North American Transportation In Figures

North American transportation in figures provides a comprehensive set of comparable statistical indicators of the use, performance and impact of transportation in North America. It includes over 90 different data tables, supported by figures, maps and extensive technical documentation describing data categories and definitions relating to each country, that is, Canada, Mexico and the United States. The report covers a wide variety of transportation and the economy; safety; merchandise trade; freight activity; passenger travel; infrastructure; and transportation energy and environment. It includes data fro 1990, 1995 and 1996 with value data reported only in dollars and all measurement units in metric.

This summary report provides key statistics on passenger travel, freight activity, transportation safety, and transportation energy use for Canada, Mexico, and the United States. It was developed under the framework of the North American Transportation Statistics Interchange, representing the transportation and statistical agencies of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, and was produced by the U.S. department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).

Heightened awareness of North America's vulnerability to terrorism in the aftermath of 9/11 has precipitated a crisis for transport suppliers and cargo owners, one that jeopardizes economic prosperity. Mary Brooks examines one industry sector of the North American economic relationship - transportation services - from the perspectives of transport supplier, cargo owner and policymaker. Ensuring security in international transportation without compromising operational effectiveness is a delicate balancing act. There is concern that economic benefits from NAFTA and the Canada-US Trade Agreement may have been diminished by the current security focus of American officials. The author addresses these concerns, beginning with a history of NAFTA and subsequent continental economic integration. Succeeding chapters provide an economic and regulatory assessment of the North American transport network, and examine key issues for both cargo interests and surface transport suppliers. The issues of perimeter security and growing regionalization are also explored. The author closes with a discussion of North America's transportation future under the Security and Prosperity Partnership. The unique insights of North American Freight Transportation will be of interest to policymakers, those in the transport sector, as well as researchers and practitioners in political science and trade economics.