (e.g., customs and immigration, law 

enforcement action, weather, or waiting for scheduled departure time). 

Notes: All percentages are based on Amtrak’s fiscal year. Host railroad is 

a freight or commuter railroad over which many Amtrak trains operate for 

all or part of their trips. Amtrak trains are considered on time if the actual 

arrival time at the endpoint is within the minutes of scheduled arrival time as 

shown on the following chart. Trip length is based on the total distance traveled by that train from origin to destination:

Trip length (miles)

Train is on-time at 

endpoint if within:

0–250 10 minutes or less 

251–350 15 minutes or less

351–450 20 minutes or less

451–550 25 minutes or less

> 551 30 minutes or less

Source: National Railroad Passenger Corp. (Amtrak), personal communication, 

October 2011.
24 Pocket Guide to Transportation

3-11 Top 20 U.S. Passenger Airports, Enplaned

 Passengers: 2001 and 2011

New York (La Guardia), NY

Boston, MA

Miami, FL

Philadelphia, PA

Seattle, WA

Newark, NJ

Detroit, MI

Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN

Orlando, FL

New York (JFK), NY

San Francisco, CA

Las Vegas, NV

Charlotte, NC

Phoenix, AZ

Houston (G. Bush), TX

Los Angeles, CA

Denver, CO

Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX

Chicago (O'Hare), IL

Atlanta, GA

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

40,000

45,000

2001

2011

Total enplaned passengers (thousands)

Note: Ranked by 2011 passengers on U.S. carriers.

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Schedule T-3 Data, 

special tabulation, April 2012 as reported in U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, National Transportation Statistics, table 1-44, available at 

http://www.bts.gov/publications/national_transportation_statistics/ accessed 

August 2012.
System Use and Livable Communities 25

3-12 Top 20 U.S. Gateways for Nonstop International Air 

 Travel, Enplaned Passengers: 2001 and 2011

Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN

Las Vegas, NV

Seattle-Tacoma, WA

Charlotte, NC

Detroit, MI

Orlando, FL

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Honolulu, HI

Boston, MA

Philadelphia, PA

Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX

Washington (Dulles), DC

Houston (G. Bush), TX

San Francisco, CA

Atlanta, GA

Chicago (O’Hare), IL

Newark, NJ

Los Angeles, CA

Miami, FL

New York (JFK), NY

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

Total enplaned passengers (thousands)

2001

2011

Notes: Ranked by 2011 passengers. International passengers are residents 

of any country traveling nonstop to and from the United States on U.S. and 

foreign carriers. Data cover all passengers arriving and departing from U.S. 

airports on nonstop commercial international flights with 60 seats or more.

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Office of Airline Information, T-100 International Segment Data, special calculation, October 2012.
26 Pocket Guide to Transportation

3-13 Top 20 World Airports by Passenger Movementsa: 

 2009 and 2010 (Thousands of passengers enplaned, 

 deplaned, and in-transit at airport)

Rank

(2010 ) City (airport) 2009 2010

Percentage 

change 

2009–2010

1 Atlanta, GA (Hartsfield) 88,032 89,332 1.5

2 Beijing, China (Beijing Capital) 65,372 73,948 13.1

3 Chicago, IL (O’Hare) 64,158 66,775 4.1

4 London, England (Heathrow) 66,038 65,884 -0.2

5 Tokyo, Japan (Haneda) 61,904 64,211 3.7

6 Los Angeles, CA (Los Angeles) 56,521 59,070 4.5

7 Paris, France (Charles de Gaulle) 57,907 58,167 0.4

8 Dallas/Ft Worth, TX (Dallas/Ft. Worth) 56,030 56,907 1.6

9 Frankfurt, Germany (Frankfurt) 50,933 53,009 4.1

10 Denver, CO (Denver) 50,167 52,209 4.1

11 Hong Kong, China (Hong Kong) 45,559 50,349 10.5

12 Madrid, Spain (Barajas) 48,251 49,845 3.3

13 Dubai, United Arab Emirates (Dubai) 40,902 47,181 15.4

14 New York, NY (JFK) 45,915 46,514 1.3

15 Amsterdam, Netherlands (Schiphol) 43,570 45,212 3.8

16 Jakarta, Indonesia (Soekarno–Hatta) 37,144 44,356 19.4

17 Bangkok, Thailand (Suvarnabhumi) 40,500 42,785 5.6

18 Changi, Singapore (Singapore) 37,204 42,039 13.0

19 Guangzhou, China (Guangzhou Baiyun) 37,049 40,976 10.6

20 Shanghai, China (Shanghai Pudong) 32,103 40,579 26.4

a

Passenger movements include enplanements and deplanements, with in-transit passengers 

counted once. Both domestic and international passenger movements are included. General 

aviation passengers are excluded.

Notes: Airports include those participating in the ACI annual traffic statistics collection. Airports are ranked based on 2010 data.

Source: Airports Council International, Annual Traffic Data, available at http://www.aci.aero/

Data-Centre/Annual-Traffic-Data accessed October 2012.
System Use and Livable Communities 27

3-14 Percentage of On-Time Departures and Arrivals at Major 

 U.S. Airports: 2011

Top Five

Departures Arrivals

Rank

Airport 

(Code) Percentage Rank

Airport 

(Code) Percentage

1

Seattle, 

WA (SEA) 88.0 1

Salt Lake City, 

UT (SLC) 86.4

2

Salt Lake City, 

UT (SLC) 87.8 2

Phoenix, 

AZ (PHX) 84.9

3

Portland, 

OR (PDX) 87.8 3

Seattle, 

WA (SEA) 84.1

4

Tampa, 

FL (TPA) 84.4 4

Portland, 

OR (PDX) 83.0

5

Minneapolis/

St. Paul, 

MN (MSP) 83.9 5

Minneapolis/

St. Paul, 

MN (MSP) 82.8

Bottom Five

Departures Arrivals

Rank

Airport 

(Code) Percentage Rank

Airport 

(Code) Percentage

5

Miami, 

FL (MIA) 76.7 5

New York, 

NY (JFK) 75.3

4

San 

Francisco, 

CA (SFO) 76.3 4

Boston, 

MA (BOS) 73.7

3

Chicago, 

IL (ORD) 74.4 3

New York, 

NY (LGA) 72.2

2

Chicago, 

IL (MDW) 73.8 2

San 

Francisco, 

CA (SFO) 71.4

1

Newark, 

NJ (EWR) 73.0 1

Newark, 

NJ (EWR) 66.7

Notes: On-time flights arrive within 15 minutes of scheduled arrival time. Major airports are 

airports that enplane one percent or more of scheduled-service passengers.

