Multimodal Mobility Dashboard
WSDOT's Multimodal Mobility Dashboard (MMD) provides annual and multi-year performance information on select state-owned facilities. The MMD is an interactive web-based dashboard that includes less text while featuring more data visualizations, maps and travel modes, a user-friendly format and expanded areas of analysis. The MMD's highway analysis focuses on the state's most-traveled corridors, analyzing congestion and corresponding mitigation strategies like incident response and HOV lanes. The MMD analyzes travel by car, public transit, passenger rail, ferry, airplane, walking and bicycling as well as multimodal freight mobility. These modes and strategies help create safe and optimal movement of people and goods on Washington state's multimodal transportation system. The most recent annual data available for most measures is for 2023. Understanding the Limits of Mobility Data Accuracy: Different mobility measures are derived from varying data sources and are subject to distinct quality control procedures, resulting in differences in data accuracy and margins of error, which typically range from 5-10% depending on the methodology and data granularity. The numbers and percentage changes presented herein are indicative of the overall trend and should not be construed as absolute values or precise changes. The primary focus should remain on the direction and nature of the trend.
Using the dashboard
- How to use the Multimodal Mobility Dashboard
- Tableau's keyboard accessibility help page
- WSDOT's methods and glossary for comprehensive analysis of multimodal mobility dashboard
Executive summary (2023)
Annual data compared to previous year
Highways
VMT on state highways increased 2.8%
Reliability of person miles traveled decreased 1.0%
Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT), defined as the total miles driven by all vehicles in a specific geographic area over a given period of time, provides a critical metric for understanding transportation-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and roadway use. In general, higher VMT correlates with increased fuel consumption and emissions, especially in areas where fossil fuel-powered vehicles make up a significant share of vehicles in operation. Per capita VMT, defined as the total annual VMT divided by the total population in the same geographic area, provides an important metric for assessing the implementation and effectiveness of transportation efficiency strategies.
Efficiently moving people and goods is a key focus of Washington State's Transportation Carbon Reduction Strategy (PDF 725KB) and is emphasized in the Highway System Plan. Strategies that reduce and manage VMT are essential for addressing growing traffic volumes, improving safety—as outlined in the Highway Safety Implementation Plan (PDF 5.1MB)—and achieving critical environmental and equity objectives. By prioritizing the efficient movement of people and goods, Washington can reduce transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions, lower energy demands for electrification and promote equitable access to resources. These efforts support the state's broader goals of fostering health, safety, sustainability, and effective land use through multimodal travel solutions.
Key Takeaways:
- VMT Trends and impact on travelers: Vehicle Miles Traveled in 2023 had nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels, indicating economic recovery but also leading to concerns about traffic congestion, longer delays, and worsened air quality. With the rise in VMT, the public experienced reduced trip reliability and needed to plan more time for travel.
- VMT Reduction Success: The state successfully met its 18% per capita VMT reduction goal by 2020, based on the 75 billion VMT (less heavy-duty truck VMT) benchmark from 2008. To learn more, refer to the "Implementation of Vehicle Miles Traveled Targets and Supporting Actions — Interim Report."
Despite this achievement, recent per capita VMT increases emphasize the urgent need for further strategies to improve travel reliability, reduce environmental impact, and meet the state's legislative mandate for per capita VMT reduction while addressing long-term goals for safety, sustainability, and multimodal transportation.
Five year trends
| Measures | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 5 year trends |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All public roads VMT (billion) | 62.5 | 53.5 | 57.8 | 58.5 | 59.8 | |
| All public roads VMT per person | 8,287 | 6,989 | 7,441 | 7,436 | 7,521 | |
| Vehicle miles traveled on state highways (billion) | 35.4 | 30.0 | 33.8 | 34.2 | 35.1 | |
| State highways VMT per person | 4,694 | 3,912 | 4,349 | 4,347 | 4,419 | |
| Person miles traveled reliability* | 77.0% | 90.0% | 82.3% | 80.2% | 79.2% |
Source: Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS), Washington State Office of Financial Management.
*Note: Person miles traveled reliability is a measure of how consistent travel times are on the National Highway System (NHS). The Federal Highway administration (FHWA) defines it as the percentage of person travel miles that are reliable on the Interstate or Non-Interstate NHS system.
