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Introduction

Introduction

Compiled and published by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), U.S. Department of Transportation, National Transportation Statistics 2004 presents information on the U.S. transportation system1, including its physical components, safety record, economic performance, energy use, and environmental impacts. National Transportation Statistics 2004 is a companion document to the Transportation Statistics Annual Report, which analyzes the data presented here.

The report has four chapters:

  • Chapter 1 provides data on the extent, condition, use, and performance of the physical transportation network.
  • Chapter 2 details transportations safety record, giving data on accidents, crashes, fatalities, and injuries for each mode and hazardous materials.
  • Chapter 3 focuses on the relationship between transportation and the economy, presenting data on transportation' s contribution to the gross domestic product, employment by industry and occupation, and transportation-related consumer and government expenditures.
  • Chapter 4 presents data on transportation energy use and transportation-related environmental impacts.

Appendix A profiles each mode1, and appendix B contains metric conversions of select tables. Appendix C includes brief discussions of the quality of the data presented in many of the tables. BTS obtained the data in this report from many sources, including federal government agencies, private industry, and associations. Documents cited as sources for the tables provide detailed information about definitions, methodologies, and statistical reliability. Some of the data are based on samples and are subject to sampling variability.

Generally, data are presented in five-year increments through 1995 and annually thereafter. The web version of the report provides a more comprehensive inventory of available data than presented here. The web version is updated on a quarterly basis and is available at www.bts.gov.

1 The U.S. transportation system comprises six modes: air, highway, transit, rail, water, and pipelines.