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Airline On-Time Performance Data (December Issues), tables 4 and 6, available at http://www.bts.gov/programs/airline_information/

airline_ontime_tables accessed August 2012.
28 Pocket Guide to Transportation

3-15 Percentage of Flight Delay Minutes by Cause: 2011

Air carrier delay

(30.1%)

Weather delay

(4.1%)

National Aviation System delay

(24.8%)

Security delay

(0.1%)

Aircraft arriving late

(40.8%)

Notes: A flight is considered delayed when it arrives 15 or more minutes later 

than the scheduled arrival. Delayed minutes are calculated for delayed flights 

only. When multiple causes are assigned to one delayed flight, each cause is 

prorated based on delayed minutes it is responsible for; the displayed numbers 

are rounded and may not add to the total.

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Airline On-Time Statistics and Delay Causes available at http://www.transtats.bts.gov/OT_Delay/

OT_DelayCause1.asp accessed August 2012.
Economic Competitiveness 29

4  Economic Competitiveness

Transportation is a major sector of the U.S. economy. It moves people and goods, employs millions of workers, 

generates revenue, and consumes resources and services produced by other sectors of the economy. In 2011, 

transportation-related goods and services contributed $1.6 

trillion to the $15.6 trillion U.S. Gross Domestic Product.

4-1 U.S. Gross Domestic Product by Major Spending 

 Category: 2011

Housing

(17.8%) Other

b

(34.4%)

Health care

(15.4%)

Food

(9.7%)

Transportationrelateda

(10.2%)

Education

(6.1%)

Recreation

(6.4%)

a

Includes transportation-related goods (e.g., vehicles and fuel) and services (e.g., auto 

insurance), private investment in transportation-related structures and equipment, net 

exports related to transportation, and change in motor vehicles inventory. b

 Includes all 

other categories such as entertainment, personal care products and services, and payments to pension plans.

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology 

Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, calculated based on data from 

U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, National Income and 

Product Account Tables, available at http://www.bea.gov/national/nipaweb/Index.asp 

accessed September 2012 as reported in U.S. Department of Transportation, Research 

and Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, National 

Transportation Statistics, table 3-9, available at http://www.bts.gov/publications/

national_transportation_statistics/ accessed September 2012.
30 Pocket Guide to Transportation

4-2 Average Household Expenditures by Major Spending 

 Category: 2011

Housing

(33.8%)

Other

a

(15.4%)

Transportation

(16.7%) Health care

(6.7%)

Personal

insurance and

pensions

(10.9%)

Apparel and

services

(3.5%)

Food

(13.0%)

Household Transportation-Related Expenditures

Private vehicle expenditures = $7,778

Vehicle purchases = $2,669

Gasoline and motor oil = $2,655

Other vehicle expenditures = $2,454

Public transportation expenditures = $516

Airline fares = $342

Mass transit fares = $75

Ship fares = $36

Taxi fares = $22

Intercity train fares = $16

Local transportation on out-of-town trips = $12

Intercity bus fares = $11

School bus = $3

Total = $8,293 a

Includes alcoholic beverages, entertainment, personal care products and services, reading, education, tobacco products and smoking, miscellaneous, and others.

Note: Totals may not sum due to rounding.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 

Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2011, personal communication, 

September 2012.
Economic Competitiveness 31

4-3 Transportation Services Index (TSI): 

 January 1990–August 2012 (seasonally adjusted)

60

80

100

120

Chain-type Index: 2000 = 100

TSI freight

TSI passenger

TSI total

1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 2011

Recession

Note: The TSI total is a monthly measure of the volume of services provided 

by for-hire transportation industries in the United States using 2000 as the 

base year. 

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) available at 

http://www.bts.gov/xml/tsi/src/index.xml accessed August 2012.
32 Pocket Guide to Transportation

4-4 Employment in Transportation and Selected Transportation-

 Related Industriesa: 1990, 2000, 2010, 2011 (thousands)

1990 2000 2010 2011

Total U.S. labor force (Nonfarm) 109,487 131,785 129,874 131,359

Total transportation related labor forceb 12,316 13,907 12,086 U

Transportation as a percent of U.S. total 11.2 10.6 9.3 U

For-hire transport & warehousing 3,476 4,410 4,191 4,292

Air 529 614 458 456

Water 57 56 62 63

Railroad 272 232 216 229

Transit/ground passenger 

 transportation 274 372 430 436

Pipeline 60 46 42 43

Trucking 1,122 1,406 1,250 1,299

Support activities 364 537 543 564

Scenic/sightseeing transportation 16 28 27 29

Couriers/messengers 375 605 528 529

Warehousing/storage 407 514 633 646

Related services & construction 5,256 6,177 5,338 5,405

Automotive repair services/parking; 

 automotive equipment rental/leasing;

 gasoline stations 1,800 2,125 1,892 1,921

Highway, street, bridge construction 289 340 287 282

Dealers or wholesalers of motor 

 vehicles, parts, petroleum, supplies,

 equipment 1,993 2,360 2,064 2,125

Travel arrangement/reservation services 250 299 186 190

Ambulatory health care services 99 173 251 256

Postal service 825 880 659 631

Transportation-related manufacturingc 2,683 2,447 1,645 1,684

Governmentb 903 873 911 U a

Annual averages. Data are NAICS-based. See Glossary for definition. bFiscal year data. Includes U.S. 