Public Transportation
Passenger trips increased 19.8%
Average daily vanpools increased 27.9%
Washington's Public Transportation Plan demonstrates the power of a connected multimodal system that enhances mobility, reduces congestion, and promotes sustainability. By seamlessly integrating transit, walking, bicycling, and ferries, the state is developing a network not only for getting people from point A to point B but also to drive economic growth, foster healthy communities, and deliver a travel experience that works for everyone. This vision keeps Washington moving forward efficiently and inclusively.
Key Takeaways:
- Ridership Recovery and Work-from-Home Impact: Public transportation ridership was at 69% of pre-pandemic levels and vanpool usage was at 60% in 2023 following the large-scale shift to remote work, which has reduced daily commuting needs. Transit agencies are adapting to these changes while planning for long-term service sustainability.
- Operational Challenges: Staffing shortages and financial constraints have resulted in service reductions, slowing the restoration to pre-COVID levels. Meanwhile, transit systems face pressure to improve efficiency and reliability to better meet user needs.
- Adaptation Efforts: Recruitment, fleet modernization, and schedule adjustments are underway to enhance reliability and restore confidence in public transportation. These efforts align services with evolving commuting patterns and encourage ridership growth.
In post-COVID Washington, public transportation is recovering more slowly than car and air travel, reflecting a preference for convenience over efficiency. Travelers typically choose convenience until rising costs or delays make efficient modes more attractive, highlighting the need for affordability shifts to drive change.
Five year trends
| Measures | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 5 year trends |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger trips (million) | 239.9 | 110.0 | 101.7 | 137.7 | 164.9 | |
| Average daily vanpools | 3,013 | 2,642 | 1,675 | 1,409 | 1,802 | |
| Vanpool ridership (million) | 8.5 | 3.3 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 3.2 | |
| Public transportation commuter rate | 7.1% | 3.5% | 2.1% | 3.1% | 3.1% |
Source: WSDOT Public Transportation, American Community Survey
Passenger Rail
Ridership on Washington segments increased 77.4%
On-time performance increased 8%
Amtrak Cascades' growth requires overcoming challenges related to on-time performance. This ongoing problem is highlighted in the WSDOT State Rail Plan, which emphasizes the need for seamless multimodal connectivity. Addressing these issues through better coordination with track owners, infrastructure upgrades, and schedule optimization is essential to sustaining increased demand and revenue while ensuring a reliable and efficient transportation network.
Key Takeaways:
- Ridership and service growth: Amtrak Cascades saw a 75% increase in ridership and an 87% rise in revenue in 2023, reflecting strong demand. In 2022, service was restored for daily round trips between Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver, B.C. following a longer-term closure of the route due to COVID-19.
- Popular routes and direct travel: The Seattle-Portland and Seattle-Vancouver, B.C. segments accounted for over 75% of Amtrak Cascades' ridership in 2023. Restored direct service between Vancouver, B.C. and Portland has improved convenience by eliminating transfers.
- On-time performance: On-time performance improved to 55% in 2023, though it remains below Amtrak Cascades' contract goal of 88%. Efforts continue to improve reliability and meet performance targets for travelers.
Amtrak Cascades has increased ridership and expanded services, enhancing regional connectivity and the economy. However, to meet on-time performance goals, key delays from train interference and congestion must be addressed. Moving forward, collaboration among BNSF, Amtrak, and WSDOT is essential to improve reliability and realize the service's full potential.
Five year trends
| Measures | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 5 year trends |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ridership Washington Segment Only | 753,000 | 156,000 | 222,216 | 380,829 | 675,667 | |
| On-time performance | 58.0% | 62.3% | 50.9% | 47.0% | 55.0% | |
| Capacity utilization | 64.4% | 29.8% | 51.3% | 71.3% | 71.2% | |
| Passenger miles traveled (million) | 119.8 | 23.9 | 34.8 | 58.5 | 104.5 |
Source: WSDOT Public Transportation, American Community Survey
Aviation
Passenger boardings increased 10.4%
Cargo tonnage increased 0.4%
Aviation is a key component of Washington's multimodal transportation system, connecting communities with 134 public-use airports and driving economic growth by contributing over 407,000 jobs and $107 billion annually to the state's economy as highlighted in the aviation economic impact study. WSDOT's Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commission is working to help enhance system capacity and ensure seamless integration with other transportation modes to address future needs.
