DOT Releases Transportation Statistics Annual Report 1996

Contact DOT 215-96 Carolee Bush Media 202-366-6946 Wendell Fletcher Technical 202-366-0818

Monday, September 30, 1996 -- Secretary of Transportation Federico Pe¤a today announced the release of the Transportation Statistics Annual Report 1996, the third annual comprehensive assessment of the nation s transportation system and the state of transportation statistics.

This report provides an invaluable perspective on the key trends affecting all aspects of the U.S. transportation system, Secretary Pe¤a said. It highlights the significant progress made by the transportation sector in curbing air pollution emissions and the remaining challenges that need to be addressed as the nation s transportation system continues to evolve.

Produced by the department s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), the report has a thematic section on Transportation and the Environment, which surveys environmental quality trends in the transportation sector.

Although vehicle-miles traveled doubled between 1970 and 1994, highway vehicles today emit far less of several kinds of air pollution, both in total and on a per-vehicle basis. The report also examines transportation s impact on water quality, solid and hazardous wastes, noise, and land use. Less information is available about environmental trends in these categories. Progress is evident in some areas the volume of oil spilled has trended downward over time (although the unpredictable occurrence of major spills continues to complicate analysis); fewer people are exposed to noise from airports.

"Significant challenges, however, remain," said BTS Director Dr. T. R. Lakshmanan. As travel and traffic continue to grow, it becomes increasingly important to understand and monitor the relationships between transportation and the environment.

The report, mandated by the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, has been sent to the President and all members of Congress. It is available in both printed and electronic forms. Printed copies may be requested by calling (202) 366-DATA; by facsimile (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. The electronic version of the report is available on the Bureau s Internet site at www.bts.gov .