FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 15, 2007

Outdoor Snapshot: Americans Are Hitting The Road

Underscoring the increasing relevance of outdoor advertising, a new study based on census data says Americans are spending more time in their car ever before as commute times are significantly up, traffic is more congested and the Baby Boomer generation mainly moves via auto for almost all shopping and other errands.

“This study points to several demographic trends which validate the value of the ability to reach consumers outside the home,” said Nancy Fletcher, president and CEO of OAAA.

The report was authored by Alan E. Pisarski of the respected Transportation Research Board, based in Washington, DC: “Commuting in America: The Third National Report on Commuting Patterns and Trends.” The findings were based on US Census data from 1990-2004.

The average national commuter travel time grew from 21.7 minutes in 1980 to 22.4 minutes in 1990 to 24.5 minutes in 2000. Commute times were longest in the Northeast: an average of 27 minutes.

Georgia and West Virginia led all states with gains greater than five minutes per commuter trip.

Meanwhile, congestion is getting worse in heavily populated areas and smaller metro areas as well. Although work travel is a part of overall travel, commuting is a major factor in determining peak travel demand.

Other highlights include:

• More than 34 million Americans travel to work in another county, 3.5 times the number in 1960. Small-town America has the greatest tendency to work and reside in the same county.
• Immigration matters in commuting. Most immigrants are in the age group of 16-64; they are quick additions to the workforce.
• Regional population patterns continued their sharp growth in the South and West, and stability or decline in share in the Northeast and Midwest.
• In round numbers, the nation is half suburban; the rest live in central cities (30%) and non-metro areas (20%). Non-metro areas are gaining population from metro areas.
• Driving alone continues to increase; Michigan leads the nation. Carpooling shares dropped from 20% in 1980 to about 12% in 2000.
• There are two significant transit users: the District of Columbia and New York. More than 2 million households in the New York metro area do not own a vehicle.
• Trips to work with stops are increasing, both in numbers of stops and number of stops per worker. This “trip chain” increases the efficiency of overall travel but has the effect of increasing the number of non-work related trips occurring in the peak period.
• Baby-boomers (34-54 age group) represent the peak of ownership of a driver’s license (95%).