Table 1-35M: U.S. Vehicle-Kilometers

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(Millions)

	1960	1965	1970	1975	1980	1985	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
Air
Air carrier, domestic, all services	1,381	1,825	3,328	2,635	3,663	4,869	6,378	6,203	6,429	6,689	7,046	7,448	7,736	7,897	8,095	8,572	9,112	8,923	9,037	9,826	10,625	10,809	10,630	10,835	10,374	9,553
General aviationa	2,847	4,123	5,161	6,820	8,375	7,520	7,319	7,081	5,576	5,235	5,404	6,107	5,671	6,239	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N
Highwayb, total	1,156,737	1,428,793	1,785,928	2,136,668	2,457,943	2,856,307	3,451,016	3,495,576	3,616,439	3,695,662	3,794,170	3,898,951	4,000,585	4,122,648	4,235,024	4,330,835	4,420,747	4,499,098	4,595,495	4,651,360	4,771,364	4,811,021	4,851,160	4,878,121	4,790,257	4,753,200
Light duty vehicle, short wheel-baseb,c,d	944,704	1,163,066	1,475,286	1,663,981	1,788,940	2,006,527	2,266,384	2,185,787	2,207,326	2,212,380	2,262,881	2,314,710	2,365,501	2,418,129	2,493,802	2,525,222	2,575,412	2,618,991	2,669,055	2,690,770	2,735,708	2,749,437	2,720,651	3,386,729	3,258,531	3,240,311
Motorcycled	U	U	4,794	9,059	16,438	14,622	15,381	14,771	15,381	15,942	16,480	15,767	15,965	16,224	16,549	17,033	16,848	15,502	15,372	15,411	16,290	16,825	19,392	34,434	33,492	33,475
Light duty vehicle, long wheel-baseb,c,d	U	U	198,410	322,995	468,214	629,191	924,682	1,045,098	1,137,586	1,200,168	1,230,559	1,271,428	1,314,094	1,369,132	1,397,353	1,450,054	1,485,519	1,516,991	1,554,681	1,583,627	1,653,060	1,675,410	1,742,099	944,071	974,388	992,809
Truck, single-unit 2-axle 6-tire or mored	158,602	207,234	43,583	55,693	64,073	73,130	83,527	85,131	86,702	91,366	98,627	100,914	103,114	107,654	109,469	113,143	113,459	116,506	122,094	125,124	126,239	126,327	129,301	193,087	204,153	193,383
Truck, combination	46,436	50,960	56,543	75,195	110,527	125,630	151,827	155,535	160,146	165,949	175,309	185,800	191,349	200,499	206,574	213,051	217,294	219,730	223,276	225,514	229,122	231,790	228,799	296,440	295,839	270,116
Bus	6,994	7,533	7,313	9,745	9,751	7,207	9,215	9,254	9,299	9,857	10,314	10,332	10,562	11,011	11,277	12,331	12,215	11,378	11,016	10,914	10,945	11,234	10,917	23,361	23,856	23,107
Transite, total	3,449	3,232	3,031	3,502	3,680	4,491	5,217	5,321	5,399	5,528	5,580	5,714	4,959	5,151	5,386	5,632	5,801	6,012	6,203	6,300	6,392	6,525	6,641	6,820	7,041	7,201
Motor busf	2,537	2,460	2,268	2,456	2,699	2,998	3,428	3,487	3,505	3,556	3,479	3,514	2,917	2,976	3,064	3,195	3,284	3,386	3,470	3,504	3,491	3,528	3,563	3,607	3,656	3,678
Light rail	120	67	54	38	28	27	39	44	46	45	55	56	60	66	70	77	84	87	98	104	108	111	120	134	141	145
Heavy rail	629	636	655	681	619	725	864	848	846	840	856	865	874	897	910	930	958	979	999	1,014	1,034	1,040	1,049	1,058	1,085	1,102
Trolley bus	162	69	53	25	21	25	22	22	22	21	22	22	22	22	22	23	23	21	22	22	22	21	20	18	19	21
Commuter rail	N	N	N	278	288	294	342	346	352	360	371	383	389	403	417	428	436	446	456	460	474	488	506	523	543	543
Demand responsivef	N	N	N	N	N	398	492	539	585	653	746	815	584	659	755	795	856	930	986	1,030	1,047	1,100	1,139	1,211	1,292	1,363
Ferry boatg	N	N	N	N	U	U	4	4	4	4	3	5	3	3	4	4	4	4	4	5	5	5	4	6	5	5
Otherg	N	N	N	24	25	24	26	31	39	48	47	55	109	124	145	181	156	160	167	162	210	232	240	263	300	344
Rail
Class I freight, train-kilometers	651	677	687	648	690	559	611	603	628	653	710	738	754	764	764	789	811	804	804	830	861	881	905	875	844	702
Class I freight, car-kilometers	45,335	47,212	48,103	44,508	47,117	40,105	42,099	41,244	42,049	43,264	45,842	48,897	51,040	50,952	52,556	54,478	55,667	55,109	55,812	57,220	59,660	60,692	62,692	61,454	59,909	51,684
Intercity/Amtrakh, train-kilometers	336	277	150	48	48	48	53	55	55	56	55	51	48	51	53	55	56	58	61	60	60	58	58	60	61	62
Intercity/Amtrakh, car-kilometers	3,554	2,857	1,110	407	378	404	484	504	494	488	489	470	444	463	502	550	592	608	609	534	496	426	425	429	437	455
Total train-kilometersi	987	954	837	697	737	607	665	658	682	709	764	789	803	816	818	843	867	862	865	891	920	939	963	935	904	764

