BTS Releases Transportation Statistics 1998 Annual Report to Congress

Contact DOT 168-98 Carolee Bush Media 202-366-6946 Wendell Fletcher Technical 202-366-0818

Tuesday, September 15, 1998 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) today announced the release of Transportation Statistics Annual Report 1998.

"This report is an important resource for the transportation industry," U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater said. "The analysis of long-distance passenger travel and freight activity confirms the valuable benefits of nonlocal shipments and passenger travel to the nation’s economy."

The first section of the report refers to all aspects of the U.S. transportation system, including physical characteristics and conditions, economic costs and contributions, safety issues, oil import dependency and the effects of travel on the environment. It also discusses specific data needs for improving and understanding the U.S. transportation network.

The second section of the report focuses on long-distance passenger travel and freight activity and draws from two large surveys conducted by BTS and the U.S. Census Bureau. The American Travel Survey shows that Americans in 1995 averaged more than 3,100 miles per person of long-distance travel, an 80 percent increase over 1977. This growth in travel has had a large impact on the transportation system and the economy. Long distance travel is defined as travel over 100 miles one way.

The Commodity Flow Survey, also discussed in the second section of the report, indicates that freight shipments of more than 100 miles accounted for 61 percent of the value and 33 percent of the weight of commodities moved over the U.S. transportation network. The magnitude of these nonlocal shipments is a reflection of the importance of interstate and interregional trade to economic growth. This report is the fifth annual, comprehensive assessment of the nation’s transportation system and the state of transportation statistics.

The report, mandated by federal law, has been sent to the President and all members of Congress. It is available in both printed and electronic forms. Printed copies may be obtained by calling (202) 366-DATA, by FAX at (202) 366-3640, or by writing to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, U.S. Department of Transportation, Room 3430, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590. An electronic version of the report is available on the BTS Internet site at www.bts.gov.