DOT and state and local personnel. State and local component of government employment includes 

highway, air, transit, and water modes. c

Includes transportation equipment; petroleum products; tires; rubber; plastics; search, detection, navigation, guidance, aeronautical, and nautical systems; and instrument 

manufacturing.

Key: U = unavailable

Notes: Data for 2010 are revised. Due to independent rounding, individual components may not add to 

total. U.S. Coast Guard employees are excluded from government for years 2003 and after. This table 

does not include in-house employment.

Sources: Total and transportation related labor force—Bureau of Labor Statistics, Government—

U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Department of Transportation as cited in U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, National 

Transportation Statistics, table 3-23, available at http://www.bts.gov/publications/national_transportation_statistics/ accessed October 2012.
Economic Competitiveness 33

4-5 Freight Shipments within the U.S. by Mode: 2007

Mode

Value

($ billions) 

Tons

(millions)

Ton-miles

(billions)

Total 16,520 18,579 5,740 

Truck 12,193 13,336 2,348 

Rail 574 2,024 1,522 

Water 212 655 450 

Air (include truck-air) 357 5 9 

Multiple modes & mail 1,917 568 469 

Pipeline 795 1,674 856 

Other and unknown 472 317 86 

This table includes domestic trade and the domestic portion of imports and 

exports.

Notes: Numbers may not add to totals due to rounding.

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Freight Analysis Framework, version 3.3, available at http://faf.ornl.gov/ 

accessed October 2012. 
34 Pocket Guide to Transportation

4-6 Value of U.S. International Merchandise Trade by Mode of 

 Transportation: 2011 (millions of current U.S. dollars)

Exports

Modal 

% Imports

Modal 

%

Total 

trade

Total 

modal 

%

Total 1,480,665 100.0 2,206,956 100.0 3,687,622 100.0

Water 570,286 38.5 1,159,096 52.5 1,729,382 46.9

Air 424,265 28.7 493,038 22.3 917,303 24.9

Truck 322,846 21.8 303,012 13.7 625,857 17.0

Rail 54,431 3.7 97,422 4.4 151,852 4.1

Pipeline 9,703 0.7 71,024 3.2 80,727 2.2

Other, 

unknown & 

miscellaneous 99,135 6.7 83,365 3.8 182,500 4.9

Notes: Individual categories may not sum to totals due to rounding. Excludes intransit data 

(merchandise shipped from one foreign country to another via a U.S. port). Imports—

excludes imports valued at $2,000 or less. Import value is based on U.S. general imports, 

customs value basis. Exports—excludes exports valued at less than $2,500. Export 

value is FAS (free alongside ship) and represents the value of exports at the port of export, 

including the transaction price and inland freight, insurance, and other charges. The data 

for other, unknown & miscellaneous are derived by subtracting the sum of water, air, truck, 

rail and pipeline from the total value of merchandise trade.

Sources: Total, water and air—U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau, 

Foreign Trade Division, FT920 U.S. Merchandise Trade: Selected Highlights, December 

2011, available at http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/Press-Release/ft920_index.html 

accessed August 2012. Truck, rail, and pipeline—U.S. Department of Transportation, 

Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 

Transborder Freight Data, available at http://www.bts.gov/programs/international/transborder/ accessed August 2012.
Economic Competitiveness 35

4-7 Weight of U.S.-International Merchandise Trade by Mode of 

 Transportation: 2011 (thousands of short tons)

Exports

Modal 

% Imports

Modal 

%

Total 

trade

Total 

modal 

%

Total 837,420 100.0 1,136,887 100.0 1,974,307 100.0

Watera 631,217 75.4 848,733 74.7 1,479,950 75.0

Air 4,005 0.5 4,221 0.4 8,225 0.4

Truckb 118,949 14.2 88,933 7.8 207,882 10.5

Railb 61,945 7.4 80,109 7.0 142,054 7.2

Pipelineb 15,840 1.9 107,139 9.4 122,979 6.2

Other, 

unknown, & 

miscellaneousb 5,465 0.7 7,751 0.7 13,216 0.7

a

The weight data for water transportation vary from those officially reported by the U.S. 

Army Corps of Engineers, because the data in this table exclude intransit shipments. b

BTS 

estimated weight of exports for truck, rail, pipeline, mail and other and unknown modes 

based on the import weight-to-value ratios that vary by country, mode, and commodity. 

Notes: Individual categories may not sum to totals due to rounding. Excludes intransit 

data (merchandise shipped from one foreign country to another via a U.S. port). Imports—

excludes imports valued at $2,000 or less. Import value is based on U.S. general imports, 

customs value basis. Exports—excludes exports valued at less than $2,500. Export value 

is FAS (free alongside ship) and represents the value of exports at the port of export, 

including the transaction price and inland freight, insurance, and other charges.

Sources: Water and air—U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Division, FT920 U.S. Merchandise Trade: Selected Highlights, December 

2011, available at http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/Press-Release/ft920_index.

html accessed August 2012. Truck, rail, pipeline and other, unknown, and miscellaneous—U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology 

Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, TransBorder Freight Data, available at 

http://www.bts.gov/programs/international/transborder/ accessed August 2012, and BTS 

special calculation, July 2012.
36 Pocket Guide to Transportation

4-8 U.S. Trade in Transportation-Related Commodities: 2011

 (millions of current U.S. dollars)

Commodity and 

HTS code Exports Imports

Total 

tradea

Trade 

balanceb

Motor vehicles and 

parts (87) 119,714 202,390 322,104 -82,676

Aircraft, spacecraft, and

parts (88) 87,532 21,531 109,063 66,001

Railway or tramway

locomotives and

 parts (86) 3,185 1,810 4,995 1,376

Ships, boats, and

floating structures (89) 2,533 1,167 3,700 1,367

Total, transportation 

commodities 212,964 226,898 439,862 -13,932

Total, all commodities 1,480,552 2,206,929 3,687,481 -726,377

Transportation

commodities share of

trade (percentage) 14.38 10.28 11.93 1.92

a

Total trade = exports plus imports. bTrade balance = exports minus imports.

