DOT: September Vehicle Miles Traveled Rose 1.7% vs Yr Ago

    

   OAKHURST, N.J. (DTN) -- The most recent data from the Federal Highway 
Administration showed Americans drove 4.6 billion or 1.7% more miles in 
September than they did during the corresponding month in 2018.

   The FHA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation, reported 
that based on preliminary reports from the State Highways Agencies, U.S. 
drivers traveled an estimated 267.7 billion miles during the month profiled.

   This total includes 81.8 billion vehicle-miles on rural roads and 185.9 
billion vehicle-miles on urban roads and streets. 

   The seasonally adjusted vehicle miles traveled for September is 272.9 
billion miles, 0.3% more than the prior month and 4 billion miles or 1.5% 
higher than September 2018.

   Cumulative travel for the first nine months of 2019 is estimated at 2,436.9 
billion vehicle miles, up 24 billion miles or 1%.

   In the U.S. North-East region, total miles traveled in September totaled 39 
billion miles, 2.5% higher than the same month in 2018. In the South-Atlantic, 
VMT totaled 57 billion miles, 1.7% above the September 2018 level, while VMT in 
the West rose 2% versus the same month a year ago to 57.4 billion miles.

   The North-Central region reported a 0.4% uptick in VMT versus September 2018 
at 60.2 billion miles, while the South-Gulf region reported VMT climbed 2.4% 
versus the corresponding month a year ago at 54.1 billion miles. 

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