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

^a All operations other than those operating under 14 CFR 121 and 14 CFR 135. Data for 1996 are estimated using new information on nonrespondents and are not comparable to earlier years. Mileage in source is multiplied by 1.151 to convert to nautical-miles for 1985-1997.

^b 1960-99 data are for Passenger Cars and Other 2-axle, 4-tire vehicles, respectively. Data for 1960-99 are not comparable to data for 2000-09.

^c U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), provides data separately for Light duty vehicle, short wheel base (formerly Passenger car) and Motorcycle in its annual Highway Statistics series. However, the 1995 summary report provides updated data for Light duty vehicle, short wheel base (formerly Passenger car) and Motorcycle combined. Light duty vehicle, short wheel base (formerly Passenger car) figures in this table were computed by U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, by subtracting the most current motorcycle figures from the aggregate Light duty vehicle, short wheel base (formerly Passenger car) and Motorcycle figures.

^d 196065, Motorcycle data are included in Light duty vehicle, short wheel base (formerly Passenger car), and Long duty vehicle, long wheel base (formerly Other 2-axle 4-tire vehicle) data included in Single-unit 2-axle 6-tire or more Truck.

^e Prior to 1985, excludes Demand responsive and most rural and smaller systems funded via Sections 18 and 16(b)2, Federal Transit Act. The series is not continuous between 1980 and 1985. Transit rail modes are measured in car-miles. Car-miles measure individual vehicle-miles in a train. A 10-car train traveling 1 mile would equal 1 train-mile and 10 car-miles.

^fMotor bus and Demand responsive figures are also included in the Bus figure for Highway.

^g Ferry boat included with Other under Transit for 1980 and 1985.

^h National Passenger Railroad Corporation (Amtrak) began operations in 1971.

ⁱ Although both Train-kilometers and Car-kilometers are shown for rail, only Train-kilometers are included in the total. A Train-kilometersis the movement of a train, which can consist of multiple vehicles (cars), the distance of 1 kilometer. This differs from a vehicle-kilometer, which is the movement of 1 vehicle the distance of 1 kilometer. A 10-vehicle train traveling 1 kilometer would be measured as 1 train-kilometer and 10 vehicle-kilometers. Caution should be used when comparing train-kilometers with vehicle-kilometers.

NOTES

Data for 2007-09 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. This edition of 1-35M is not comparable to previous editions.

In July 1997, the FHWA published revised vehicle-miles data for the highway modes for many years. The major change reflected the reassignment of some vehicles from the passenger car category to the Other 2-axle 4-tire vehicle category. This category was calculated prior to rounding.

Numbers may not add to totals due to rounding.

Transit data from 1996 and after are not comparable to the data for earlier years or to the data published in previous editions of the report due to different data sources used.

1 mile = 1.609344 kilometers.

