Pocket

Guide to

Transportation

Bureau of Transportation Statistics
Bureau of Transportation Statistics

Our mission is to lead in developing transportation

data and information of high quality and to advance their 

effective use in both public and private transportation 

decisionmaking.

Our vision for the future: Data and information of

high quality will support every significant transportation

policy decision, thus advancing the quality of life and the 

economic well-being of all Americans.

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BTS and its products and services, contact:

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Phone 202-366-DATA [press 1]

Fax: 202-366-3197

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Bureau of Transportation Statistics

U.S. Department of Transportation

400 Seventh Street, SW, Room 7412

Washington, DC 20590

Information Service

Phone: 1-800-853-1351

Email: answers@bts.gov

BTS02-02

February 2002
Resident population (thous.) 203,984 281,422

Total area (thous. sq. mi.)a 3,619 3,718 (1990)

Total civilian labor force (thous.) 82,771 140,863

Real gross domestic productb $3.4 trillion $9.2 trillion

Median household incomeb $29,600 $39,200

Average household expendituresb N $35,384

Number of households (thous.) 63,401 104,705

Average life expectancy (years) 71 76.7 (1998)

Labor force participation by women 46% 60%

a 1990 data include the Great Lakes and inland and coastal water. Estimate for

2000 not yet available. 1970 data include inland water only.The Census

Bureau tabulates area data for the decennial census years only. b Expressed in 1996 chained dollars (see Glossary for definition).

Key: N = data do not exist. Note:All dollar amounts are 1996 chained dollars.

Sources: Population, area, number of households—U.S. Department of

Commerce (USDOC), Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of United States:

2000, available at www.census.gov; GDP—USDOC, BEA; median household income—USDOC, Census Bureau, available at www.census.gov/

hhes/www/ income00.html; expenditures, employment—U.S. Department

of Labor, BLS; life expectancy—Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, available at www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats.htm.

America’s transportation system has changed along

with the nation’s society and economy.The following

table puts those changes in perspective:

Transportation System Extent and Use 2

Transportation Safety and Security 4

Mobility 12

Transportation and the Economy 22

Transportation, Energy, and the Environment 30

Glossary 35

Characteristic 1970 2000

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics compiled the data

in this guide from multiple sources.The guide is divided

into five sections and a glossary:

1
2 Pocket Guide to Transportation

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

railroads, transit routes, waterways, terminals, ports, and

pipelines. Millions of people and businesses rely on this

ever-expanding system to get to work, take vacation trips,

conduct business, and ship goods here and abroad. It links

regions and connects small and large cities and urban and

rural areas.

1 Transportation System Extent and Use

Table 1

The Transportation Network: 2000

Highway Public roads

46,677 miles of Interstate highway

114,511 miles of other National Highway System

roads

3,789,927 miles of other roads

Air Public-use airports

5,317 airports

Airports serving large certificated carriers

29 large hubs (72 airports), 479 million enplaned 

passengers (see Glossary for definition of “hub”)

31 medium hubs (53 airports), 102 million 

enplaned passengers

54 small hubs (69 airports), 40 million enplaned

passengers

585 nonhubs (610 airports), 18 million enplaned

passengers

Rail Miles of railroad operated

120,022 miles by Class I freight railroads in the

United Statesa

20,978 miles by regional freight railroads

28,937 miles by local freight railroads

22,741 miles by Amtrak (passenger)

Mode Components
Urban transit Directional route-miles servicedb

Bus: 160,506

Trolley bus: 469

Commuter rail: 5,209

Heavy rail: 1,558

Light rail: 834

Stations

Commuter rail: 983

Heavy rail: 1,009

Light rail: 603

Water 26,000 miles of navigable waterways

Ferry routes: 487

Commercial waterway facilitiesc

Great Lakes: 611 deep-draft

143 shallow-draft

Inland: 2,367 shallow-draft

Ocean: 4,079 deep-draft

2,109 shallow-draft

Locks: 276 

Pipeline Oil

(1999) Crude lines: 86,000 miles of pipe 

Product lines: 91,000 miles of pipe 

Gas

Transmission: 254,000 miles of pipe 

Distribution: 981,000 miles of pipe 

a There are also 575 miles of railroad operated by U.S. Class I freight

railroads in Canada and Mexico. b Directly operated service. Does not include contracted service.

c See Glossary for definition of commercial waterway facilites.

Sources: Various sources, as cited in U.S. Department of Transportation

(USDOT), Bureau of Transportation Statistics, National Transportation

Statistics 2001, available Spring 2002 at www.bts.gov, or email to

answers@bts.gov; Association of American Railroads, Railroad Facts, 2001

(Washington, DC: 2001); USDOT, Federal Highway Administration, Highway

Statistics 2000 (Washington, DC: 2001); National Ferry database, as of

October 2001; and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Navigation Data Center,

The U.S.Waterway System,Transportation Facts, available at

www.wrsc.usace.army.mil/ndc/fcgeodis.htm, as of November 2001.

Transportation System Extent and Use 3

Mode Components
4 Pocket Guide to Transportation

The safety of the traveling public is of paramount concern for the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Although progress has been made in reducing fatalities,

transportation remains the leading cause of accidental

deaths and injuries in the United States. Roughly 95 percent

of transportation fatalities and an even higher percentage

of injuries occurred on the nation’s roadways.

Table 2

Fatalities by Transportation Mode

Large air carriera 146 1 39 168 92

Commuter air carriera N 37 7 9 5

On-demand air taxia N 105 51 52 71

General aviationa 1,310 1,239 767 734 592

Highwayb 52,627 51,091 44,599 41,817 41,821

Railroadc 785 584 599 567 512

Transitd N N 339 274 295

Commercial ship

Vessel 178 206 85 R51 32

Nonvessele 420 281 101 R95 87

Recreational boating 1,418 1,360 865 829 701

Gas and hazardous

liquid pipeline 30 19 9 21 38

a Includes people on planes and on the ground.

b Includes occupants, nonoccupants, and motor vehicle fatalities at railroad

crossings. c Includes fatalities from nontrain incidents as well as train incidents and

accidents. Also includes train occupants and nonoccupants except

motor vehicle occupants at grade crossings. d Fatalities resulting from all reportable incidents, not just accidents.

