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U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation

Table 1-35: U.S. Vehicle-Miles (Millions)

Friday, April 14, 2017

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  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 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Air                                                                
Air carrier, domestic, all services 858 1,134 2,068 1,638 2,276 3,026 3,963 3,854 3,995 4,156 4,378 4,628 4,807 4,907 5,030 5,326 5,662 5,545 5,613 6,106 6,602 6,716 6,606 6,733 6,446 5,935 5,976 6,005 5,956 5,965 (R) 5,947 6,046
General aviationa 1,769 2,562 3,207 4,238 5,204 4,673 4,548 4,400 3,465 3,253 3,358 3,795 3,524 3,877 N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N
Highway, total 718,763 887,811 1,109,724 1,327,664 1,527,295 1,774,827 2,144,362 2,172,050 2,247,151 2,296,378 2,357,588 2,422,696 2,485,848 2,561,695 2,631,522 2,691,056 2,746,925 2,795,610 2,855,508 2,890,221 2,964,788 2,989,430 3,014,371 3,031,124 2,976,528 2,956,764 2,967,266 2,950,402 2,969,433 2,988,281 3,025,656 3,130,509
Light duty vehicle, short wheel-baseb,c,d N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N 2,104,416 2,024,757 2,015,714 2,025,745 2,046,282 2,062,828 2,074,423 2,072,071 2,147,840
Passenger carsb,e 587,012 722,696 916,700 1,033,950 1,111,596 1,246,798 1,408,266 1,358,185 1,371,569 1,374,709 1,406,089 1,438,294 1,469,854 1,502,556 1,549,577 1,569,100 1,600,287 1,627,365 1,658,474 1,671,967 1,699,890 1,708,421 1,690,534 N N N N N N N N N
Motorcyclec,d U U 2,979 5,629 10,214 9,086 9,557 9,178 9,557 9,906 10,240 9,797 9,920 10,081 10,283 10,584 10,469 9,633 9,552 9,576 10,122 10,454 12,049 21,396 20,811 20,822 18,513 18,542 21,385 20,366 19,970 19,606
Light duty vehicle, long wheel-baseb,c,d N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N 586,618 605,456 617,534 622,712 604,175 601,232 603,307 638,484 631,852
Other 2-axle 4-tire vehiclesb,e U U 123,286 200,700 290,935 390,961 574,571 649,394 706,863 745,750 764,634 790,029 816,540 850,739 868,275 901,022 923,059 942,614 966,034 984,020 1,027,164 1,041,051 1,082,490 N N N N N N N N N
Truck, single-unit 2-axle 6-tire or mored 98,551 128,769 27,081 34,606 39,813 45,441 51,901 52,898 53,874 56,772 61,284 62,705 64,072 66,893 68,021 70,304 70,500 72,394 75,866 77,748 78,441 78,496 80,344 119,979 126,855 120,207 110,738 103,803 105,605 106,582 109,301 109,597
Truck, combination 28,854 31,665 35,134 46,724 68,678 78,063 94,341 96,645 99,510 103,116 108,932 115,451 118,899 124,584 128,359 132,384 135,020 136,534 138,737 140,128 142,370 144,028 142,169 184,199 183,826 168,100 175,789 163,791 163,602 168,436 169,830 170,246
Busf 4,346 4,681 4,544 6,055 6,059 4,478 5,726 5,750 5,778 6,125 6,409 6,420 6,563 6,842 7,007 7,662 7,590 7,070 6,845 6,782 6,801 6,980 6,783 14,516 14,823 14,387 13,770 13,807 14,781 15,167 15,999 16,230
Transitg, total 2,143 2,008 1,883 2,176 2,287 2,791 3,242 3,306 3,355 3,435 3,468 3,550 3,082 3,201 3,347 3,500 3,605 3,735 3,855 3,915 3,972 4,054 4,127 4,238 4,375 4,475 4,400 4,331 4,347 4,413 4,429 U
Motor busf 1,576 1,528 1,409 1,526 1,677 1,863 2,130 2,167 2,178 2,210 2,162 2,184 1,813 1,849 1,904 1,985 2,041 2,104 2,156 2,177 2,169 2,192 2,214 2,241 2,272 2,285 2,229 2,109 2,071 1,996 2,012 U
Light railh 75 42 34 24 18 17 24 28 29 28 34 35 37 41 43 48 52 54 61 64 67 69 74 84 88 90 93 96 101 109 114 U
Heavy rail 391 395 407 423 385 451 537 527 525 522 532 537 543 558 566 578 595 608 621 630 642 646 652 657 674 685 666 655 656 674 676 U
Trolley bus 101 43 33 15 13 16 14 14 14 13 14 14 14 14 14 14 15 13 14 14 13 13 12 11 12 13 12 12 12 12 11 U
Commuter rail N N N 173 179 183 213 215 219 224 231 238 242 251 259 266 271 277 284 286 295 303 315 325 337 337 342 339 344 355 367 U
Demand responsef N N N N N 247 306 335 364 406 464 507 363 410 469 494 532 578 613 640 651 683 708 752 803 847 807 804 808 817 824 U
Ferry boati N N N N U U 2 2 2 3 2 3 2 2 2 3 3 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 U
Otheri,j N N N 15 15 15 16 19 24 30 29 34 68 77 90 112 97 100 104 101 131 144 149 163 187 214 248 313 350 447 422 U
Rail                                                                
Class I freight, train-miles 404 421 427 403 428 347 380 375 390 405 441 458 469 475 475 490 504 500 500 516 535 548 563 543 524 436 476 493 500 504 518 495
Class I freight, car-miles 28,170 29,336 29,890 27,656 29,277 24,920 26,159 25,628 26,128 26,883 28,485 30,383 31,715 31,660 32,657 33,851 34,590 34,243 34,680 35,555 37,071 37,712 38,955 38,186 37,226 32,115 35,541 36,649 36,525 35,253 37,193 35,861
Intercity/Amtrakk, train-miles 209 172 93 30 30 30 33 34 34 35 34 32 30 32 33 34 35 36 38 37 37 36 36 37 38 38 37 37 38 38 38 38
Intercity/Amtrakk, car-miles 2,208 1,775 690 253 235 251 301 313 307 303 304 292 276 288 312 342 368 378 379 332 308 265 264 267 272 283 295 296 319 325 325 319
Total train-milesl 613 593 520 433 458 377 413 409 424 440 475 490 499 507 508 524 539 536 537 553 572 584 599 581 562 475 513 530 538 542 556 532