Key: HTS = Harmonized Tariff Schedule.

Notes: The HTS codes are classification categories from the Harmonized Tariff 

Schedule and may not include all transportation-related commodities. Classification 

category (87) also includes bicycles, wheelchairs, and baby carriages.

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology 

Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics; special calculation based on data 

from U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. International Trade Commission, Interactive Tariff and Trade DataWeb, available at http://dataweb.usitc.gov accessed August 

2012.
Economic Competitiveness 37

4-9 U.S. Merchandise Trade With Canada and Mexico by

 Mode Share: 2011

U.S.-NAFTA

Imports, Total

U.S.-NAFTA

Exports, Total

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

NAFTA Trade, Total

U.S.-NAFTA

Imports, Total

U.S.-NAFTA

Exports, Total

NAFTA Trade, Total

Value (billions of dollars)

Weight (millions of short tons)

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Trucka

Raila

Water

b

Pipelinea

Air

Othera

Trucka

Raila

Water

b

Pipelinea

Air

Othera

a

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics estimated weight of exports for truck, 

rail, pipeline, mail and other and unknown modes based on the import weightto-value ratios that vary by country, mode, and commodity. b

Weight data for 

water transportation vary from those officially reported by the U.S. Army Corps 

of Engineers because the data in this figure exclude intransit shipments.

Notes: U.S. North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) refers to U.S. 

trade with Canada and Mexico. “Other” includes shipments transported by 

mail, other, and unknown modes, and shipments through Foreign Trade Zones.

Sources: Truck, Rail, Pipeline, Other—U.S. Department of Transportation, 

Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation 

Statistics, Transborder Freight Data,available at http://www.bts.gov/programs/

international/transborder/ accessed August 2012. Water, Air—U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Division, FT920 U.S. Merchandise Trade: Selected Highlights accessed August 2012.
38 Pocket Guide to Transportation

4-10 Top 20 U.S.-International Trade Freight Gateways by 

 Value of Shipments: 2011 (billions of current dollars)

Rank Gateway Exports Imports Total 

1 Los Angeles, CA (w) 44.2 170.4 214.6 

2 New York, NY and NJ (w) 56.9 150.2 207.1 

3 JFK International Airport, NY (a) 96.1 93.8 189.9 

4 Houston, TX (w) 87.3 80.3 167.6 

5 Long Beach, CA (w) 34.4 119.0 153.4 

6 Laredo, TX (l) 67.9 77.0 144.9 

7 Detriot, MI (l) 65.8 55.1 120.9 

8 Chicago, IL (a) 35.9 79.6 115.5 

9 Los Angeles Int’l Airport, CA (a) 40.5 42.7 83.2 

10 Port Huron, MI (l) 39.9 43.1 83.0 

11 Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY (l) 44.0 38.0 82.0 

12 Savannah, GA (w) 30.9 40.7 71.7 

13 Miami Int’l Airport, FL (a) 40.9 20.1 61.0 

14 El Paso, TX (l) 26.8 33.1 59.9 

15 New Orleans, LA (a) 24.0 35.1 59.1 

16 Charleston, SC (w) 22.2 36.7 58.9 

17 Norfolk, VA (w) 28.2 29.5 57.7 

18 Baltimore, MD (w) 20.5 30.6 51.1 

19 San Francisco Int’l Airport, CA (a) 26.5 23.8 50.3 

20 Oakland, CA (w) 18.1 28.0 46.1 

Key: a = airport; l = land port; w = water port.

Notes: Air gateways include a low level (generally less than 3% of the total value) of 

freight shipped through small user-fee airports located in the same area as the gateways listed. Air gateways not identified by airport name (e.g., Chicago, IL) include 

major airport(s) in that area and small regional airports. Due to Census Bureau confidentiality regulations, courier operations are included in airport totals for only New 

York (JFK), Los Angeles, and Chicago.

Sources: Air—U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade 

Division, USA Trade Online, Land—U.S. Department of Transportation, Research 

and Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 

TransBorder Freight Data, Water— U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Navigation Data 

Center, personal communication, as cited in U.S. Department of Transportation, 

Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, National Transportation Statistics, table 1-51, available at http://www.bts.gov/

publications/national_transportation_statistics/ accessed October 2012.
Economic Competitiveness 39

4-11 Top 20 U.S. Water Ports by Shipment Weight & Top 20 U.S. 

Water Ports by Container TEUs: 2010

Rank

Port by 

shipment 

weight

Short 

tons 

(millions) Rank

Port by 

container TEUs

Full TEUs 

(thousands)

1 South Louisiana, 

LA

236.3 1 Los Angeles, 

CA

5,479

2 Houston, TX 227.1 2 Long Beach, CA 4,737

3 New York, NY 

and NJ

139.2 3 New York, NY 

and NJ

4,216

4 Beaumont, TX 77.0 4 Savannah, GA 2,148

5 Long Beach, CA 75.4 5 Oakland, CA 1,674

6 Corpus Christi, TX 73.7 6 Norfolk Harbor, 

VA

1,602

7 New Orleans, LA 72.4 7 Seattle, WA 1,473

8 Los Angeles, CA 62.4 8 Houston, TX 1,342

9 Huntington, KY, 

OH, WV

61.5 9 Charleston, SC 1,086

10 Texas City, TX 56.6 10 Tacoma, WA 1,061

11 Plaquemines, LA 55.8 11 Miami, FL 825

12 Mobile, AL 55.7 12 Port Everglades, 

FL

749

13 Baton Rouge, LA 55.5 13 Baltimore, MD 725

14 Lake Charles, LA 54.6 14 New Orleans, LA 679

15 Norfolk Harbor, VA 41.6 15 Jacksonville, FL 579

16 Baltimore, MD 39.6 16 San Juan, PR 495

17 Pascagoula, MS 37.3 17 Wilmington, NC 275

18 Duluth-Superior, 

MN and WI

36.6 18 Gulfport, MS 268

19 Savannah, GA 34.7 19 Philadelphia, PA 200

20 Tampa, FL 34.2 20 Wilmington, DE 177

Total, top 20 1,527 Total, top 20 29,790

Total, all ports 2,334 Total, all ports 31,507

Notes: Includes exports, imports, and domestic shipments. See table 4-10 for top 20 

freight gateways by value of shipments. TEUs = 20-foot equivalent units. One 20-foot 

container equals one TEU.

