U.S. driving hits record in first quarter 2015
Americans drove nearly 1 trillion miles in the first four months of this year, breaking an eight-year record, says the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Americans drove the most ever for the month of April, a 3.7 percent increase from April 2014.
Driving has increased steadily for 14 consecutive months. Every state showed an increase in vehicle miles traveled (VMT). Washington, DC, the sole exception, saw 1 million unadjusted VMT fewer in April than a year ago, a drop of 0.3 percent.
The FHWA report examines the trends and choices facing Americaês transportation infrastructure in the next three decades: A rapidly growing population, increasing freight volume, demographic shifts in rural and urban areas, and a transportation system that is facing more frequent extreme weather events. Increased gridlock nationwide can be expected, unless changes are made in the near term, says FHWA.
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