Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS)

Table 9
Vehicle-Miles

(Millions)

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Mode 1970 1980 1990 1999 2000
Air carriers 2,068 2,523 3,963 5,309 5,646
General aviation 3,207 5,204 4,830 aN     aN   
Passenger cars 916,700 1,111,596 1,408,286 R1,569,100 1,601,914
Motorcycles 2,979 10,214 9,557 10,584 10,479
Other 2-axle, 4-tire vehiclesb 123,286 290,935 574,571 R901,022 924,018
Trucks          
Single-unit 27,081 39,813 51,901 R70,304 70,583
Combination 35,134 68,678 94,341 R132,384 135,208
Busesc 4,544 6,059 5,726 R7,662 7,601
Raild          
Transite 441 403 561 627 U
Commuter N 179 213 p266 U
Class 1 freight 29,890 29,277 26,159 33,851 34,590
Intercity/Amtrakf 690 235 301 342 U
Other transitg N 15 R324 790 U

aThe Federal Aviation Administration has estimated vehicle-miles for general aviation aircraft through 1997, relying in part on hours-flown survey data. Vehicle-miles estimates for subsequent years are not yet available.

b In July 1997, the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, reassigned some vehicle-miles from "passenger car" to "other 2-axle, 4-tire."

c Includes municipally owned transit, commercial, federal, and school buses.

d Car-miles.

e Includes light and heavy rail only.

f Fiscal year data. Amtrak began operations in 1971.

g Includes demand-responsive, ferry boat, and other transit not specified; 1980 data include "other transit" only.

Key: N = data do not exist; P = preliminary; R = revised; U = unavailable.

Sources: Various sources, as cited in U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, National Transportation Statistics 2001, table 1-29, available Spring 2002 at www.bts.gov, or email to answers@bts.gov.

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