Includes commuter rail, heavy rail, light rail, motor bus, demandresponsive, van pool, and automated guideway. e Fatalities unrelated to vessel accidents, e.g., individual falling overboard

and drowning.

Key: N = data do not exist or are not cited because of reporting changes;

R = revised.

Source:Various sources, as cited in U.S. Department of Transportation,

Bureau of Transportation Statistics, National Transportation Statistics 2001,

available Spring 2002 at www.bts.gov, or email to answers@bts.gov.

2 Transportation Safety and Security

Mode 1970 1980 1990 1995 2000
Transportation Safety and Security 5

Passenger car occupants 20,492 46.4

Light-truck occupants 11,418 25.8

Pedestrians stuck by motor vehicles 4,739 10.7

Motorcyclists 2,862 6.5

Large-truck occupants 741 1.7

Other and unknown motor vehicle occupants 714 1.6

Recreational boating 701 1.6

Pedalcyclists struck by motor vehicles 690 1.6

General aviation 592 1.3

RR trespassers (excluding grade crossings) 461 1.0

MV nonoccupants, not otherwise specifieda 143 0.3

RR-related, not otherwise specifiedb 139 0.3

Air carriers 92 0.2

Waterborne transportation (nonvessel) 87 0.2

Heavy-rail transit (e.g., subway) 80 0.2

Air taxi 71 0.2

Waterborne transportation (vessel-related) 32 0.07

Light-rail transit 30 0.07

RR employees/contractors on duty 27 0.06

Bus occupants (school, intercity, and transit) 22 0.05

Gas distribution pipelines 22 0.05

Gas transmission pipelines 15 0.03

Transit buses (not related to accidents)c 8 0.02

Commuter air 5 0.01

Passengers on railroad trains 4 <0.01

Hazardous liquid pipelines 1 <0.01

Totald 44,188 100.0

Redundant with abovee

Large-truck occupants and nonoccupants 5,211

Public grade crossings, with motor vehicles 306

Grade crossings (not involving motor vehicles) 64

Private grade crossings, with motor vehicles 55

Commuter rail (included in railroad) 87

Transit buses (accident-related) 82

Outside planes in crashes 13

Demand-responsive transit (accident-related) 8

a Includes all nonoccupant fatalities except pedalcyclists and pedestrians.

b Includes fatalities outside trains. c Includes homicides and suicides. d Unless otherwise specified, includes fatalities outside the vehicle.

e For transit bus and demand-responsive transit, occupant fatalities are

counted under “bus” and nonoccupant fatalities are counted under

"pedestrians," "pedalcyclists," or other motor vehicle categories.

Key: MV = motor vehicle; RR = railroad.

Source:Various sources, as cited in U.S. Department of Transportation,

Bureau of Transportation Statistics, National Transportation Statistics 2001,

available Spring 2002 at www.bts.gov, or email to answers@bts.gov.

Category Number Percent

Table 3

Distribution of Transportation Fatalities: 2000
Alcohol

Fatalities involvement Percent

6 Pocket Guide to Transportation

Table 4

Fatalities in Motor Vehicle Crashes by Number of

Vehicles and Alcohol Involvement: 2000

Occupants 36,249 14,108 38.9

Single-vehicle crashes 17,430 8,665 49.7

Two-vehicle crashes 15,714 4,539 28.9

More than two-vehicle

crashes 3,105 905 29.1

Pedestrians 4,739 2,241 47.3

Single-vehicle crashes 4,313 2,016 46.7

Multiple-vehicle crashes 426 226 53.4

Pedalcyclists 690 257 37.2

Single-vehicle crashes 664 247 37.1

Multiple-vehicle crashes 26 10 40.0

Others/unknown 143 46 32.2

Total 41,821 16,653 39.8

Note:A fatal crash is considered alcohol-related if either a driver or a

nonmotorist had a measurable or estimated blood alcohol concentration of 0.01 grams per deciliter or above.

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

Administration, personal communications, February 2002.
Transportation Safety and Security 7

Figure 1

Fatalities in Alcohol-Related Crashes

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

Administration, National Center for Statistics and Analysis, Fatality Analysis

Reporting System (FARS) database, available at www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/

www/query.html, as of September 2001.

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

Total fatalities in traffic crashes

Fatalities in alcohol-related crashes

Number

1985 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000
8 Pocket Guide to Transportation

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

Per 100 million vehicle-miles

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

Per 100 million vehicle-miles

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

Per 100 million vehicle-miles

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Per 100 million vehicle-miles

1978 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

0

3

6

9 Per 100,000 aircraft departures

1

Smoothed

Actual

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

0

1

2

3

4

5

Per 100,000 aircraft-hours flown

Passenger car occupants Light-truck occupants

Large-truck occupants Motorcycle riders

Air carriers (actual and smoothed fatality rates)a General aviation

a For air carriers, the data were dampened, or smoothed, to reduce the

month-to-month fluctuations.This dampening was performed using an

exponential smoothing model, with a weight of 0.95. Departure data,

and hence the denominator of the rates, are not strictly comparable

between pre- and post-1977 eras.

Source:Various sources, as cited in U.S. Department of Transportation,

Bureau of Transportation Statistics, National Transportation Statistics 2001,

available Spring 2002 at www.bts.gov, or email to answers@bts.gov.

Figure 2

Fatality Rates for Selected Modes
Transportation Safety and Security 9

Air carrier 107 19 29 25 P26

Commuter air

carrier N 14 11 25 P7

On-demand 

air taxi N 43 36 14 P10

General aviation 715 681 402 395 P329

Highwaya N N 3,231,000 3,465,000 3,189,000

Railroadb 17,934 58,696 22,736 12,546 10,424

Transit c N N 54,556 57,196 U

Commercial ship 

Vessel accidents 105 180 175 145 125

Nonvessel 

accidentsd UU U R1,833 564

Recreational 

boating 780 2,650 3,822 4,141 4,355

Gas and hazardous

liquid pipeline 254 192 76 64 81

a Includes passenger car occupants, motorcyclists, light-duty and large

trucks, bus occupants, pedestrians, pedalcyclists, occupants of unknown

vehicle types, and other nonmotorists. b Injuries resulting from train accidents, train and nontrain incidents, and

occupational illness. Includes Amtrak. c Injuries resulting from all reportable incidents, not just from accidents.

