BTS Releases Transportation Statistics Annual Report 2015. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) today released the Transportation Statistics Annual Report 2015 (TSAR). The 20th edition of this congressionally mandated report presents key transportation indicators along with an overview of the transportation system. It includes data and statistics on passenger travel, freight movement, transportation and the economy, system reliability, safety, energy use and environmental impacts. In addition, it focuses on closing data gaps and improving the ways in which transportation statistics are collected, compiled, analyzed, and published. TSAR is a report of the BTS director to the President and Congress. The complete report or individual sections may be downloaded directly from the BTS website . Printed copies are also available upon request via e-mail through orders@bts.gov or online through the BTS Bookstore .
PHMSA Issues Lithium Ion Battery Safety Advisory Related to Air Transportation. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) today issued a safety advisory to alert the general public and shippers of recent actions taken by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to enhance the safe transportation of lithium batteries by air. Effective Apr. 1, 2016, the ICAO amended Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air prohibits transporting lithium ion cells and batteries as cargo aboard passenger carrying aircraft; requires that lithium ion cells and batteries be shipped at a state of charge of no more than 30 percent of their rated capacity; and requires that small packages of so called “Section II” lithium batteries be offered to the operator separately from the general cargo stream and in single package consignments. For more information go to: Lithium Ion Battery Safety Advisory . Contact for media: Joe Delcambre (202) 493-0730.