Key Takeaways:
- Passengers and Cargo in Washington Aviation on the Rise: Air travel in Washington is nearing full recovery following COVID-19. In 2023, passenger boardings at state airports surged 155% from their 2020 low, reaching 98% of their 2019 pre-pandemic levels. Cargo tonnage remained stable and has seen modest growth over the last five years, highlighting aviation's critical role in sustaining the movement of goods during challenging times.
- Growing Aviation Participation and Infrastructure Development: The number of registered aircraft in Washington continues to rise annually, with most being single-engine planes, pointing toward strong aviation demand. Among other things, registration fees directly fund airport improvements, fostering a vigorous aviation network that attracts users statewide.
- WSDOT, Stewarding Aviation Progress: WSDOT Aviation plays a pivotal role through programs, which are guided by community collaboration, enhance infrastructure and ensure that even Washington's most remote areas benefit from a resilient and accessible transportation system.
As the economy rebounds and passenger air travel nears pre-pandemic levels, Washington's aviation system is set for growth, fueled by rising passenger and cargo demand, increasing aircraft registrations, and strategic infrastructure investments.
Five year trends
| Measures | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 5 year trends |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger boardings (million) | 28.4 | 10.9 | 19.9 | 25.3 | 27.9 | |
| Cargo tonnage (million) | 1.99 | 2.05 | 2.10 | 1.99 | 2.00 | |
| Aircraft registrations | 6,531 | 6,860 | 7,102 | 7,341 | 7,386 | |
| Airport aid grant program (million) | $47.8 | $53.0 | $27.9 | $60.3 | $34.5 |
Source: WSDOT Aviation Division
Ferries
Ridership increased 7.4%
Completed sailings decreased 0.7%
Washington State Ferries is committed to delivering safe, reliable, and sustainable transportation, as outlined in WSDOT's Strategic Plan and the 2040 Long Range Plan. WSF emphasizes environmental stewardship, equity, and system growth while enhancing Completed sailings and customer experience. Through these efforts, WSF supports the well-being of travelers, communities, and the environment.
Key Takeaways:
- Ridership and Service Levels: Ridership in 2023 showed a healthy increase from previous years but remained at 78% of pre-COVID levels, with drive-on use recovering faster than the number of walk-on passengers. Service levels have not fully returned to 2019 frequencies due to staffing shortages and vessel availability challenges.
- Performance Challenges: Completed sailings has consistently been below the 99% target since 2020, while on-time performance reflects operational struggles and remains below the 95% goal. Contributing factors include staffing shortages and an aging fleet that requires extensive, continued maintenance.
- Recovery Efforts: WSF is addressing these challenges by recruiting and training staff, modernizing the fleet, and adjusting schedules to match resources. These measures aim to improve reliability, restore service levels, and enhance traveler experience.
WSF will focus on overcoming challenges in staffing, fleet modernization, and operational performance to restore service levels and improve reliability. This will improve ridership and farebox revenue. Meanwhile, WSF will continue to prioritize environmental stewardship, equity, and customer experience.
Five year trends
| Measures | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 5 year trends |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ridership (million) | 23.9 | 14.0 | 17.3 | 17.4 | 18.7 | |
| Completed sailing average | 99.4% | 98.6% | 98.1% | 97.9% | 97.2% | |
| On-time performance | 90.0% | 89.8% | 86.8% | 83.7% | 83.1% | |
| Farebox revenue (million) | $195.1 | $137.2 | $170.1 | $167.5 | $175.7 |
Source: Washington State Ferries
Freight
Truck miles traveled on state highways decreased 1.0%
Truck travel time reliability index for interstates decreased 0.7%
Washington state's commerce and economic vitality are impossible without a robust multimodal freight system. Nearly all modes within the supply chain were significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and while some goods were in great demand other products were not being manufactured and shipped, and imports and exports from other countries were skewed by tariffs and exchange rates. In Washington, freight movement by all modes has fluctuated between 2019 and 2023, with greater stabilization expected in upcoming years. The Washington Freight System Plan sets the vision for the state's multimodal freight system and supports collaboration with public and private partners.
