1. Finding Transportation Statistics
Rosalyn Alleman
National Transportation Library
January 9, 2012
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2. Agenda
General Statistical Sources in Transportation
Multimodal Freight/Passenger/Safety Statistics
Economic Statistics
BTS Air Carrier Statistics
Other Aviation Data Sources
Highways Data
Transit/Rail Data
Maritime Data Sources
BTS’ New Transportation Data Clearinghouse
NTL’s Statistics FAQs
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3. General Statistical Sources
 Pocket Guide to Transportation (BTS)
 National Transportation Statistics (BTS)
□ National overview of infrastructure, traffic, energy, environmental and economic
data related to transportation
□ Based on DOT and non-DOT sources
 State Transportation Statistics (BTS)
 Transportation Statistics Annual Report (BTS)
□ Mandated by Congress
□ Covers areas pertinent to key US DOT initiatives
 Statistical Abstract of the United States (Census)
□ Historical transportation statistics back to the 19th century
□ Census says they’re “terminating the collection of data for the Statistical Compendia
program effective October 1, 2011” but earlier data still useful
 Annual Energy Outlook (DOE)
□ Forecasts to 2035
□ Includes data on vehicle miles traveled, alternative fuel vehicles, emissions
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4. Multimodal Statistics
 Border Crossing/Entry Data (BTS)
□ Number of people/vehicles entering the US by port of entry
□ Based on US Customs data
 North American Transborder Freight Data (BTS)
□ Monthly trade with Canada and Mexico by value and weight
□ Available by mode, port, O&D state and commodity
 Commodity Flow Survey (BTS)
□ 1993, 1997, 2002, and 2007 surveys of businesses
□ Freight by commodity, O&D, mode of transportation
□ Value, Tons, Ton-Miles
 Travel to/from the US (DOC Office of Travel and Tourism Industries)
□ Number of US citizens traveling abroad and foreign citizens traveling to US
□ Tourism and spending data
 National Transportation Safety Board
□ Reports and statistics on accidents
□ Aviation and other modes
 National Safety Council:
□ Injury and death statistics, including odds of dying from various causes
 Commuting statistics
□ Includes Census Bureau’s Community and Housing surveys
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5. Economic Statistics
 Transportation Services Index (BTS)
□ Measures the movement of freight and passengers in the for-hire transportation
sector
□ Goes back to 1990 (monthly)
□ Based on data from government and private sector sources
 Air Fare Data (BTS)
□ Based on the Airline Origin & Destination Survey’s itinerary fares
□ Quarterly domestic data by origin airport
□ Air Travel Price Index measures changes compared to Q1 1995
□ See also the Domestic Airline Fares Consumer Report
 Government Transportation Financial Statistics (BTS)
□ Federal, State and Local revenues and expenditures
□ 2007 is most recent (2001 and 2003 also available)
 Transportation Satellite Accounts (BTS)
□ Measures the contribution of transportation services to the national economy
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6. BTS Air Carrier Statistics
 Traffic T-100 Market and Segment statistics: flights,
passengers, freight & mail aggregated by
route/carrier/aircraft type/month; New: City Market ID
field, shows traffic for all airports in a market
 Traffic Summary Data: further aggregated data for US
carriers only, includes RPMs, ASMs, RTMs, fuel
consumption, T-1 goes back to 1974
 Origin and Destination Survey (10% sample of domestic
itineraries, includes fare data) in 3 parts: coupon, market
(directional trips) and ticket (whole itineraries)
Certificated air carriers are required under 14 CFR 234 and 241 to report
statistics to BTS (some data monthly, some quarterly or semiannually). BTS
also issues Accounting and Reporting Directives to clarify requirements.
