Transportation in America is facilitated by well-developed road, air, rail, and water networks. According to the U.S. 
Department of Transportation: "Transportation’s vital importance to the U.S. economy is underscored by the fact that more than $1 out of every $10 produced in the U.S. gross domestic product is related to transportation activity. This includes all aspects of transportation, including the movement of goods and the purchase of all transportation-related products and services as well as the movement of people." Employment in the transportation and material moving industry accounted for 7.4% of all employment, and was the 5th largest employment group in the United States America.
Passenger transportation is dominated by a network of over 3.9 million miles of highways (almost entirely constructed and maintained by state and local governments) which is pervasive and highly developed by global standards. Passenger transportation is dominated by passenger vehicles (including cars, trucks, vans, and motorcycles).
Air Transport : An advanced air transportation network utilizes includes 5,000 paved runways. Public airports are usually operated by local governments. There are over 200 domestic passenger and cargo airlines and a number of international carriers. Private aircraft are also used for medical emergencies, government agencies, large businesses, and individuals.
Rail Lines : The intercity rail network is smaller than its historical peak, and has shifted emphasis toward cargo as faster air transport has come to dominate long-distance passenger travel. Intercity passenger rail is sparser than in other developed countries, and has been taken over by the quasi-governmental National Railroad Passenger Corporation.
Mass Transit : Most medium-cities have some sort of local public transportation. Larger cities tend to have mass-transit systems, usually including subways or light rail. About one in every three users of mass transit in the United States and two-thirds of the nation's rail riders live in New York City and its suburbs.
General Transport : Most cargo transportation in the United States is by water, road, rail and pipeline; planes are commonly used only for perishables and premium express shipments. Usually cargo, apart from petroleum and other bulk commodities, is imported in containers through seaports, then distributed by road and rail.
Department of Transportation: "Transportation’s vital importance to the U.S. economy is underscored by the fact that more than $1 out of every $10 produced in the U.S. gross domestic product is related to transportation activity. This includes all aspects of transportation, including the movement of goods and the purchase of all transportation-related products and services as well as the movement of people." Employment in the transportation and material moving industry accounted for 7.4% of all employment, and was the 5th largest employment group in the United States America.Passenger transportation is dominated by a network of over 3.9 million miles of highways (almost entirely constructed and maintained by state and local governments) which is pervasive and highly developed by global standards. Passenger transportation is dominated by passenger vehicles (including cars, trucks, vans, and motorcycles).
Air Transport : An advanced air transportation network utilizes includes 5,000 paved runways. Public airports are usually operated by local governments. There are over 200 domestic passenger and cargo airlines and a number of international carriers. Private aircraft are also used for medical emergencies, government agencies, large businesses, and individuals.
Rail Lines : The intercity rail network is smaller than its historical peak, and has shifted emphasis toward cargo as faster air transport has come to dominate long-distance passenger travel. Intercity passenger rail is sparser than in other developed countries, and has been taken over by the quasi-governmental National Railroad Passenger Corporation.
Mass Transit : Most medium-cities have some sort of local public transportation. Larger cities tend to have mass-transit systems, usually including subways or light rail. About one in every three users of mass transit in the United States and two-thirds of the nation's rail riders live in New York City and its suburbs.
General Transport : Most cargo transportation in the United States is by water, road, rail and pipeline; planes are commonly used only for perishables and premium express shipments. Usually cargo, apart from petroleum and other bulk commodities, is imported in containers through seaports, then distributed by road and rail.