The region was home to 1,742,636 licensed drivers in 2004. This total represents 46 percent of all licensed drivers in the State of Maryland. Baltimore County, reflecting its population size, posted the largest number of licensed drivers, 564,625. This total represents nearly one-third of all drivers in the region.

From 1990 to 2004, the number of licensed drivers increased by 7.5 percent in the region and 14.8 percent in the state. Within the region, Howard County recorded the highest increase of licensed drivers (36.1 percent). Baltimore City, recorded the only decline (23.2 percent). While the number of its licensed drivers increased by only 6.2 percent during this period, Baltimore County maintained its first place standing in the region.

Total Annual Vehicle Miles

A comparison of 2000 and 2004 data confirms the dramatic increase of vehicle miles traveled annually in the region. During this four year period, annual vehicle miles increased by 9.6 percent or 2.1 billion miles. Within the region, the rate of increase was highest in Howard County (16.8 percent) and lowest in Baltimore City (1.3 percent). However, in absolute miles, Baltimore County led the region gaining 773 million miles over its 2000 total. Howard County took the number two spot with 533 million miles.

Traffic Volume

Daily vehicle miles traveled in the region reached 57.3 million in 2004. This total represented a gain of 4.2 million miles or 7.9 percent above the year 2000. Within the region, a comparison of data from the two years reveals that daily vehicle miles grew at a faster rate (17.4 percent) in Howard County. But Baltimore County gained the most miles, 2.1 million.

Total expenditures on transportation by local governments in the region reached $348.4 million in 2003. This figure represents about 47 percent of the statewide total. Transportation expenditures were higher in 2003 than in 2000. Local governments in the region spent $22.4 million (6.8 percent) above their 2000 total. Within the region, Baltimore City posted the largest increase ($10.3 million). Anne Arundel County, second to the City in terms of the size of its increase ($8.6 million), was first in terms of the rate its expenditures grew (14.4 percent). Howard County spent less in 2003 than it did in 2000.

The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) operates Mobility, Local Bus, Metro Subway, Light Rail, Commuter Bus and Maryland Rail Commuter Train service. In addition to direct service, the MTA supports Locally Operated Transit Systems (LOTS) in all 23 Maryland counties. Over 92 million customers were served in FY 2004.

For the region, the Maryland General Assembly has established a threshold of 40 percent fare box recovery from eligible net operating expenses, the state subsidizing the remaining amount necessary to fund the system. The MTA has found it difficult to meet fare box goals for subway and light rail operations due to high fixed costs (security and maintenance). Fare box recovery in the region for bus, metro subway and light rail was 39.9 percent, up 7.2 percentage points from FY 2003. Fare box recovery on the MARC line equaled 57.7 percent, down 2.8 percentage points from FY 2003.

In FY 2004, MTA revenues/costs from all sources reached $641 million, about $8.6 million (1.3 percent) above the prior FY. The federal subsidy dropped to $161 million, down by $10 million (6 percent).

FY 2004 ridership was below FY 2003 levels for every mode except MARC. The MARC line added 392,000 riders (6 percent).

Annual total ridership fell by 4.9 million or 5.2 percent. Light rail service exhibited the sharpest rate of decline (21 percent) losing 1.6 million passenger boardings. Local bus service, down by 4.4 percent, lost the largest number of trips, 2.9 million.

In 2003, on-off passengers at Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) totaled 19.7 million, which was higher than National Airport (14.2 million) or Dulles (16.9 million). Passenger volume in the U. S. rose by nearly 38 million from 2000 to 2003 but dropped by about 4.8 million at the three airports that serve the Washington-Baltimore-Northern Virginia CSA. While BWI added 100,000 passengers during this period, Dulles and National lost 4.9 million passengers combined. From 2001 to 2003 BWI surpassed both Dulles and National in the number of on-off passengers.

In 2003, the value of foreign waterborne trade moving through the Port of Baltimore reached $25.9 billion, up $5.3 billion (25.7 percent) since 2000. During this period the value of exports increased slightly (7.3 percent), gaining $387 million. The value of imports surged, growing by 32 percent, up $4.9 billion. These figures are especially significant when compared with the value of foreign waterborne trade moved through all U. S. ports during the same period. The total was up only 7.7 percent, imports up 11.8 percent and exports down by 3.9 percent.

Port of Baltimore, foreign waterborne trade was 24.7 million short tons in 2003. This total represented a 5.7 percent decrease from the 26.2 million mark reached in 2000. During this period, exports fell by 3.8 million tons, 43.6 percent. Imports increased by 2.4 million tons, 13.7 percent. For U. S. ports in total, the weight of foreign borne trade increased by 4.1 percent with both imports and exports growing, by 8.8 percent and 6.6 percent respectively.