Transportation Analysis Tools
Whether a user is developing grant applications or engaging stakeholders in the transportation planning and project development processes, mapping tools and transportation-specific data can visually and objectively convey trends over time, current transportation statistics, information on who is using the transportation system or has limited access, and other important information.
This page provides resources to better understand, plan for, and convey trends around efficiencies—including connectivity, access, and frequency—across a transportation system.
AllTransit Metrics
AllTransit is the largest source of transit connectivity, access, and frequency data in America. It offers tremendous potential for planning applications to increase our understanding of the value of transit, and to enhance service and operations planning. The AllTransit tool allows the user to analyze the social benefits of transit projects through the lenses of health, equity, and economic development.
User Information: Visit About AllTransit for detailed information on the database and tips and scenarios of potential uses.
Identifies: Various datasets can be used to identify and prioritize projects and describe project impacts and benefits. Underserved transit areas, connections between jobs and transit supported neighborhoods, walkability, affordability, job access, and transit performance are among the topics that can be analyzed.
Bureau of Transportation Statistics
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) is the preeminent source of statistics on commercial aviation, multimodal freight activity, and transportation economics, and provides context to decision makers and the public for understanding statistics on transportation. BTS is the USDOT trusted source for all things transportation. BTS provides online public accesses to thousands of datasets and historical materials. The Bureau’s National Transportation Library (NTL) is the permanent, publicly accessible home for research publications from throughout the transportation community.
User Information: If you need assistance, ask one of the research librarians for help through the free Ask-A-Librarian service.
Identifies: BTS provides maps, charts, tables, and analysis on a range of transportation topics, including freight flows, on-time flight performance, transportation economics, and noise exposure. Information can be used to make planning, travel, and investment decisions.
Access the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
Electric Vehicle Charging Justice40 Map
The Electric Vehicle Charging Justice40 Map is a tool designed to inform users if their projects are in disadvantaged communities. Users can input the addresses of their projects or navigate to them. Users may also turn map layers on or off if needed.
User Information: For more information on the EV Charging Justice40 map and the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, visit Electric Vehicle Charging Equity Considerations.
Identifies: This mapping tool combines census tracts from DOT’s working “disadvantaged communities” definition and DOE’s working “disadvantaged communities” definition, Tribal Lands and U.S. Territories.
Limitations and Notes: The Justice40 Interim Guidance defines a “community” as either a group of individuals living in geographic proximity to one another (such as census tract); or a geographically dispersed set of individuals (such as migrant workers or Native Americans), where either type of group experiences common conditions.
Access the Electric Vehicle Charging Justice40 Map.
Highway Environmental Planning Geographic Information System (HEPGIS)
HEPGIS is an interactive mapping tool developed and managed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) that enables users to navigate, view, and print geospatial maps and download the underlying data. This tool combines several data sources to produce various layers for transportation and equity analyses. It allows users to map FHWA’s current and pending alternative fuel corridor designations. The tool also includes layers for population demographics, economic wellbeing, commute times, air quality, safety, congestion, and other performance metrics.
User Information: Practitioners can request new maps, HEPGIS demonstrations, and more information by contacting Supin Yoder at supin.yoder@dot.gov.
Identifies: Users can identify project locations by drawing lines or selecting highway segments on the map. Users can perform buffer analysis and calculate demographics for the surrounding areas to assess accessibility, affordability, and equity.
Limitations and Notes: FHWA makes every effort to present the most current and accurate information that is publicly available. Nevertheless, some inaccuracies or errors may still exist. Users should not rely solely on this website for applications requiring high accuracy or confidence levels and should carefully review the metadata for any database they use.
Long-Term Bridge Performance (LTBP) InfoBridge
The Long-Term Bridge Performance (LTBP) InfoBridge is a long-term research effort to collect high-quality bridge data from a representative sample of highway bridges nationwide that will help the bridge community to better understand bridge performance. The visualization capabilities and tools provided in InfoBridge are highly beneficial to states and other highway bridge owners as they work to manage bridge performance and develop bridge projects and funding applications. InfoBridge provides a comprehensive bridge performance portal, enabling researchers to develop tools and products that will enhance understanding of the performance of highway bridge assets, and enabling anyone interested in bridge performance to easily access and explore the available information. Data is updated annually and collected through the LTBP Program.
