A Practical Guide to Analytics for Governments

CHAPTER 8Transportation

Jim Trogdon

The U.S. transportation system is a significant economic engine within our nation. It serves nearly 319 million citizens and 7.5 million businesses through a network of more than 4 million miles of roads, more than 19,000 public and private airports, and nearly 140,000 miles of railroads.¹ The value of U.S. transportation assets in 2014 was estimated at $7.7 trillion dollars, and the transportation sector accounts for $1.4 trillion or 8.6 percent of U.S. gross domestic product and 12.3 million jobs or 8.8 percent of the U.S. labor force.²

During the last two centuries the United States built this world-class transportation system that supported vast economic growth; however, as the system ages and demand grows we are falling behind. As stated by USDOT Secretary Anthony Foxx, “In the last century, we took over building the Panama Canal, completed the Interstate Highway System, and set the world standard in freight transport and aviation. But our lead has slipped away. We are behind—way behind. The quality of our roads, for example is no longer rated number 1, we are currently number 16.”³

Fortunately, we have options. Technology and innovation has the potential to transform our transportation system and our personal mobility to an extent not seen since Henry Ford developed affordable automobiles for the masses and moved us from horseback to the automobile. Autonomous and connected vehicles have the potential to substantially transform personal ...