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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 1-35M: U.S. Vehicle-Kilometers (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 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 9,033 9,826 10,625 10,809 10,631 10,835 10,374 9,552 9,617 9,663 9,586 9,600 (R) 9,571 9,730
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 N N N N N N
Highway, 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 4,758,450 4,775,352 4,748,211 4,778,839 4,809,173 4,869,321 5,038,066
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 3,386,729 3,258,531 3,243,977 3,260,120 3,293,172 3,319,799 3,338,460 3,334,676 3,456,614
Passenger carsb,e 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 N N N N N N N N N
Motorcyclec,d 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 33,510 29,794 29,841 34,416 32,776 32,138 31,553
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 944,071 974,388 993,824 1,002,157 972,326 967,589 970,928 1,027,541 1,016,868
Other 2-axle 4-tire vehiclesb,e 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 N N N N N N N N N
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 98,627 100,914 103,114 107,654 109,469 113,143 113,459 116,506 122,094 125,124 126,239 126,327 129,301 193,087 204,153 193,454 178,216 167,055 169,955 171,527 175,904 176,380
Truck, combination 46,436 50,960 56,543 75,195 110,527 125,630 151,827 155,535 160,146 165,949 175,309 185,800 191,349 200,499 206,574 213,051 217,294 219,730 223,276 225,514 229,122 231,790 228,799 296,440 295,839 270,530 282,905 263,597 263,291 271,071 273,315 273,985
Busf 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 23,154 22,160 22,221 23,788 24,409 25,748 26,119
Transitg, total 3,449 3,232 3,031 3,502 3,680 4,491 5,217 5,321 5,399 5,528 5,580 5,713 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 7,081 6,971 6,995 7,103 7,128 U
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 3,586 3,394 3,334 3,212 3,238 U
Light railh 120 67 54 38 28 27 39 44 46 45 55 56 60 66 70 77 84 87 98 104 108 111 120 134 141 145 150 155 162 176 183 U
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 1,072 1,054 1,057 1,084 1,088 U
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 19 19 19 19 18 U
Commuter rail N N N 278 288 294 342 346 352 360 371 383 389 403 417 428 436 446 456 460 474 488 506 523 543 543 551 546 554 571 590 U
Demand responsef 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 1,299 1,295 1,301 1,315 1,327 U
Ferry boati N N N N U U 4 4 4 4 3 4 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 4 6 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 U
Otheri,j N N N 24 25 24 26 31 39 48 47 55 109 124 145 181 156 160 167 162 210 232 240 263 300 344 399 505 564 720 678 U
Rail                                                                
Class I freight, train-miles 651 677 687 648 690 559 611 603 628 653 710 738 754 764 764 789 811 804 804 830 861 881 905 875 844 702 766 794 805 811 834 796
Class I freight, car-miles 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 57,198 58,981 58,781 56,734 59,856 57,713
Intercity/Amtrakk, train-miles 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 60 60 61 62 61 61
Intercity/Amtrakk, car-miles 3,554 2,857 1,110 407 378 404 484 504 494 488 489 470 444 463 502 550 592 608 609 534 496 426 425 429 437 455 474 477 514 523 523 514
Total train-milesl 987 954 837 696 738 607 664 658 683 709 764 789 803 816 817 844 867 862 865 891 920 939 963 935 904 764 826 854 865 873 895 857

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.

f Motor 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.

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

j Other 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.

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.

1975-2015: 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 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.