Sources: Short tons: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Waterborne Commerce of the 

United States, Part 5, National Summaries, tables 1-1 and 5-2, available at http://www.

iwr.usace.army.mil/ndc/wcsc/wcsc.htm accessed August 2012 as reported in U.S. 

Department of Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, 

Bureau of Transportation Statistics, National Transportation Statistics, table 1-57, available at http://www.bts.gov/publications/national_transportation_statistics/ accessed 

August 2012. TEUs: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Waterborne Container Traffic 

by Port/Waterway, available at http://www.iwr.usace.army.mil/ndc/wcsc/wcsc.htm 

accessed August 2012.
40 Pocket Guide to Transportation

4-12 Top 20 World Container Ports: 2009 and 2010 

 (thousands of full and empty TEUs)

Rank 

(2009)

Rank 

(2010) Port Country TEUs

2 1 Shanghai China 29,069

1 2 Singapore Singapore 28,431

3 3 Hong Kong China 23,669

4 4 Shenzhen China 22,510

5 5 Busan South Korea 14,194

8 6 Ningbo China 13,144

6 7 Guangzhou China 12,487

9 8 Qingdao China 12,012

7 9 Dubai Ports United Arab Emirates 11,576

10 10 Rotterdam Netherlands 11,146

11 11 Tianjin China 10,080

12 12 Kaohsiung Taiwan 9,121

13 13 Port Kelang Malaysia 8,872

14 14 Antwerp Belgium 8,468

15 15 Hamburg Germany 7,896

16 16 Los Angeles United States 7,832

17 17 Tanjung Pelepas Malaysia 6,299

18 18 Long Beach United States 6,263

19 19 Xiamen China 5,824

21 20 New York/New Jersey United States 5,292

Notes: TEUs = 20-foot equivalent units. One 20-foot container equals one TEU. 

Source: American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), Port Industry Statistics, 

World Port Rankings (Container Traffic), available at http://www.aapa-ports.org/ 

accessed September 2012.
Economic Competitiveness 41

4-13 New U.S. Passenger Car and Light Truck Production:

 Model Years 1985–2011

1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

Cars

Light-trucks

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Millions of vehicles

Notes: Historical data are revised. Light trucks include SUVs, minivans/vans, and 

pick-up trucks.

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Light-Duty Automotive Technology, 

Carbon Dioxide Emissions, and Fuel Economy Trends: 1975 Through 2011, appendix 

E, available at http://www.epa.gov/oms/fetrends.htm accessed August 2012. 
42 Pocket Guide to Transportation

4-14 U.S. Petroleum Imports: 1985–2011 

Total OPEC

Total Non-OPEC

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

9,000

10,000

Thousand barrels per day, average

1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011

Notes: OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) members are 

Algeria, Angola, Ecuador, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela. Angola joined OPEC in January 

2007. Ecuador was a member of OPEC from 1973-1992, and rejoined OPEC in 

November 2007. Gabon was a member from 1975-1994. Indonesia withdrew 

from OPEC in May 2008.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration, 

Monthly Energy Review (Washington, DC: July 2012), tables 3.3c and 3.3d, 

available at http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/mer/petro.html accessed August 

2012.
Economic Competitiveness 43

4-15 Major Sources of Petroleum Consumed in the U.S.: 

 1990, 2000, 2010, 2011 (thousand barrels per day, average)

Rank 

(2011) 1990 2000 2010 2011

United States 1 7,355 5,822 5,479 5,647

Canada 2 934 1,807 2,535 2,706 

Mexico 3 755 1,373 1,284 1,205 

Saudi Arabia (OPEC) 4 1,339 1,572 1,096 1,195 

Venezuela (OPEC) 5 1,025 1,546 988 944 

Nigeria (OPEC) 6 800 896 1,023 817 

Russia 7 45 72 612 621 

Iraq (OPEC) 8 518 620 415 460 

Colombia 9 182 342 365 422 

Algeria (OPEC) 10 280 225 510 358 

Angola (OPEC) 11 NR NR 393 346 

Brazil 12 49 51 272 249 

Ecuador (OPEC) 13 49 NR 212 192 

Kuwait (OPEC) 14 86 272 197 191 

U.S. Virgin Islands 15 282 291 253 187 

United Kingdom 16 189 366 256 158 

Norway 17 102 343 89 113 

Netherlands 18 55 30 108 100 

Libya (OPEC) 19 0 0 70 15 

Total, U.S. Petroleum 

Imports 8,018 11,459 11,793 11,360

Total, U.S. Domestic 

and Imports 15,373 17,281 17,272 17,007

U.S. Imports Share of Total 52% 66% 68% 67%

Key: OPEC = Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries; NR = Not reported.