Key Takeaways:
- Truck Travel Times Steady: Truck miles traveled has remained steady over the last five years. The travel time reliability index has improved during the same period, indicating that truck drivers are not experiencing as many delays as they have in the past.
- Less Cross Border Trucking: Trucking at more significant points of entry between Canada and Washington declined during the pandemic, as travel restrictions were in place. Canada did not lift its vaccine requirement until October 2022, resulting in some truck drivers not being allowed to transport goods into the country. Freight movement between the two countries is expected to return to normal in upcoming years.
- Freight Rail: Freight rail commodities shipped decreased 13.5% from 2018 to 2022. This was primarily due to a reduction in shipments of farm products, which is the number one commodity shipped by rail in the state. During the pandemic, shipment of agriculture goods to Asian markets significantly decreased, leading to this decline.
- Marine Freight: Total waterborne tonnage decreased 13.7% between 2018 and 2022. This decline is attributable to ongoing tariffs in key import markets and the exchange rates between countries that make imports more attractive than exports.
- Air Freight: Total air cargo tonnage increased slightly between 2019 and 2023. This mode has remained steady, with minimal effects over the last five years from the pandemic. Shipments of goods by online vendors directly to consumers continued to keep air cargo moving.
Washington's multimodal freight system faces both risks and opportunities as it recovers from pandemic disruptions. While improvements in truck travel reliability and steady air cargo growth signal progress, declines in freight rail and marine tonnage highlight the need for targeted investments and policy adjustments to ensure the resilience and efficiency of the state's supply chain.
Five year trends
| Measures | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 5 year trends |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Truck miles traveled on state highways (billion) | 3.48 | 3.22 | 3.60 | 3.55 | 3.51 | |
| Truck travel time reliability index (interstate) | 1.54 | 1.43 | 1.49 | 1.50 | 1.49 | |
| Waterborne freight tonnage (million) | 112.4 | 109.7 | 116.8 | 107.2 | TBA | |
| Total WA air cargo tonnage (million) | 1.99 | 2.05 | 2.10 | 1.99 | 2.00 | |
| Total WA rail freight tonnage (million) | 129.2 | 127.3 | 130.2 | 117.0 | TBA |
Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics and WSDOT Rail, Freight, and Ports Division.
Active Transportation
Bicycles on trains increased 43.4%
Commuters bicycling increased 0.1%
Equity is a fundamental principle of WSDOT's Active Transportation Plan 2020 and Beyond, adopted in 2021. Because the transportation system is intended for everyone's use, the plan addresses historical disparities in mobility and safety by investing in walking, bicycling, and rolling infrastructure for underserved communities statewide. Current measures are limited by existing data, and as a result WSDOT is planning ahead and actively developing pathways for improved data collection to better establish and track performance.
Key Takeaways:
- Increased active transportation options: Amtrak Cascades experienced a surge in bicycle use in 2023, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Trains now accommodate up to 10 bicycles, providing more options for active commuters to combine bicycling with train travel.
- Growing demand for bicycling and walking: Walking and bicycling to work are reaching pre-pandemic levels, with a slight increase in those using. This trend reflects Washington's commitment to active transportation and its status as the top "Bicycle Friendly State."
WSDOT remains committed to advancing equity and expanding active transportation options by addressing historical disparities and improving infrastructure for underserved communities. By enhancing data collection, accommodating growing bicycle use, and supporting the increasing demand for walking and rolling, WSDOT will continue to build a more inclusive and sustainable transportation future.
Five year trends
| Measures | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 5 year trends |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bicycles on trains | 7,300 | 1,500 | 3,200 | 5,300 | 7,600 | |
| Percentage of commuters bicycling | 0.9% | 0.8% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.7% | |
| Walking commuters | 3.5% | 3.6% | 2.8% | 3.1% | 3.1% |
Source: U.S Census Bureau - American Community Survey, Amtrak Cascades, WSDOT Rail, Freight and Ports Division
Incident Response
Highway incidents respond decreased 0.6%
Average incident clearance times increased 5.6%
The Incident Response (IR) program's mission is to clear roads, assist drivers, and reduce congestion from incidents, ensuring safe and efficient travel through collaboration with partner agencies such as Washington State Patrol. IR program helps reduce secondary incidents and improve travel reliability.
