Beyond Traffic: 2045 Final Report

Foxx, Anthony R. · 2017 · ROSA P / United States. Department of Transportation. Office of the Secretary of Transportation

archive: archived pipeline: cataloged verified

Get this paper ↗ (full text — opens at the source; we link to it, we don't host it)

Summary

**Beyond Traffic: 2045 Final Report** is a comprehensive assessment by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regarding the current state and future trajectory of the national transportation system. Motivated by chronic underinvestment, deteriorating infrastructure, and policy choices that often conflict with broader economic and social goals, the report serves as a call to action rather than a prescriptive plan. It aims to initiate a national conversation about the resources, design, and policies required to maintain the U.S. historical advantage in moving people and goods efficiently, safely, and reliably. The report analyzes six major trends shaping transportation through 2045: how we move, how we move things, how we adapt, how we move better, how we grow economic opportunity, and how we align decisions and dollars. The analysis relies on demographic projections, economic data, and stakeholder outreach, including comments from engineers, planners, and the public. Key findings indicate that the U.S. population will grow by 70 million by 2045, with significant growth in megaregions and the South and West. However, travel patterns are shifting; per capita vehicle miles traveled (VMT) declined between 2006 and 2013, particularly among millennials who are driving less and using transit more. Conversely, the aging population will nearly double by 2045, creating new mobility challenges as older adults face physical limitations and reduced driving capacity. Freight volume is projected to increase by more than 40 percent, driven by online shopping and energy exports, while infrastructure remains fragile, with nearly two-thirds of roads rated in less than good condition and a $100 billion transit maintenance backlog. The report identifies critical policy choices necessary to address these trends. To accommodate growth and changing travel behaviors, policymakers must increase infrastructure capacity, reduce congestion through land-use planning and pricing, and promote public transit and mobility-on-demand services. Freight challenges require improved coordination and targeted investments to resolve chokepoints. To adapt to climate change, the report advocates for reducing emissions through fuel efficiency and alternative fuels, while building resilience against extreme weather. Technological advancements, including automated vehicles and data-driven management, offer opportunities to improve safety and efficiency but require regulatory updates and infrastructure support. Finally, the report highlights a severe funding gap, noting that federal gasoline-tax revenues are insufficient due to improved fuel efficiency and inflation. It recommends exploring new financing mechanisms, such as vehicle-miles-traveled fees, and prioritizing investments that promote economic opportunity for low-income communities. The significance of *Beyond Traffic* lies in its assertion that the U.S. transportation system is on the cusp of a major transformation akin to the introduction of the automobile. The report concludes that maintaining the status quo is unsustainable; without adaptive policymaking, increased funding, and technological integration, the transportation system could become a drag on the economy. It urges a shift from a 20th-century model of simply expanding capacity to a more holistic approach that aligns transportation investments with future projections, safety priorities, and equitable access, ensuring the system supports economic growth and quality of life for all Americans.

Key finding

The average American driver in a city or suburb will spend an entire work week sitting in traffic, and trucks will lose $28 billion in wasted time and fuel.

Methodology

review

Provenance

The full processing record for this entry. Every stage of this paper's journey through the pipeline is logged — what ran, with which tool and model, how many attempts it took, and when it last completed. Discovered via bulk_ingest_rosap on 2026-05-23 (6 acquisition events logged).

Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.

Topics

Ranked by relevance to this paper. Hover a topic for its definition.

• fatality injury trends