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7. BTS Air Carrier Statistics
Financial Statistics (carriers divided into groups
over/under $20 million in revenue)
□ Revenue/expenses
□ Fuel cost and consumption
□ Employment by labor category
□ Balance sheet data
□ Fleet size/age
□ By Quarter/Month and Carrier Region
On-Time Performance Data (Carriers with 1% of
domestic, scheduled passenger revenue)
□ Delays, cancellations and diversions
□ Day- and flight-specific data
□ Domestic flights/carriers only except for 3-hour tarmac
delay reports (covers all flights from US airports)
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8. BTS Air Carrier Statistics
Options for accessing airline data:
Press releases (BTS Press Room)
Other prepared tables (BTS bookstore)
Table generating tools (BTS home page)
Download raw data from TranStats
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9. Accessing TranStats Data
Analysis:
 Click on title, then “analysis” next to desired field
 Quick access to a few fields, yearly and time series/crosstabs tables
 Aggregated data downloads easily to Excel for tables 200 rows or fewer
Download:
 Click “Download” under file description and select fields
 More detailed tables with 3 or more variables
 Monthly/quarterly/semiannually
 Filter for geography (state/country)
 Use Microsoft Access to filter/aggregate large files
http://www.transtats.bts.gov
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10. Other Aviation Data Sources
 Administrator’s Fact Book (FAA)
□ Overview of traffic, financial, infrastructure data
 Aerospace Forecasts (FAA)
 Air Traffic Activity Data System (FAA)
□ Airport traffic including general aviation and air taxis, military
flights
□ Take-offs and landings, both local and itinerant
 General Aviation and Part 135 Activity Surveys (FAA)
□ traffic, conditions and equipment
 Air Travel Consumer Report (OST)
□ Summary of delays, complaints, mishandled baggage, etc.
□ Monthly and 12-month totals
 Domestic Airline Fares Consumer Report (OST)
□ Air fare data by top 1000 city pairs, etc.
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11. Highways Data
 Highway Statistics (FHWA)
□ Vehicles, drivers, miles of roadway, fuel, finance and vehicle miles
 Traffic Volume Trends (FHWA)
□ Monthly vehicle miles traveled
 National Household Travel Survey (FHWA)
□ 2009 is most recent
□ Survey of households re: daily travel
□ Includes mode, purpose, number of vehicles in household
 Fatality Analysis Reporting System (NHTSA)
□ Search fatal accident records
□ See also “Traffic Safety Facts” reports
 Transportation Energy Data Book (DOE)
 Urban Mobility Report (TTI)
□ Congestion study showing time, money and fuel wasted in traffic
□ Covers 439 urban areas across the US
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12. Transit/Rail Data
National Transit Database (FTA)
□ Ridership, infrastructure & finance statistics
□ National and transit agency level
APTA also has easy-to-use transit statistics
Amtrak
□ Number of passengers by state and station (2 years)
Railroad Financial and Statistical Reports
(STB)
□ Traffic, financial, employment reports
□ Reported by US freight railroads
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13. Maritime Data
Maritime Administration (MARAD) data:
 US Waterborne Foreign Trade & US Foreign Container Trade
□ By US port and trading partner
 Vessel Calls at US Ports
□ By vessel type and port
 Merchant Fleet Statistics
□ By vessel type and flag/ownership country
 Surveys of Great Lakes operators and barge operators
 Cruise ship statistics
National Census of Ferry Operators (BTS)
 2008 Survey has data on operators, routes, terminals and vessels
 New interface coming soon, with 2010 data
Marine Transportation System Data Inventory
 Database of maritime sources produced or used by the Federal Government
US Army Corps of Engineers
 Data on ports and locks, commodities shipped in domestic waterborne commerce
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14. Transportation Data Clearinghouse
 Replacement for the BTS Directory of Transportation
Data Sources, published in 1996 – also known as the
“Purple Book” of transportation statistics
 Currently in beta and available for use, but version 1.0
should be operational in early 2012
 Searchable database of statistical sources in
transportation and tools to use them.
 If you would like to submit links to the clearinghouse or
check out the beta site, please e-mail us at
ritainfo@dot.gov
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15. NTL Statistics FAQs
Take a look at our guides to transportation statistics at
https://ntl.custhelp.com
 Sources of Transportation Statistics (overview)
 Sources of Airline Traffic Statistics
 Sources of Airline Financial Statistics
 Sources of Airline On-Time Statistics
 Air Fare Statistics
 US Air Carrier Employee Statistics
 Airline Fleet Statistics
 Statistics on Take-offs and Landings by Airport
 Commuting Statistics
 Highway Vehicle Miles Traveled Statistics
 State Crash Statistics
 State Traffic Count Statistics
 Fuel Economy Statistics Sources
 Find Fuel/Energy Statistics (DOE)
 Transportation Statistics for Foreign Countries
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16. Questions/Comments?
Contact the NTL at:
ritainfo@dot.gov
http://ntl.custhelp.com
800-853-1351
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