Maintaining the transportation system is critical to sustaining America’s  economic growth. Passenger travel on transit systems is expected to increase by 17.2 percent  over the same period. Intercity passenger rail ridership is expected to  increase by 26 percent from 2001 to 2010. Travel on Public Roads Is Projected to Grow Fairly Steadily

As shown in figure 5, vehicle miles traveled for passenger vehicles on  public roads are projected to grow fairly steadily through 2010, by 24.7  percent over the 10-year period from 2000 through 2010, with an average  annual increase of 2.2 percent. The aging of the population might increase the market for  demand-responsive transit services and improved road safety features,  such as enhanced signage. According to our  expert panelists and other sources, with increasing passenger and freight  travel, the surface and maritime transportation systems face a number of  challenges that involve ensuring continued mobility while maintaining a  balance with other social goals, such as environmental preservation. Ensuring continued mobility involves preventing congestion from  overwhelming the transportation system and ensuring access to  transportation for certain underserved populations. As the elderly population increases over the next 10 years, issues  pertaining to access are expected to become more prominent in society. These strategies include the following: 1. Use a full range of tools to achieve those desired outcomes. 3. Focus on the Entire Surface and Maritime Transportation System Rather Than on Specific Modes or Types of Travel to Achieve Desired Mobility Outcomes

Some panelists said that mobility should be viewed on a systemwide basis  across all modes and types of travel. Provide Options for Financing Mobility Improvements and Consider Additional Sources of Revenue

Several panelists indicated that targeting the financing of transportation to  achieving desired mobility outcomes, and addressing those segments of  transportation systems that are most congested, would require more  options for financing surface and maritime transportation projects than are  currently available, and might also require more sources of revenue in the  future. Along with population growth, the increasing affluence of the U.S.  population is expected to play a key role in local and intercity passenger  travel levels and in the modes travelers choose. Scope and Methodology

Our work covered major modes of surface and maritime transportation for  passengers and freight, including public roads, public transit, railways, and  ports and inland waterways.
What GAO Found

The U.S. surface and maritime transportation systems include roads, mass transit systems, railroads, and ports and waterways. One of the major goals of these systems is to provide and enhance mobility, that is, the free flow of passengers and goods. Mobility provides people with access to goods, services, recreation, and jobs; provides businesses with access to materials, markets and people; and promotes the movement of personnel and material to meet national defense needs. During the past decade, total public sector spending increased for public roads and transit, remained constant for waterways, and decreased for rail. Passenger and freight travel are expected to increase over the next 10 years, according to Department of Transportation projections. Passenger vehicle travel on public roads is expected to grow by 24.7 percent from 2000 to 2010. Passenger travel on transit systems is expected to increase by 17.2 percent over the same period. Amtrak has estimated that intercity passenger rail ridership will increase by 25.9 percent from 2001 to 2010. The key factors behind increases in passenger travel, and the modes travelers choose, are expected to be population growth, the aging of the population, and rising affluence. According to GAO's expert panelists and other sources, with increasing passenger and freight travel, the surface and maritime transportation systems face a number of challenges that involve ensuring continued mobility while maintaining a balance with other social goals, such as environmental preservation. These challenges include (1) preventing congestion from overwhelming the transportation system, (2) ensuring access to transportation for certain undeserved populations, and (3) addressing the transportation system's negative effects on the environment and communities. There is no one solution for the mobility challenges facing the nation, and GAO's expert panelists indicated that numerous approaches are needed to address these challenges. Strategies included are to (1) focus on the entire surface and maritime transportation system rather than on specific modes and types of travel, (2) use a full range of tools to achieve desired mobility outcomes, and (3) provide more options for financing mobility improvements and consider additional sources of revenue.