Over 300 million residents use the Nation’s transportation system every day. Driven primarily by where people live and work, travel demand changes as our Nation grows.

Between 2000 and 2013, the U.S. population grew by 12.2 percent, from 282 million to 316 million. Metropolitan areas experienced the most overall growth, while many counties, particularly in rural areas, lost residents as employment opportunities declined.

Population and economic activity grew faster in the South and West, together accounting for 84.2 percent of population growth since 2000. The Northeast, however, continued to produce the most economic activity per capita, as measured by gross domestic product.