Notes: The country of origin for petroleum products may not be the country of origin 

for the crude oil used to produce the products. For example, refined products imported 

from western European refineries may have been produced from Middle Eastern 

crude oil. Angola joined OPEC in January 2007. Ecuador was a member of OPEC from 

1973-1992, and rejoined OPEC in November 2007. Data for Angola for 1973-2006, 

and Ecuador for 1993-2007 are included in Total Non-OPEC in Energy Information 

Administration, Monthly Energy Review, table 3.3d.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration, Monthly 

Energy Review (Washington, DC: July 2012), tables 3.1, 3.3c, and 3.3d, available 

at http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/mer/petro.html and http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/

pet_crd_crpdn_adc_mbblpd_a.htm accessed August 2012.
44 Pocket Guide to Transportation

4-16 Government Transportation Revenues by Mode and Level

 of Government: 2000, 2007, 2008, 2009 

 (millions of current dollars)

2000 2007 2008 2009

Highway total 90,981 114,396 111,980 U

Federal: Highway 

 Trust Funda 34,986 40,061 37,080 35,144

State and local 55,995 74,336 74,900 U

Transit totalb 10,670 13,874 14,591 15,292

Railroadc 1 0 0 0

Air total 22,235 29,384 30,702 29,817

Federal: Airport and 

 Airway Trust Fundd 10,544 11,994 12,484 12,491

State and local 11,691 17,390 18,218 17,327

Water total 4,058 6,191 6,551 6,142

Federal: water receiptse 1,551 2,325 2,412 2,221

State and local 2,507 3,866 4,139 3,921

Pipelinec 30 60 63 78

General supportc 26 16 14 20

Total, all modes 128,001 163,920 163,901 U

Federal 47,138 54,456 52,053 49,954

State and local 80,863 109,465 111,848 U a

Includes both Highway and Transit Accounts of the Highway Trust Fund (HTF). Also 

includes other receipts from motor fuel and motor vehicle taxes not deposited in the 

HTF. b

Includes state and local government only. cIncludes federal only. dReceipts from 

aviation user and aviation security fees are also included. e

Includes Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, St. Lawrence Seaway tolls, Inland Waterway Trust Fund, Panama 

Canal receipts through 2000, Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, Offshore Oil Pollution Fund, 

Deep Water Port Liability Fund, and excise taxes of the Boat Safety Program. 

Key: U = unavailable

Notes: Data for 2000 and 2007 are revised. Government transportation revenue 

consists of money collected by governments from transportation user charges and 

taxes to finance transportation programs. The following types of receipts are excluded: 

1) revenues collected from users of the transportation system that are directed to the 

general fund and used for non-transportation purposes, 2) non-transportation general 

fund revenues that are used to finance transportation programs, and 3) proceeds from 

borrowing. The revisions for transportation revenues include: 1) state and local air 

transportation revenues for 1995 and 2000, 2) pipeline revenues for 2000, and 3) the 

revenues for 2007. 

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology 

Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Government Transportation Financial Statistics 2012.
Economic Competitiveness 45

4-17 Government Transportation Expenditures by Mode 

 and Level of Government: 2000, 2007, 2008, 2009 

 (millions of current dollars)

2000 2007 2008 2009

Highway totala 119,903 175,456 182,007 U

Federal 2,182 2,932 3,803 3,803

State and local 117,720 172,524 178,204 U

Transit total 34,823 45,753 50,893 54,341

Federal 3,672 98 90 92

State and local 31,150 45,655 50,803 54,249

Rail total 778 1,528 1,526 1,880

Federal 765 1,523 1,525 1,880

State and local 13 5 1 0

Air total 22,352 43,584 46,430 47,831

Federal 9,192 23,523 25,166 24,970

State and local 13,160 20,061 21,264 22,861

Water total 7,634 12,069 12,758 13,766

Federal 4,493 7,308 7,818 8,547

State and local 3,141 4,761 4,940 5,219

Pipeline total 55 89 92 99

Federal 37 66 61 55

State and local 18 23 31 44

General support 653 834 675 1,384

Federal 645 821 663 1,368

State and local 8 13 12 16

Total, all modes 186,197 279,312 294,381 U

Federal 20,987 36,271 39,126 42,755

State and local 165,210 243,041 255,255 U a

Highway total includes funding from federal grants, fuel taxes and other auto 

revenues from states, and general fund revenues.

Key: U = unavailable

Notes: Data for 2000 and 2007 are revised. Federal expenditure includes direct 

federal spending, excluding grants to state and local governments. State and local 

expenditure includes outlays from all sources of funds including funds from federal 

grants, except railroad and pipeline modes. State and local expenditure for rail and 

pipeline modes include outlays that are funded by federal grants only. The part of 

expenditure that may be funded by other funding sources of state and local governments are not covered due to lack of data. Outlays for civilian transportation-related 

activities of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for construction, operation, and 

maintenance of channels, harbors, locks, and dams, and protection of navigation 

are not included for all years due to lack of data. The revisions for transportatin 

expenditures include: 1) outlays for air transportation, 2) Federal water outlays for 

1995 and 2007, 3) Federal expenditures on highway, transit and pipeline for 2000, 4) 

highway data for 2007, and 5) outlays for state and local transit and federal general 

support for 2007. 

Source: U. S. Department of Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology 

Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Government Transportation 

Financial Statistics 2012.
46 Pocket Guide to Transportation

5  Environmental Sustainability

While transportation enhances the quality of our lives, it also generates environmental impacts. Since 1980, 

most transportation-related air pollutant emission have 

declined. This follows national mandates for more stringent 

vehicle emission standards, cleaner burning fuels, and 

greener automobile technologies. Greenhouse gas emissions from transportation fuel use rose steadily until 2007 

before decreasing in 2008 due to the economic recession 

and fewer vehicle miles traveled.

5-1 U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Energy Use: 

 1985–2011

Residential

Commercial

Industrial

Transportation

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

Million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2)

1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011

Recession

Notes: Electric power sector emissions are distributed across sectors. Data for 

2009 and 2010 are revised.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration, 

Monthly Energy Review, Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Energy Consumption, tables 12.2 to 12.5, available at http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/mer/environ.html accessed August 2012.
Environmental Sustainability 47

5-2 Index of Key Air Pollutant Emissions From U.S.