Includes commuter rail, heavy rail, light rail, motor bus, demandresponsive, van pool, and automated guideway. d Injuries unrelated to vessel accidents, e.g., an individual getting a cut while

onboard a vessel.

Key: N = data do not exist; P = preliminary; R = revised; U = unavailable.

Note: Each mode may use different reporting criteria for injuries.

Source:Various sources, as cited in U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau

of Transportation Statistics, National Transportation Statistics 2001, available

Spring 2002 at www.bts.gov, or email to answers@bts.gov.

Table 5

Injured Persons by Transportation Mode

Mode 1970 1980 1990 1995 2000
10 Pocket Guide to Transportation

Persons screened

(millions) 585 993 1,145 1,263 1,812

Firearms detected 1,914 2,913 2,843 2,390 1,937

Persons arrested

Carrying firearms/

explosives 1,031 1,310 1,336 1,194 600

Giving false information 32 42 18 68 61

Bomb threats received

Against airports 1,179 477 448 346 U

Against aircraft 268 153 338 327 U

a Includes operators with a U.S. Department of Transportation,

Federal Aviation Administration operating certificate engaged

in scheduled passenger or public charter passenger operations and airports at which these operations are conducted.

Key: U = unavailable.

Sources: Persons screened, firearms detected, and persons arrested—

1980–1985: U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Semiannual Report to Congress on the Effectiveness of

the Civil Aviation Security Program, July 1– December 31, 1985 (Washington,

DC: May 1986). 1990–2000: USDOT, FAA, Office of Civil Aviation Security

Policy and Planning, Annual Report to Congress on Civil Aviation Security

(Washington, DC: Annual issues), and personal communications, May 27,

1999, Mar. 29, 2000, and Aug. 7, 2001. Bomb threats received—USDOT,

FAA, Criminal Acts Against Civil Aviation (Washington, DC: Annual issues).

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

Table 6

Airlinea Passenger Screening Results
Transportation Safety and Security 11

Figure 3

Worldwide Civil Aviation Hijackings

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

Note: There were no hijackings in the United States from

1991 through 2000. Data are through 2000 and do not

include the hijacking of 4 airplanes used in attacks on the

United States by terrorists on Sept. 11, 2001.

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation

Administration, Office of Civil Aviation Security, Criminal Acts Against Civil

Aviation, available at http://cas.faa.gov/crimacts/pf/crim2000.pdf, as of Feb.

8, 2002.

Number of hijackings

Foreign

United States

0

20

40

60

80
12 Pocket Guide to Transportation

Passenger travel (1995)

Trips

Local trips per person,a annually 1,568

Local trips per person,a daily 4.3

Long-distance trips per person, annually 3.9

Miles

Local miles per person,a annually 14,115

Local miles per person,a daily 39

Long-distance miles per person, domestic only 3,129

Freight transportation (1997)

Tons per person, annually 55

Ton-miles per person, annually 14,383

a Persons aged 5 and over.

Notes: Data used for local travel are from the Nationwide Personal

Transportation Survey travel-day file and include trips of all lengths

made by respondents on a single day; about 95 percent of these daily

trips were 30 miles or less. Per capita calculations are based on 

population estimates within each survey, not from the Census Bureau

estimate reported in the table.

Sources: U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), Federal Highway

Administration, Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey, Our Nation's Travel

(Washington, DC: 1997); USDOT, Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS),

American Travel Survey data, October 1997, person trip and demographic

files; USDOT, BTS and U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau,

1997 Commodity Flow Survey (Washington, DC: 1999); plus additional estimates prepared for BTS by Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Number

Table 7

Per Capita Passenger Travel and

Freight Transportation

The U.S. transportation network makes possible a highdegree of personal mobility and freight activity. In

1999, the transportation network supported 4.8 trillion

passenger-miles and about 3.9 trillion ton-miles.The data

in this section show growth in local and long-distance

travel and freight shipments over time. Factors influencing

this growth include, among others: greater vehicle availability, reduced travel costs, population increases, the

economy, and consumer income.

3 Mobility
Mobility 13

Mode 1970 1980 1990 1999 2000

Table 8

Number of Aircraft, Railcars,Vehicles, and Vessels

Air carriers 2,679 3,808 6,083 8,228U

General aviation 131,743 211,045 196,800 219,464

U

Passenger carsa 89,243,557 121,600,843 133,700,496 132,432,044

133,621,420

Motorcycles 2,824,098 5,693,940 4,259,462 4,152,4334,346,068

Other 2-axle,

4-tire vehicles 14,210,591 27,875,934 48,274,555 75,356,376

79,084,979

Trucks: Single-unit 3,681,405 4,373,784 4,486,981 5,762,864 5,926,030

Combination 905,082 1,416,869 1,708,895 2,028,562 2,096,619

Busesb 377,562 528,789 626,987 728,777 746,125

Passenger rail:

Amtrak—Cars N 2,128 1,863 1,992 1,894

Locomotives N 419 318 329 378

Commuter railcars

and locomotives N 4,500 4,415 P4,883 U

Transitc 10,548 10,654 11,332 P11,603 U

Class I rail:

Freight cars 1,423,921 1,168,114 658,902 579,140 560,154

Locomotives 27,077 28,094 18,835 20,256 20,028

Other freight cars 360,260 542,713 553,359 789,696 820,642

Nonself-propelled

vesselsd,e 19,377 31,662 31,209 33,387 U

Self-propelled vesselsd,e 6,455 7,126 8,236 8,379 U

Oceangoing shipse

(1,000 gross tons 

and over) 1,579 864 636 463 447

Recreational boatsf 7,400,000 8,577,857 10,996,253 12,738,271 12,782,143

a In July 1997, the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway

Administration, reassigned some vehicles from “passenger car” to

“other 2-axle, 4-tire.” b Includes municipally owned transit, commercial, federal, and school buses.

c Includes light and heavy rail only.

d See glossary.

e U.S. flag vessels.

f Numbered boats.