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

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 1960-2006 data are for Passenger Cars and Other 2-axle, 4-tire vehicles, respectively. Data for 1960-2006 are not comparable to data for 2007-15.

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 1960–65, Motorcycle data are included in Light duty vehicle, short wheel base (formerly Passenger car), and Light duty vehicle, long wheel base (formerly Other 2-axle 4-tire vehicle) data are included in Truck, single-unit 2-axle 6-tire or more.

e 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 cars category to the Other 2-axle 4-tire vehicles category. This category was calculated prior to rounding.

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

g Prior to 1985, excludes Demand response 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.

h Beginning in 2011, Light rail includes Light Rail, Street Car Rail, and Hybrid Rail.

iFerry boat included with Other under Transit for 1980 and 1985.

jOther includes Aerial Tramway, Alaska Railroad, Bus Rapid Transit, Cable Car, Commuter Bus, Demand Response - Taxi, Inclined Plane, Monorail/Automated Guideway, Publico and Vanpool.

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

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

NOTES

Data for 2007-15 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 1-35 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.

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.

1975-2015: U.S. Department of Transportation, 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 October 2016.

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, 2012.

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, 2012.

Light duty vehicle, short wheel base:

2007-15: 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 Mar. 28, 2017.

Motorcycle:

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

1985-2015: Ibid., Highway Statistics (Washington, DC: Annual Issues), table VM-1, available at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics.cfm as of Feb. 23, 2016.

Light duty vehicle, long wheel base:

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, 2012.

1995-2015: 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 Mar. 28, 2017.

Truck, single-unit 2-axle 6-tires or more; Truck, combination; 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 Oct. 6, 2012.

1995-2015: Ibid., Highway Statistics (Washington, DC: Annual Issues), table VM-1, available at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics.cfm as of Mar. 28, 2017.

Transit:

1960-95: American Public Transportation Association, Public Transportation Fact Book (Washington, DC: Annual Issues), tables 6, 51, and similar tables in earlier editions.

1996-2014: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration, National Transit Database, Transit Operating Stats, available at http://www.ntdprogram.gov/ntdprogram/data.htm as of Feb. 24, 2016.

Rail:

Class I rail freight train- and car-miles:

Association of American Railroads, Railroad Facts (Washington, DC: Annual Issues), pp. 36 and 37.

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).

2002-15: 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.

2001-15: Association of American Railroads, Railroad Facts (Washington, DC: Annual Issues), p. 77.