 Highway Transportation: 1990–2011

1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 2011

1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 2011

1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 2011 1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 2011

1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 2011

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

Index: 1990 = 1.0

Carbon monoxide

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

Index: 1990 = 1.0

Nitrogen oxide

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 2011

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

Volatile organic compounds

Index: 1990 = 1.0 Index: 1990 = 1.0

PM-10; PM-2.5

PM-10

PM-2.5

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2 Index: 1990 = 1.0

Surfur dioxide

Index: 1990 = 1.0

0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

Ammonia

Key: PM-10 = airborne particulates of less than 10 microns; PM-2.5 = airborne 

particulates of less than 2.5 microns.

Notes: Not all graph scales are comparable. The indices are calculated using 

data on emissions from highway vehicles only. Particulate matters include PM 

without condensibles. Data for 2003 through 2009 are revised. In the National 

Emissions Inventory (NEI) 2008, on-road mobile source estimates are based 

on a new methodology. Data for 2008 and beyond may not be comparable to 

previous years.

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Emissions Inventory 

(NEI) Air Pollutant Emissions Trends Data, available at http://www.epa.gov/ttn/

chief/trends/index.html accessed August 2012.
48 Pocket Guide to Transportation

5-3 Passenger Car and Light Truck Fuel Economy 

 Averages: 1990–2011

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Miles per gallon

New passenger cars

New light trucks

Average light duty, short wheelbasea,b,c

Average light duty, long wheelbasea,c

1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 2011

a

Data before 2007 are for passenger car and other 2-axle, 4-tire vehicles, 

respectively. b

Before 1995, light duty vehicle, short wheel base (previously 

passenger car) fuel efficiency includes motorcycles. c

Data are unavailable for 

2011.

Notes: Fuel economy is miles divided by gallons. New vehicle data are for 

model years. Average fleet data for 2007 to 2009 were calculated using a new 

methodology developed by FHWA. Data for these years are based on new 

categories and are not comparable to previous years. The new category Light 

duty vehicle, short wheel base includes passenger cars, light trucks, vans and 

sport utility vehicles with a wheelbase (WB) equal to or less than 121 inches. 

The new category Light duty vehicle, long wheel base includes large passenger cars, vans, pickup trucks, and sport/utility vehicles with wheelbases (WB) 

larger than 121 inches. Data for 2009 and 2010 are revised.

Sources: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Summary of Fuel 

Economy Performance (Washington, DC: Annual Issues), available at http://

www.nhtsa.gov/ and Federal Highway Administration, Highway Statistics 

(Washington, DC: Annual Issues), table VM-1, available at http://www.

fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics.cfm as cited in U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau 

of Transportation Statistics, National Transportation Statistics, table 4-23, 

available at http://www.bts.gov/publications/national_transportation_statistics/ 

accessed August 2012.
Environmental Sustainability 49

5-4 Hybrid Vehicle Salesa in the United States: 

 1999–2011c

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

300,000

350,000

400,000

Domestic Hybridb

Import Hybrid

a

Sales include leased vehicles and fleet sales. bIncludes vehicles produced in 

Canada and Mexico.c

Calendar year vehicle sales.

Notes: Data for 2009 are revised. The first domestic hybrid vehicle was not 

introduced in the U.S. market until 2004. A hybrid vehicle is a vehicle powered 

by a combination of battery-electric motor(s) and an internal combustion 

engine.

Source: Ward’s Automotive Group, WardsAuto.com, personal communication, accessed January 2012.
50 Pocket Guide to Transportation

5-5 U.S. Petroleum Production and Consumption: 

 1975–2011

Transportation consumption

Total consumption

Total production

0

5

10

15

20

25

Million barrels per day

1975 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011

Notes: Data for 2011 are preliminary. Data for 2010 are revised. 

Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration, 

Monthly Energy Review (Washington, DC: July 2012), tables 3.1 and 3.7c, 

available at http://www.eia.gov/totalenergy/data/monthly/ accessed August 

2012 as reported in U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, National 

Transportation Statistics, table 4-1, available at http://www.bts.gov/publications/national_transportation_statistics/ accessed August 2012.
Environmental Sustainability 51

5-6 Transportation’s Share of U.S. Petroleum Use: 

 1975–2011

Transportation

Industry

Residential

Utilities

0

3

6

9

12

15

Million barrels per day

1975 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011

Note: Data for 2011 are preliminary. Data for 2010 are revised. 

Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration, 

Monthly Energy Review (Washington, DC: July 2012), tables 3.7a–c, available 

at http://www.eia.doe.gov/mer/petro.html accessed August 2012.
52 Pocket Guide to Transportation

Air carrier: Certificated provider of scheduled and nonscheduled services. 

Chained dollars: A method to measure real changes in dollar values 

between years that uses chain-type indexes, rather than constant dollars. The 

method first calculates the real changes between adjacent years. Annual rates 

of real changes are then chained (multiplied) together to obtain the rate of real 

changes between nonadjacent years. 

Class I railroad: Railroads earning adjusted annual operating revenues for 

three consecutive years of $250,000,000 or more, based on 1991 dollars with 

an adjustment factor applied to subsequent years. 

Commercial waterway facilities: Waterway facilities, as defined by 

the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, are piers, wharves, and docks. Not included 

are those facilities used exclusively for recreational or active military craft and 

generally those providing nonmaritime use. 

Commuter rail: Urban/suburban passenger train service for short–distance 

travel between a central city and adjacent suburbs run on tracks of a traditional 

railroad system. Does not include heavy or light rail transit service. 

Contracted service (purchased transportation): Transportation 

service provided to a public transit agency or governmental unit from a public 

or private transportation provider based on a written contract. 

Current dollars: The market value reflecting prices and quantities of the 

period being measured.

Demand-response transit: A nonfixed-route, nonfixed-schedule form 

of transportation that operates in response to calls from passengers or their 

agents to the transit operator or dispatcher. 