Key Takeaways:
- Decline in incident responses: Incident responses have decreased since 2019, even though traffic volumes in 2023 have returned to pre-pandemic levels. Blocking and severe incidents have increased by 8.7 percent since 2019, requiring more resources and resulting in longer clearance times. Staff reductions due to retirements along with the prioritization of fatal and serious crashes, have further strained response capacity. Severe incidents often need multiple IR trucks, which reduces the team's ability to assist at other incidents and increases delays.
- Average incident clearance time: Over the past five years, Washington has experienced a 50.6% increase in traffic fatalities (from 538 in 2019 to 810 in 2023) and a 51.4% rise in serious injury crashes (from 2,255 to 3,413). These increases have resulted in more complex investigations and recovery efforts, which directly contributes to higher clearance times, particularly for incidents lasting over 90 minutes.
- Incident costs: Although the number of incident responses has decreased in recent years, longer clearance times and rising inflation have increased the cost of incident-induced delays. From 2022 to 2023, clearance times grew by 5.6%, driving a 20% increase in delay costs.
In conclusion, addressing the rise in fatal and serious injury crashes, particularly those linked to high-risk behaviors such as speeding, intoxication, unrestrained, and distracted driving, requires a multifaceted approach that combines prevention, enforcement, and community engagement. A targeted campaign to raise awareness and enforcement may lead to fewer severe and lane-blocking incidents, freeing up resources for incident response teams to address issues efficiently, keep roads open, and ensure public safety.
Five year trends
| Measures | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 5 year trends |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of incidents | 63,404 | 44,778 | 44,497 | 42,813 | 42,558 | |
| Average incident clearance time | 13.0 | 14.3 | 16.0 | 16.2 | 17.1 | |
| Cost of incident induced delay (million) | $265.8 | $211.8 | $243.7 | $238.5 | $286.2 | |
| Economic benefit (million) | $117.6 | $93.3 | $106.6 | $104.4 | $125.0 |
Source: Washington Incident Tracking system
Regional highway mobility
Regional mobility sections focus on the performance of one or more urban corridors. In addition to traditional highway mobility measures, such as person miles traveled and commute times, these sections include measures of public transportation and park and ride performance where available.
Multimodal mobility
Each button below leads to an interactive dashboard displaying performance measures for a specific mode of travel or WSDOT mobility program. More measures may be added in the future as more data becomes available.
Transportation Performance Management
WSDOT is working to increase the transparency and accountability about how the agency spends federal taxpayer dollars on transportation infrastructure and services in Washington state to comply with the federal Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) law of 2012, now known as Transportation Performance Management (TPM).
TPM tracks progress on three performance measure categories Highway Safety (PM 1), Bridges & Pavement (PM 2) and System Performance, Freight and Congestion Mitigation & Air Quality (PM 3). For the purposes of the MMD, the Transportation Management Plan focus is on PM 3.
More about the Multimodal mobility dashboard
WSDOT is committed to improving how it shares performance information. With that in mind, WSDOT paused publication of the Corridor Capacity Report in 2019 to conduct a comprehensive engagement process that helped determine how to best meet stakeholder needs for multimodal mobility reporting. This process included interviews with over 130 internal and external stakeholders, the results of which are available in a Corridor Capacity Report Engagement process — Results Summary (PDF 165KB), and was followed by a series of core working group meetings to design a new product. Combining the input from these interviews and meetings, the resulting MMD is an interactive web-based dashboard that includes less text while featuring more data visualizations, maps and travel modes than its predecessor.
If you wish to download any of the data in this dashboard, please refer to the Data disclaimer and How to use the multimodal mobility dashboard to learn how to download the dashboard data.
Our Travel volume and speed trends dashboard (TVST) shares highway, toll and freight travel data, focusing on the state's most-traveled corridors. The TVST dashboard uses data from our retired COVID-19 dashboard, which was developed to give regular updates on how the pandemic affected statewide travel. We strive to update this data daily.
Have feedback or questions? Reach out to us at TSSApublications@wsdot.wa.gov