User Information: The InfoBridge Help feature consists of a sitemap and frequently asked questions sections. In addition, it contains a customer support request page, enabling users to submit questions and provide feedback to the LTBP Customer Support Service Center.
Identifies: Users can efficiently query the database by selecting criteria and filtering data to meet their needs. InfoBridge search options enable users to find and map bridges and conditions within the criteria they set. There are intuitive tools for finding, viewing, and analyzing bridge performance information. The tool gives users the ability to efficiently share data selections and summary reports.
Access the Long-Term Bridge Performance InfoBridge.
National Household Travel Survey
The National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) provides information about travel by U.S. residents in all 50 States and Washington, D.C. This inventory of travel behavior includes trips made by all modes of travel (e.g., private vehicle, public transportation, pedestrian, and cycling) and for all purposes (e.g., travel to work, school, recreation, and personal/family trips).
It provides information to assist transportation planners and policymakers who need comprehensive data on travel and transportation patterns in the United States. It is the only source of national data that allows one to analyze trends in personal and household travel. It includes daily non-commercial travel by all modes, including characteristics of the people traveling, their household, and their vehicles.
User Information: Access the NHTS Data User Guide.
Identifies: The National Household Travel Survey provides information on travel behavior, traffic safety, congestion, the environment, energy consumption, demographic trends, bicycle and pedestrian studies, the mobility sharing economy, and transit planning for planning and policy applications.
Limitations and Notes: The tool has limited ability to capture impacts of emerging modes and niche behavior.
Access the National Household Travel Survey.
The National Transit Database (NTD)
The Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) National Transit Database (NTD) was set up to be the repository of data about the financial, operating, and asset conditions of American transit systems. The National Transit Database records the financial, operating, and asset condition of transit systems, helping to keep track of the industry and provide public information and statistics. NTD is designed to support local, state, and regional planning efforts and help governments and other decision-makers make multiyear comparisons and perform trend analyses. Please see the most recent NTD Data Products.
User information: Access the NTD Annual Data Publications Guide.
Identifies: This repository provides data on recent transit ridership, expenses, fares, safety, assets, and other transit system information. The dataset also includes detailed transit profiles, national trends, and time series data.
Access the National Transit Database.
Sustainable Highways Self-Evaluation Tool (INVEST)
INVEST—the Infrastructure Voluntary Evaluation Sustainability Tool—is a free, web-based self-evaluation tool comprised of voluntary sustainability best practices, called criteria, that cover the full lifecycle of transportation services, including system planning, project planning, design, and construction, and continuing through operations and maintenance. FHWA developed INVEST for voluntary use by transportation agencies to assess and enhance the sustainability of their projects and programs.
INVEST provides a collection of criteria and practices that enable transportation agencies to gauge their level of sustainability and systematically integrate sustainable practices into their actions. INVEST’s approach unites internal groups and stakeholders around shared goals and needs and provides a collaborative platform to communicate performance.
User Information: Visit New to INVEST for a user guide and case studies on how to use INVEST to accomplish your transportation planning goals.
Identifies: INVEST provides a numeric means for measuring sustainability, assessing improvement options, and tracking continuous progress.
National Highway System (NHS)
The National Highway System consists of roadways important to the nation’s economy, defense, and mobility. The National Highway System (NHS) includes the Interstate Highway System and other roads serving major airports, ports, military bases, rail or truck terminals, railway stations, pipeline terminals and other strategic transport facilities.
User Information: You can visit the NHS site for FAQs and program guidance. You can view state maps of the National Highway System.
Identifies: The NHS can be used to identify if a highway or bridge project is on the NHS. For programs where being on the NHS is a gateway to eligibility, such as INFRA, the mapping tool can be used to confirm is a project in on the network.
Limitations and Notes: The regulations for modifying (i.e., adding, deleting, or relocating) routes and intermodal connectors on the NHS are located in 23 CFR 470. States should coordinate requests to add connectors with the terminal operators. Updates and technical corrections of errors for existing connectors and mainline NHS routes do not need full justification or coordination.
Access the National Highway System (NHS)
Disclaimer: This curated list of federal data and mapping tools is maintained on the DOT Navigator website as a secondary source and does not supersede primary materials issued by each USDOT Operating Administration. USDOT does not promote one resource over another. Accordingly, please work directly with the USDOT Operating Administration managing the BIL discretionary grant program for specific guidance.