Key: N = data do not exist; P = preliminary; U = unavailable.
14 Pocket Guide to Transportation

Mode 1970 1980 1990 1999 2000

Air carriers 2,068 2,523 3,963 5,309 5,646

General aviation 3,207 5,204 4,830 aN aN

Passenger cars 916,700 1,111,596 1,408,286 R1,569,100 1,601,914

Motorcycles 2,979 10,214 9,557 10,584 10,479

Other 2-axle,

4-tire vehiclesb 123,286 290,935 574,571 R901,022 924,018

Trucks:

Single-unit 27,081 39,813 51,901 R70,304 70,583

Combination 35,134 68,678 94,341 R132,384 135,208

Busesc 4,544 6,059 5,726 R7,662 7,601

Rail:d

Transite 441 403 561 627 U

Commuter N 179 213 p266 U

Class 1 freight 29,890 29,277 26,159 33,851 34,590

Intercity/Amtrakf 690 235 301 342 U

Other transitg N 15 R324 790 U

a

The Federal Aviation Administration has estimated vehicle-miles for general

aviation aircraft through 1997, relying in part on hours-flown survey

data.Vehicle-miles estimates for subsequent years are not yet available. b In July 1997, the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway

Administration, reassigned some vehicle-miles from “passenger car” to

“other 2-axle, 4-tire.” c Includes municipally owned transit, commercial, federal, and school buses.

d Car-miles.

e Includes light and heavy rail only.

f Fiscal year data.Amtrak began operations in 1971.

g Includes demand-responsive, ferry boat, and other transit not specified;

1980 data include “other transit” only.

Key: N = data do not exist; P = preliminary; R = revised; U = unavailable.

Sources:Various sources, as cited in U.S. Department of Transportation,

Bureau of Transportation Statistics, National Transportation Statistics 2001,

table 1-29, available Spring 2002 at www.bts.gov, or email to

answers@bts.gov.

Table 9

Vehicle-Miles

(Millions)
Mobility 15

Mode 1970 1980 1990 1999 2000

Table 10

Passenger-Miles

(Millions)

Air carriers 108,442 204,368 345,873 487,906 515,367

General aviation 9,100 14,700 13,000 U U

Passenger cars 1,750,897 2,011,989 2,281,391 R2,494,870 2,547,044

Motorcyclesa 3,277 12,257 12,424 R11,527 11,527

Other 2-axle,

4-tire vehicles 225,613 520,774 999,754 R1,432,625 1,469,189

Busesb N N 121,398 R162,445 161,152

Rail:

Transitc N 10,939 12,046 U U

Commuter 4,592 6,516 7,082 U U

Intercity/

Amtrakd 6,179 4,503 6,057 5,330 5,498

Other transite N 390 841 U U

a In July 1997, the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway

Administration, reassigned some vehicles from “passenger car” to

“other 2-axle, 4-tire.” b Includes municipally owned transit, commercial, federal, and school buses.

c Includes light and heavy rail only.

d Fiscal year data.Amtrak began operations in 1971.

e Includes demand-responsive, ferry boat, and other transit not specified;

1980 data include ferry boat and “other transit” only.

Key: N = data do not exist; R = revised. U = unavailable.

Sources:Various sources, as cited in U.S. Department of Transportation,

Bureau of Transportation Statistics, National Transportation Statistics 2001, table

1-31, available Spring 2002 at www.bts.gov, or email to answers@bts.gov.
16 Pocket Guide to Transportation

0

10

20

30

40

50 1977 1983 1990 1995 1999

15

13

9

8

9

35

34

33

32

33 34 34

38

40

39

16

19 19 19 19

Percent

0 vehicles 1 vehicle 2 vehicles 3+ vehicles

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

Administration, Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey, Our Nation’s Travel

(Washington, DC: 1997). Data for 1999—U.S. Department of Commerce,

Census Bureau, American Housing Survey, 1999.

Figure 4

Households by Number of Vehicles
Mobility 17

Table 11

Top 20 U.S. Passenger Airports

(Thousands of enplaned passengers on large certificated air carriers)

Total Total %

enplaned enplaned change

Rank Airport passengers Rank passengers 1990–2000

1 Atlanta (Hartsfield), GA 38,256 3 22,666 69

2 Chicago (O'Hare), IL 30,888 1 25,636 20

3 Dallas/Ft.Worth,TX 27,841 2 22,899 22

4 Los Angeles, CA 25,110 4 18,434 36

5 Denver, CO 17,643 6 11,962 47

6 Phoenix (Sky Harbor),AZ 17,239 7 10,727 61

7 Detroit (Wayne County), MI 16,930 9 9,903 71

8 Las Vegas (McCarran), NV 16,739 18 7,796 115

9 Minneapolis, MN 16,710 16 8,837 89

10 San Francisco, CA 16,664 5 13,475 24

11 Houston 

(Intercontinental),TX 15,815 20 7,544 110

12 Newark, NJ 15,205 10 9,854 54

13 St. Louis 

(Lambert-St. Louis), MO 15,101 13 9,332 62

14 Orlando, FL 13,466 19 7,678 75

15 Seattle,WA 13,308 21 7,386 80

16 Miami, FL 12,655 14 9,226 37

17 Boston (Logan), MA 11,506 12 9,550 20

18 New York (LaGuardia), NY 11,426 8 10,725 7

19 Philadelphia, PA 10,973 24 6,971 57

20 New York (JFK), NY 10,648 11 9,687 10

Top 20 airports 354,124 240,288 47.4

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

Sources:Total enplaned passengers: 1990—U.S. Department of Transportation

(USDOT), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Research and Special

Programs Administration, Airport Activity Statistics of Certificated Route Air

Carriers,Twelve Months Ending December 31, 1990 (Washington, DC: 1991).

