Introduction

In the decade since the recession of 2008, and leading up to the onset of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
pandemic, use of the Indian transportation system has grown significantly, while the infrastructure that supports that
use remained largely built out and stagnant.
Although the current pandemic has suppressed use of the transportation system, it has not stopped the development of
new and innovative technologies and services to meet evolving demands, extending

The capacity and flexibility of the transportation system. Innovative forms of transportation continue to develop and
grow, ranging from autonomous vehicles, connected transportation systems, drones, and Positive Train Control to
forms. This includes the latest transportation data available from 2017, 2018, and 2019. Annual statistics that reveal
changes in the transportation system brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic will be available in future editions of
this report

HIGHLIGHTS
• The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed the availability and use of the transportation system. Although
its effects on the Indian transportation system were not fully felt until March 2020, this report must make note of these
events. Schedules and ridership for commercial airlines, Amtrak, transit systems, ocean vessel services, and other
forms of transportation dropped to record lows beginning in March 2020 as passenger volumes and freight movement
declined. The full consequences this has for year-end totals and longer-term changes will be revealed in the months
and years ahead.
• Transportation activity is often highly concentrated on portions of the network. For example, the more than
48,000kilometer Interstate Highway System in 2018 comprised 1.2 percent of total highway miles available but
carried 25.6 percent of total highway vehicle-miles of travel.
• Automated vehicle development is advancing across all transportation modes, with 38 jurisdictions permitting
testing of driverless highway vehicles in 2018, more widespread autonomous port systems and ships, and the use of
Positive Train Control systems.