SOURCES

Air:

Air carrier:

1960: Civil Aeronautics Board, Handbook of Airline Statistics 1969 (Washington, DC: 1970), part III, table 2.

1965-70: Ibid., Handbook of Airline Statistics 1973 (Washington, DC: 1974), part III, table 2.

1975-2009: U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T1: U.S. Air Carrier Traffic and Capacity Summary by Service Class, Revenue Aircraft Miles Flown by Carrier Group (1-6) and Carrier Region (D for domestic) for all services (Z for all services), available at http://www.transtats.bts.gov/Tables.asp?DB_ID=130&DB_Name=Air%20Carrier%20Summary%20Data%20%28Form%2041%20and%20298C%20Summary%20Data%29&DB_Short_Name=Air%20Carrier%20Summary, as of Dec. 20, 2010.

General aviation:

1960-65: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA Statistical Handbook of Aviation 1972 (Washington, DC: 1973), table 9.10.

1970-75: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA Statistical Handbook of Aviation 1976 (Washington, DC: 1976), table 8-5.

1980: U.S. National Transportation Safety Board estimate, personal communication, Dec. 7, 1998.

1985-92: Ibid., General Aviation Activity and Avionics Survey (Washington, DC: Annual Issues), table 3.3.

1993-97: Ibid., General Aviation and Air Taxi Activity and Avionics Survey (Washington, DC: Annual Issues), table 3.3.

Highway:

Passenger car and motorcycle:

1960-94: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Highway Statistics Summary to 1995, table VM-201A, available at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics.cfm as of Oct. 6, 2011.

1995-2006: Ibid., Highway Statistics (Washington, DC: Annual Issues), table VM-1, available at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics.cfm as of Oct. 6, 2011.

Light duty vehicle, short wheel base:

2007-09: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Highway Statistics (Washington, DC: Annual Issues), table VM-1, available at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics.cfm as of Oct. 6, 2011.

Motorcycle:

1970-80: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Highway Statistics Summary to 1985 (Washington, DC: 1986), table VM-201A.

1985-2009: Ibid., Highway Statistics (Washington, DC: Annual Issues), table VM-1, available at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics.cfm as of Oct. 6, 2011.

Other 2-axle 4-tire vehicle:

1970-94: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Highway Statistics Summary to 1995, table VM-201A, available at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics.cfm as of Oct. 6, 2011.

1995-2006: Ibid., Highway Statistics (Washington, DC: Annual Issues), table VM-1, available at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics.cfm as of Oct. 6, 2011.

Light duty vehicle, long wheel base:

2007-09: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Highway Statistics (Washington, DC: Annual Issues), table VM-1, available at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics.cfm as of Oct. 6, 2011.

Single-unit 2-axle 6-tires or more truck, combination truck, and bus:

1960-94: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Highway Statistics Summary to 1995, table VM-201A, available at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics.cfm as of May 6, 2011.

1995-2009: Ibid., Highway Statistics (Washington, DC: Annual Issues), table VM-1, available at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics.cfm as of Oct. 6, 2011.

Transit:

1960-95: American Public Transportation Association, Public Transportation Fact Book (Washington, DC: Annual Issues), table 6 and similar tables in earlier editions.

1996-2009: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration, National Transit Database, available at http://www.ntdprogram.gov/ntdprogram/data.htm as of May 6, 2011.

Rail:

Class I rail freight train- and car-miles:

Association of American Railroads, Railroad Facts (Washington, DC: Annual Issues), pp. 33 and 34.

Intercity/Amtrak train-miles:

1960-70: Association of American Railroads, Yearbook of Railroad Facts (Washington, DC: 1975), p. 39.

1975-2001: National Passenger Railroad Corporation (Amtrak), Amtrak Annual Report, Statistical Appendix (Washington, DC: Annual Issues).

2002-09: Association of American Railroads, Railroad Facts (Washington, DC: Annual Issues), p. 77.

Intercity/Amtrak car-miles:

1960-75: Association of American Railroads, Yearbook of Railroad Facts (Washington, DC: 1975), p. 40.

1980-2000: National Passenger Railroad Corporation (Amtrak), Amtrak Corporate Reporting, Route Profitability System, personal communication, 2001.

2001-09: Association of American Railroads, Railroad Facts (Washington, DC: Annual Issues), p. 77.