2000—USDOT, Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), Airport Activity

Statistics of Certificated Air Carriers: Summary Tables,Twelve Months Ending

December 31, 2000 (Washington, DC: 2001). Airport ranking: 1990—USDOT,

FAA Statistical Handbook, Calendar Year 1990 (Washington, DC: 1990). 2000—

USDOT, BTS, Airport Activity Statistics of Certificated Air Carriers: Summary Tables,

Twelve Months Ending December 31, 2000 (Washington, DC: 2001).

2000 1990
18 Pocket Guide to Transportation

Table 12

U.S.-Canadian Border Land-Passenger Gateways: 2000

All U.S.-Canadian land gateways

All personal vehicles 36,915,053 

All personal vehicle passengers 90,046,948 

All buses 189,264 

All bus passengers 4,872,943 

All train passengers 269,502 

All pedestrians 585,191 

Personal vehicles—top 5 gateways

Detroit, MI 8,360,352 

Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY 7,657,846 

Blaine,WA 3,332,147 

Port Huron, MI 2,332,469 

Calais, ME 1,414,327 

Personal vehicle passengers—top 5 gateways

Detroit, MI 21,723,936 

Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY 16,523,141 

Blaine,WA 8,234,557 

Port Huron, MI 6,865,507 

Sault Ste. Marie, MI 3,881,423 

Buses—top 5 gateways

Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY 66,771 

Detroit, MI 41,234 

Blaine,WA 18,104 

Champlain-Rouses Point, NY 11,728 

Skagway,AK 8,579 

Bus passengers—top 5 gateways

Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY 1,973,016 

Detroit, MI 857,607 

Blaine,WA 441,320 

Champlain-Rouses Point, NY 317,205 

Port Huron, MI 155,153 

Train passengers—top 5 gateways

Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY 53,603 

Blaine,WA 46,643 

Port Huron, MI 40,633 

Champlain-Rouses Point, NY 38,459 

Skagway,AK 35,253 

Pedestrians—top 5 gateways

Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY 280,941 

Sumas,WA 57,222 

Calais, ME 51,033 

Portland, ME (pedestrian/ferry combination crossing) 29,495 

International Falls-Ranier, MN 26,456 

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation

Statistics, special tabulation, 2001, based on U.S. Department of Treasury,

U.S. Customs Service, Office of Field Operations, Operations

Management database, 2000.

Land gateway Entering the U.S.
19

All U.S.-Mexican land gateways

All personal vehicles 91,156,796 

All personal vehicle passengers 239,794,552 

All buses 270,792 

All bus passengers 3,465,916 

All train passengers 18,254 

All pedestrians 47,089,642 

Personal vehicles—top 5 gateways

El Paso,TX 16,697,439 

San Ysidro, CA 14,106,704 

Hidago,TX 8,779,691 

Brownsville,TX 7,877,255 

Laredo,TX 7,151,127 

Personal vehicle passengers—top 5 gateways

El Paso,TX 48,420,274 

San Ysidro, CA 31,025,343 

Hidago,TX 21,947,731 

Calexico, CA 20,094,460 

Brownsville,TX 19,693,130 

Buses—top 5 gateways

San Ysidro, CA 101,244 

Otay Mesa, CA 47,683 

Laredo,TX 34,529 

Hidalgo,TX 31,836 

Brownsville,TX 16,073 

Bus passengers—top 5 gateways

Otay Mesa, CA 845,755 

San Ysidro, CA 783,762 

Hidalgo,TX 648,751 

Laredo,TX 608,184 

El Paso,TX 155,493 

Train passengers—top 5 gateways

Eagle Pass,TX 5,792 

Nogales,AZ 4,752 

Tecate, CA 3,418 

El Paso,TX 2,188 

Calexico East, CA 1,687 

Pedestrians—top 5 gateways

Calexico, CA 8,352,324 

San Ysidro, CA 7,542,450 

El Paso,TX 5,825,155 

Laredo,TX 5,492,769 

Nogales,AZ 4,677,819 

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation

Statistics, special tabulation, 2001, based on U.S. Department of Treasury,

U.S. Customs Service, Office of Field Operations, Operations Management

database, 2000.

Mobility

Table 13 

U.S.-Mexican Border Land-Passenger Gateways: 2000

Land gateway Entering the U.S.
20 Pocket Guide to Transportation

Table 14

Top 20 U.S.Water Ports by Weight

(Millions of tons)

1999 1990

%

Total Total change

Rank Port tons Rank tons 1990–99

1 South Louisiana, LA 214.2 1 194.2 10.3

2 Houston,TX 158.8 3 126.2 25.9

3 New York, NY & NJ 133.7 2 140.0 –4.5

4 New Orleans, LA 87.5 6 62.7 39.5

5 Corpus Christi,TX 78.1 7 62.0 25.9

6 Beaumont,TX R69.4 23 26.7 R159.6

7 Baton Rouge, LA 63.7 5 78.1 –18.5

8 Plaquemine, LA R62.5 8 56.6 R10.4

9 Long Beach, CA 60.9 10 52.4 16.2

10 Valdez,AK 53.4 4 96.0 –44.3

11 Pittsburgh, PA 52.9 19 35.5 49.0

12 Tampa, FL 51.5 11 51.6 –0.2

13 Lake Charles, LA R50.7 16 40.9 R24.0

14 Texas City,TX 49.5 12 48.1 3.0

15 Mobile,AL R45.4 15 41.1 R10.4

16 Duluth-Superior,

MN & WI 42.3 17 40.8 3.8

17 Los Angeles, CA 42.3 13 46.4 –8.7

19 Norfolk Harbor,VA 40.8 9 53.7 –24.1

18 Philadelphia, PA 39.3 14 41.8 –6.0

20 Baltimore, MD 37.3 18 39.5 –5.7

Total top 20 R1,434.2 1,334.4 7.5

Key: R = revised.

Note: See table 18 for top 20 freight gateways by value.

Sources: 1990––U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Waterborne Commerce of the

United States, Calendar Year 1990, Part 5, National Summaries (New Orleans,

LA: 1993), table 5-2.

