Latest FHWA Data Shows Vehicle Miles Traveled Continue to Increase

Those who thought peak VMT was in the rear view mirror will be disappointed in new data from the Federal Highway Administration.

2 minute read

June 29, 2015, 11:00 AM PDT

By Irvin Dawid

"Vehicle miles traveled (VMT) reached a record 987.8 billion for the first four months of the year," writes the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials Journal editor. "The previous record for January through April of any year was 965.5 billion VMT, set in 2007."

With the record one-month estimate for April reaching nearly 270 billion miles, VMT will have increased "14 months in a row [since March 2014], as vehicles put more traffic demand on the nation's road and bridge network," according to AASHTO. "The FHWA said that volume growth underscores 'the need for greater investment in transportation infrastructure.'"

VMT data is not population-adjusted

As Planetizen blogger Steven Polzin, of the Center for Urban Transportation Research at the University of South Florida acknowledged in his April post about 2014 VMT data, it's important to take into account increased population. "With 17 million more people, VMT per capita remains below peak levels."

That conclusion was affirmed earlier in September 2014 and May 2014 posts showing that VMT was at "another new post-Financial Crisis low...if we factor in population growth [and] the civilian population-adjusted data (age 16-and-over)."

Where traffic is on the rise, and where it isn't

According to FHWA's press release, "At 60.9 billion unadjusted VMT, traffic in the West – 13 states including Alaska and Hawaii – was the nation's most-traveled region for the second consecutive month, and the 19th month in a row of VMT growth. The Northeast, a region of nine states stretching from Maine to New Jersey, showed the smallest growth – rising only 2.4 percent, or 37 billion VMT, compared to the same month a year earlier." The total April increase was 3.7 percent compared to April 2014.

"The complete VMT data is available in the FHWA's "Traffic Volume Trends" reports, based on information collected from more than 4,800 continuous count stations nationwide," adds AASHTO.

FULL STORY: FHWA Says Driving Volumes Set Records for April, First Four Months of Any Year

Friday, June 26, 2015 in AASHTO Journal

Social / Demographics Transportation United States VMT FHWA peak driving Peak Car Vehicle Miles Traveled Northeast West Traffic Volumes View More

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Learn More

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.