Americans Racking Up More Highway Miles
Americans are driving more, the Federal Highway Administration reported, saying that cars, trucks and buses logged 1.47 trillion vehicle miles during the first half of this year, the highest level since 2008.
FHWA also said Aug. 29 that June was the fourth straight month of year-over-year growth in vehicle miles traveled, or VMT. The travel statistic declined in January and February relative to the same months in 2013 due to the harsh winter.
Fis a part of the Department of Transportation, and Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx seized on the figures as an argument in favor of an administration plan.
“More people driving means our economy is picking up speed,” Foxx said. “It also means we need to increase our investment in transportation to meet this demand, which is why Congress needs to pass the president’s four-year, $302 billion Grow America Act.”
First-half VMT in 2008 was 1.48 trillion, and the record first half was 2007, when the figure hit nearly 1.5 trillion.