1999—Ibid., Waterborne Commerce of the United States, Calendar Year 1999,

Part 5, National Summaries, personal communication.
Mobility 21

Billions of

1997 $ Percent Millions Percent Billions Percent

Truck (for-hire,

private, both) 5,336 62.3 8,836 59.7 1,109 28.8

Parcel, postal,

courier services 856 10.0 34 0.2 18 0.5

Water 762 8.9 2,220 15.0 726 18.9

Air (includes

truck and air) 653 7.6 10 0.1 6 0.2

Rail (includes

truck and rail) 436 5.1 1,676 11.3 1,132 29.4

Pipeline 231 2.7 1,448 9.8 656 17.0

Other and

unknown modes 293 3.4 576 3.9 204 5.3

Total a $8,567 100.0 14,800 100.0 3,851 100.0 a Data from the Commodity Flow Survey (CFS), plus Bureau of

Transportation Statistics estimates to fill in CFS gaps.The estimates

cover out-of-scope farm-based truck shipments, truck and rail

imports from Canada and Mexico, and air cargo and water imports

and exports.

Sources: U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation

Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, 1997

Commodity Flow Survey: United States(Washington, DC: December 1999); and

Oak Ridge National Laboratory data.

Mode Value Tons Ton-miles

Table 15

U.S. Commercial Freight Shipments: 1997
22 Pocket Guide to Transportation

4

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 2000, transportation-related goods and services contributed $1,050 billion to a $9.87 trillion U.S. Gross

Domestic Product.

Figure 5

U.S. Gross Domestic Product by Major

Societal Function: 2000

Education

(14.6%)

Otherb

(24.3%)

Recreation

(6.9%)

Housing

(24.2%)

(7.0%)

Transportation

 relateda

(10.8%)

Health care

Food 

(12.2%)

a Includes all consumer and government purchases of goods (e.g., vehicles

and fuel) and services (e.g., auto insurance) and exports related to

transportation. b Includes all other categories, such as entertainment,

personal care products and services, and payments to pension plans.

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation

Statistics, calculated from data in U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of

Economic Analysis, Survey of Current Business, October 2001.

Transportation and the Economy
Transportation and the Economy 23

Average income (before taxes) $44,649

Average annual expenditures $38,045

Apparel and

services

(5%)

Othera

(13%)

Personal

insurance 

and pensions

(11%)

Health 

care

(6%)

Transportation

(19%)

$7,417

Housing

(32%)

Food 

(14%)

Private

vehicle

expenditures

$6,990

Public

transportation

expenditures

$427

Other vehicle expenditures

$2,281

Gasoline and motor oil

$1,291

Vehicle purchases

$3,418

Airline fares $274

Mass transit fares $47

Ship fares $37

Intercity train fares $21

Taxi fares $18

Local transportation on 

 out-of-town trips $11

School bus $2

Intercity bus fares $16

Figure 6

Average Household Expenditures by

Major Category: 2000

(In current dollars)

Source: U.S. Department of Labor,

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer

Expenditure Survey, 2001.

a Includes entertainment,

personal care products

and services, education,

tobacco products and

smoking, and miscellaneous.
24 Pocket Guide to Transportation

Total 780,419 100.0 1,216,888 100.0 1,997,307 100.0

Water 199,069 25.5 540,895 44.4 739,964 37.0

Air 284,356 36.4 308,642 25.4 592,998 29.7

Truck 212,214 27.2 216,485 17.8 428,699 21.5

Rail 23,443 3.0 70,755 5.8 94,198 4.7

Pipeline 464 <0.1 23,129 1.9 23,593 1.2

Other,

unknown, &

miscellaneous 60,873 7.8 56,982 4.7 117,855 5.9

Notes:

Water—Excludes intransit data (merchandise shipped from one foreign country to another via a U.S. water port).

Imports—Excludes imports valued at less than $1,250. 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.

Numbers may not sum to total due to rounding.

Sources: Compiled by U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), Bureau of

Transportation Statistics (BTS), 2001.Total, water, and air data—U.S.

Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Division, U.S.

Exports of Merchandise, CD-ROM and U.S. Imports of Merchandise, CD-ROM,

December 2000.Truck, rail, pipeline, other and unknown data:, USDOT, BTS,

Transborder Surface Freight Data 2001; and special tabulations.

Table 16 

Value of U.S. International Merchandise Trade by

Mode of Transportation: 2000

(Millions of current U.S. dollars)

Modal Modal Total Total

Exports % Imports % trade modal %
Transportation and the Economy 25

NAFTA trade, total 100.0 100.0 

Truck 65.6 35.1 

Rail 14.4 17.4 

Pipeline 3.6 14.8 

Air 6.9 0.2 

Water 5.0 32.4 

Other and unknown 4.5 0.1 

U.S.-NAFTA imports, total 100.0 100.0 

Truck 59.3 25.7 

Rail 19.4 19.8 

Pipeline 6.3 20.5 

Air 4.9 0.1 

Water 6.4 33.9 

Other and unknown 3.7 0.1 

U.S.-NAFTA exports, total 100.0 100.0 

Truck 73.6 55.7 

Rail 8.1 12.3 

Pipeline 0.2 2.3 

Air 9.3 0.4 

Water 3.2 29.2 

Other and unknown 5.5 0.2

Sources: U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation

Statistics, June 2001; based on: total, water, and air data—U.S. Department

of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Division, U.S. Exports of

Merchandise, CD-ROM and U.S. Imports of Merchandise, CD-ROM,

December 2000; truck, rail, pipeline, other and unknown data—U.S.

Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics,

Transborder Surface Freight Data, 2001; and special tabulations.

