The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) and Volpe National Transportation Systems Center today released the 50th anniversary edition of the National Transportation Statistics (NTS), a collection of transportation data first published in November 1971. The commemorative publication includes links to digitized versions of the entire NTS collection and is the first NTS volume available in print since 2018.

Initially produced in conjunction with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the National Transportation Statistics began as a printed annual report. The NTS mantle was taken up in 1973 by the Transportation Systems Center—now the Volpe Center. In 1998, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics took on full responsibilities.

Over its first half-century, the NTS has evolved to include more than 200 time series, updated online whenever new data becomes available. Its tables represent the U.S. transportation system’s physical components, safety record, economic performance, energy use, and environmental impact.

BTS has also published its periodic NTS data updates. Recently updated tables include, by topic:

Physical Extent

• Number of Stations Served by Amtrak and Rail Transit (1-7)
• ADA Lift- or Ramp-Equipped Transit Buses (1-8)
• ADA-Accessible Rail Transit Stations by Agency (1-9)

Condition

• Average Age of Urban Transit Vehicles (1-29)

Air Safety

• Prohibited Items Intercepted at Airport Screening Checkpoints (2-16)

Transportation and the Economy

• U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Attributed to Transportation Functions (billions of current dollars) (3-3)
• U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Attributed to Transportation Functions (billions of chained 2012 dollars) (3-4)
• U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Major Social Function(billions of current dollars) (3-9)

Transportation and Consumer Expenditures

• Average Passenger Fares (3-18)
• Average Passenger Fares (chained 2012 dollars) (3-19)

Transportation Revenues, Employment, and Productivity

• Average Passenger Revenue per Passenger-Mile (3-20)

Transportation Energy Consumption by Mode

• Transit Industry Electric Power and Primary Energy Consumption and Travel (4-16, 4-16M)

Transportation Energy Intensity and Fuel Efficiency

• Energy Intensity of Transit Motor Buses (4-24, 4-24M)
• Energy Intensity of Amtrak Services (loss-adjusted conversion factors) (4-27)