Directional route miles: The sum of the mileage in each direction over 

which transit vehicles travel while in revenue service. 

Directly operated service: Transportation service provided directly by a 

transit agency, using their employees to supply the necessary labor to operate 

the revenue vehicles. 

Draft: The depth of water a vessel draws, loaded or unloaded. 

Enplaned passengers: Total number of revenue passengers boarding 

aircraft.

Ferry: Vessels that carry passengers and/or vehicles over a body of water. 

Generally steam or diesel-powered, ferryboats may also be hovercraft, 

hydrofoil, and other high-speed vessels. The vessel is limited in its use to the 

carriage of deck passengers or vehicles or both, operates on a short run on a 

frequent schedule between two points over the most direct water routes other 

than in ocean or coastwise service, and is offered as a public service of a type 

normally attributed to a bridge or tunnel.

Glossary
Glossary 53

For-hire: Refers to a vehicle operated on behalf of or by a company that 

provides transport services to external customers for a fee. It is distinguished 

from private transportation services, in which a firm transports its own freight 

and does not offer its transportation services to other shippers. 

Functionally Obsolete: Functional obsolescence is a function of the 

geometrics of the bridge not meeting current design standards. 

General aviation: Civil aviation operations other than those air carriers 

holding a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. Types of aircraft 

used in general aviation range from corporate, multi–engine jets piloted by a 

professional crew to amateur–built, single–engine, piston–driven, acrobatic 

planes. 

Gross Domestic Product: The total value of goods and services 

produced by labor and property located in the United States. As long as the 

labor and property are located in the United States, the suppliers may be either 

U.S. residents or residents of foreign countries. 

Heavy rail transit: High-speed transit rail operated on rights–of–way that 

exclude all other vehicles and pedestrians. 

Hybrid vehicle: Hybrid electric vehicles combine features of internal 

combustion engines and electric motors. Unlike 100% electric vehicles, hybrid 

vehicles do not need to be plugged into an external source of electricity to be 

recharged. Most hybrid vehicles operate on gasoline.

Large certificated air carrier: Carriers operating aircraft with a 

maximum passenger capacity of more than 60 seats or a maximum payload 

of more than 18,000 pounds. These carriers are also grouped by annual 

operating revenues: majors—more than $1 billion; nationals—between $100 

million and $1 billion; large regionals—between $20 million and $99,999,999; 

and medium regionals—less than $20 million. 

Light rail transit: Urban transit rail operated on a reserved right-of-way 

that may be crossed by roads used by motor vehicles and pedestrians. 

Light duty vehicle long wheelbase: Large passenger cars, vans, 

pickup trucks, and sport/utility vehicles with wheelbases larger than 121 inches.

Light duty vehicle short wheelbase: Passenger cars, light trucks, 

vans and sport utility vehicles with a wheelbase equal to or less than 121 

inches.

Light truck: Trucks of 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating or less, 

including pickup trucks, vans, truck-based station wagons, and sport utility 

vehicles. 

Long-distance travel: Long-distance trips are trips of 50 miles or 

more from home to the farthest destination traveled and include the return 

component as well as any overnight stops and stops to change transportation 

mode. 

Metric ton: A unit of weight equal to 2,204.6 pounds.
54 Pocket Guide to Transportation

North American Industry Classification System (NAICS): 

NAICS (established in April 1997) replaced the Standard Industrial 

Classification (SIC) and groups producing and nonproducing economic 

activities into 20 sectors and 1,170 industries in the United States version. It 

was developed to provide common industry definitions for Canada, Mexico, 

and the United States to facilitate analyses of the economies of the three 

countries. 

Nonself-propelled vessels: Includes dry cargo, tank barges, and 

railroad car floats that operate in U.S. ports and waterways. 

Particulates: Carbon particles formed by partial oxidation and reduction 

of hydrocarbon fuel. Also included are trace quantities of metal oxides and 

nitrides, originating from engine wear, component degradation, and inorganic 

fuel additives. 

Passenger-mile: One passenger transported one mile. For example, one 

vehicle traveling 3 miles carrying 5 passengers generates 15 passenger–miles. 

Pedalcyclist: A person on a vehicle that is powered solely by pedals. 

Personal communication: Involves contacting the source for data if not 

publicly available.

Real gross domestic product (GDP): Real gross domestic product 

is the inflation adjusted value of the output of goods and services produced by 

labor and property located in the United States. 

Self-propelled vessels: Includes dry cargo vessels, tankers, and 

offshore supply vessels, tugboats, pushboats, and passenger vessels, such as 

excursion/sightseeing boats, combination passenger and dry cargo vessels, 

and ferries. 

Serious injury: An injury that requires hospitalization for more than 48 

hours, commencing within 7 days from the date when the injury was received; 

results in a bone fracture (except simple fractures of fingers, toes, or nose); 

involves lacerations that cause severe hemorrhages, nerve, muscle, or tendon 

damage; involves injury to any internal organ; or involves second- or thirddegree burns or any burns affecting more than 5 percent of the body surface. 

Short ton: A unit of weight equal to 2,000 pounds. 

Structurally Deficient: Structural deficiencies are characterized by 

deteriorated conditions of significant bridge elements and reduced loadcarrying capacity. 

Ton-mile: A unit of measure equal to movement of one ton over one mile. 

Truck: Single unit—A large truck on a single frame with at least two axles 

and six tires. Combination—A power unit (truck or truck tractor) and one or 

more trailing units. 

Vehicle-mile: One vehicle traveling one mile.
Statistics published in this Pocket Guide to Transportation come 

from many different sources. Some statistics are based on 

samples and are subject to sampling variability. Statistics may 

also be subject to omissions and errors in reporting, recording, 

and processing. 

Photo Credits

Cover (left to right)

Stock Vault

BTS Stock Photo

Aaron Murphy

Kevin Abbott

Maciek Pelc

Denise Hunter
Printed on paper containing recycled post 

consumer waste paper.