Value Weight

Mode (percent) (percent)

Table 17

U.S. Merchandise Trade with Canada and 

Mexico by Mode: 2000
26 Pocket Guide to Transportation

Table 18

Top 20 Foreign Trade Freight Gateways by 

Value of Shipments: 2000

(Billions of current dollars)

1 JFK International, NY (a) 56.0 75.5 131.6

2 Port of Los Angeles, CA (w) 16.7 85.1 101.8

3 Port of Long Beach, CA (w) 16.9 81.3 98.2

4 Port of Detroit, MI (l) 49.5 44.9 94.4

5 San Francisco Airport, CA (a) 41.8 46.9 88.7

6 Port of Laredo,TX (l) 39.2 44.4 83.7

7 Port of New York, NY and NJ (w) 19.7 61.2 80.9

8 Los Angeles 

International Airport, CA (a) 41.7 35.6 77.3

9 Port of Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY (l) 36.2 33.9 70.1

10 Port of Huron, MI (l) 18.8 40.9 59.7

11 Chicago, IL (a) 20.4 25.4 45.7

12 Port of Houston,TX (w) 18.7 24.6 43.4

13 Port of El Paso,TX (l) 17.5 21.9 39.4

14 Port of Seattle,WA (w) 5.4 26.9 32.3

15 New Orleans, LA (a) 16.2 15.9 32.0

16 Port of Charleston, SC (w) 11.3 20.2 31.5

17 Port of Norfolk Harbor,VA (w) 11.1 14.1 25.2

18 Port of Oakland, CA (w) 9.6 15.5 25.1

19 Cleveland, OH (a) 11.8 12.7 24.5

20 Miami International Airport, FL (a) 15.9 7.7 23.6

Key: a = air; l = land; w = water.

Notes:Trade excludes imports of less than $1,250 and exports of less

than $2,500.Air: Includes a low level (generally less than 2%–3% of the

total value) of small user-fee airports located in the same region.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 JFK, New Orleans, Los Angeles,

Cleveland, Chicago, and Miami. Numbers may not add to totals due to

rounding.Water data are preliminary.

See table 14 for top water ports by weight.

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

Trade Division, special tabulation, August, 2001. Water—U.S. Department

of Transportation (USDOT), Maritime Administration, Office of Statistical

and Economic Analysis, personal communication, Sept. 5, 2001. Land—

USDOT, Bureau of Transportation Statistics,Transborder Surface Freight

Data, 2001.

Rank Gateway Exports Imports Total
Transportation and the Economy 27

Table 19

Employment in For-Hire Transportation and

Selected Transportation-Related Industriesa

(Thousands)

1970 1980 1990 1995 2000

Total transportation and related

industries employment R5,999 R8,535 10,133 10,527 U

For-hire transport 

sector total 2,726 3,175 R3,715 4,083 U

Air 352 453 968 1,068 1,281

Local and inter-urban 

passenger transit 280 R266 338 420 477

Pipelineb 50 236 223 194 U

Railroad 634 532 279 238 236

Transportation services 115 198 336 401 471

Trucking and warehousing 1,083 1,280 1,395 1,587 1,856

Water 212 211 177 175 196

Equipment manufacturing

total 1,949 1,995 2,073 R1,872 1,928

Other related industries

total 613 2,694 3,672 3,930 4,464

Automotive and home 

supply stores U 261 337 369 407

Automotive repair

services and parking;

gasoline service stations c613 1,132 1,561 1,669 1,901

Highway and street 

construction U U 239 228 280

Motor vehicles/parts/supplies,

new/used car dealers, and 

other automotive retailers U 1,301 1,535 1,664 1,875

Government employmentd

total 711 671 673 644 646 aAnnual averages.

b Includes liquid and natural gas transmission pipelines.

c Includes gasoline service stations only.

d Data are for fiscal years and include permanent and temporary civilian

and military personnel.

Key: R = revised; U = unavailable.

Source:Various sources, as cited in U.S. Department of Transportation,

Bureau of Transportation Statistics, National Transportation Statistics 2001,

available Spring 2002 at www.bts.gov, or email to answers@bts.gov.
28 Pocket Guide to Transportation

Table 20 

Government Transportation Revenues by Mode

and Level of Government

(Millions of current dollars)

1980 1990 1995 1999 2000

Highway total 25,268 49,945 66,743 88,668 U

Federal:

Highway Trust Fund— Highway Accounta 7,647 13,453 19,377 33,823 30,347

State 16,287 32,644 42,415 48,784 U

Local 1,334 3,848 4,952 6,061 U

Transit total 2,397 7,193 9,352 13,186 U

Federal:

Highway Trust Fund— Mass Transit Account – 1,977 2,813 5,478 4,625

State 362 1,074 1,257 1,404 U

Local 2,035 4,142 5,283 6,304 U

Air total 4,100 10,119 13,954 21,079 U

Federal:Airport and 

Airway Trust Fundb 2,274 4,945 6,291 11,089 10,544

State 190 556 695 744 U

Local 1,636 4,617 6,968 9,246 U

Water total 1,211 2,487 3,567 3,923 U

Federal: water receiptsc 391 999 1,644 1,568 1,175

State 249 355 479 651 U

Local 572 1,133 1,444 1,704 U

Pipeline total – 10 35 30 40

Federal: Pipeline 

Safety Fund – 10 35 30 40

General support total – – 7 8 25

Federal: Emergency 

Preparedness Fund – – 7 8 25

Total, all modes 32,977 69,753 93,659 126,895 U

Federal 10,312 21,384 30,166 51,996 46,756

State 17,088 34,629 44,846 51,584 U

Local 5,577 13,740 18,647 23,315 U a Since 1983, some Highway Trust Fund fuel tax has gone to transit.

b A requirement that 10% of passenger ticket taxes and other taxes paid by

airport and airway users be transferred to this trust fund expired in

December 1996. c Includes Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, St.

Lawrence Seaway tolls, Inland Waterway Trust Fund, Panama Canal

receipts, Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, Offshore Oil Pollution Fund, Deep

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

Key: – = no activity or a value of zero; U = unavailable.

Note: Data have been revised and are preliminary. Numbers may not add to

totals due to rounding. Only federal government revenues are included

in FY 2000.

Source:Various sources, as cited in U.S. Department of Transportation,

Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Government Transportation Financial

Statistics, available Spring 2002 at www.bts.gov, or, for more details, send

email to answers@bts.gov.
Transportation and the Economy 29

Table 21

Government Transportation Expenditures by Mode

and Level of Government From Own Funds

(Millions of current dollars)

1980 1990 1995 1999 2000

Highway total 34,553 62,563 79,309 95,494 U

Federal 11,706 15,452 20,078 23,589 27,657

State and local 22,847 47,112 59,232 71,905 U

Transit total 8,949 19,261 26,162 29,027 U

Federal 3,307 3,832 4,474 4,265 5,337

State and local 5,642 15,429 21,688 24,762 U

Rail total 2,497 541 1,043 565 U

Federal 2,474 534 1,034 546 755

State and local 23 7 9 19 U

Air total 5,673 12,568 16,960 21,789 U

Federal 3,762 7,305 10,389 10,722 9,556

State and local 1,911 5,263 6,571 11,067 U

Water total 4,477 5,480 6,628 7,682 U

Federal 3,308 3,537 4,380 4,565 4,810

State and local 1,168 1,943 2,247 3,117 U

Pipeline totala – 26 43 30 U

Federal – 9 19 30 27

State and local – 17 24 U U

General 

support totalb 259 190 372 221 226

Federal, general 

support 259 190 372 221 226

Total all modes 56,407 100,629 130,518 154,808 U

Federal 24,815 30,858 40,746 43,938 48,368

State and local 31,592 69,770 89,772 110,871 U

a Includes gas and liquid pipeline.

b General support includes administrative and operating expenditures of

the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Interstate Commerce

Commission, Office of the Inspector General, the Research and

Special Programs Administration, and the National Transportation

Safety Board.

Key: – = no activity or a value of zero; U = unavailable.

Note: Data in this table have been revised and should be considered

preliminary. Numbers may not add to totals due to rounding. Only

federal government expenditures are included in FY 2000.

Source:Various sources, as cited in U.S. Department of Transportation,

Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Government Transportation Financial

Statistics, available Spring 2002 at www.bts.gov, or, for more details, send

email to answers@bts.gov.
30 Pocket Guide to Transportation

0

5

10

15

20

Total U.S. consumption

Transportation consumption

U.S. production

Million barrels per day

Figure 7 

U.S. Petroleum Production and 

Consumption

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

Energy Review 2000 (Washington, DC: August 2001), table 5.1.

Serious energy and environmental issues are associated

with transportation.The U.S. transportation sector

remains almost entirely dependent on petroleum as an

energy source and more than 50 percent of the petroleum

used in the United States is now imported. Petroleum use

is responsible for most of the environmental problems

resulting from transportation, including carbon dioxide

emissions that may contribute to global climate change.

55 Transportation, Energy, and the Environment Transportation, Energy, and the Environment

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000
Transportation, Energy, and the Environment 31

Figure 8

Transportation’s Share of

U.S. Petroleum Use

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

Transportation

Industry

Buildings

Utilities

Million barrels per day

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

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

Annual Energy Review 2000 (Washington, DC: August 2001), table 5.12.
32 Pocket Guide to Transportation

Figure 9

U.S. Carbon Dioxide Emissions from 

Energy Use

150

250

350

450

550

Commercial

Residential

Transportation

Industrial

Million metric tons of carbon

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000P

Key: P = 2000 data are preliminary.

Notes: One ton of carbon equals 3.667 tons of carbon dioxide gas.

Electric utility emissions are spread across end-user sections.

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

Emissions of Greenhouse Gases in the United States 2000, available at

www.eia.doe.gov.
Transportation, Energy, and the Environment 33

Figure 10

New Passenger Car and Light Truck Fuel Economy

Averages: Model Years 1978–2000

Miles per gallon

Cars

Light trucks

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

1978 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

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

Safety Administration, Automotive Fuel Economy Program: Annual Update

Calendar Year 2000, July 2001, table II-6, available at

www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars, as of August 2001.
34 Pocket Guide to Transportation

Figure 11

Index of Key Air Pollutant Emissions from

U.S.Transportation

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

NOx

Ammonia

Lead

VOC

PM-10

PM-2.5

CO

Index: 1970 = 1.0, 1990 = 1.0 for PM-2.5 and ammonia

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

Key: NOx = oxides of nitrogen; PM-10 and PM-2.5 = airborne particulates

of less than 10 microns or 2.5 microns in diameter, respectively; CO

= carbon monoxide;VOC = volatile organic compounds.

Notes:Transportation emissions include all onroad mobile sources and

the following nonroad mobile sources: recreational vehicles and

boats, airport service equipment, aircraft, commercial marine vessels,

and railroads. Other nonroad sources, such as lawnmowers and farming equipment, are not included. Lead estimates include onroad

mobile sources only.

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air Quality

Planning and Standards, National Air Pollutant Trends, available at

www.epa.gov/ttn/chief/trends/index.html, as of September 2001.
Glossary 35

Glossary

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 indices, 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—A freight railroad with an annual gross operating revenue in excess of $250 million (based on 1991 dollars).

Commercial waterway facilities—Waterway facilities as

counted 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.

Demand-responsive transit—A nonfixed-route, nonfixedschedule 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.

General aviation—All 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.

Heavy-rail transit––High-speed transit rail operated on rightsof-way that exclude all other vehicles and pedestrians.

Hub—A geographic area based on the percentage of total

enplaned passengers in that area. A hub may have more than

one airport in it.This definition should not be confused with

the definition used by airlines in describing their “hub and

spoke” route structures or other definitions of hubs used by

the Federal Aviation Administration focusing on traffic at individual airports.
36 Pocket Guide to Transportation

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: 1) majors—

more than $1 billion; 2) nationals—between $100 million and

$1 billion; 3) large regionals—between $20 million and

$99,999,999; and 4) 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 truck—Trucks of 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating

or less, including pickups, vans, truck-based station wagons, and

sport utility vehicles.

Nonself-propelled vessels—Includes dry cargo and tank barges

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

Other 2-axle, 4-tire vehicles—Includes vans, pickup trucks, and

sport utility vehicles. Does not include passenger cars.

Passenger-mile—One passenger transported one mile. For

example, one vehicle traveling 3 miles carrying 5 passengers

generates 15 passenger-miles.

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.

Ton-miles—A unit of measure equal to the movement of one

ton over one mile.

Truck:

Single unit—A large truck on a single frame with at least 2 axles

and 6 tires. Excludes “other 2-axle, 4-tire vehicles” noted

above.

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.
U.S. Department of Transportation