A new study by the Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reports a considerable decline in the number of people crossing from Mexico and Canada into the U.S.A from 2000 to 2009.
The report found that the number of people entering the U.S. through its land borders dropped 37 percent in this period, from 400 million people in 2000, to 252 million in 2009, with the majority (75 percent) crossing through Mexico. In the same period, border crossings from Canada declined by 40 percent and from Mexico by 36 percent.
The government study also examined the trends in person crossings by mode (truck, bus, train, personal vehicle, or pedestrian) and found that personal vehicles were used by 77 percent of people entering the States along both borders, while 17 percent came on foot. However, the use of personal vehicles decreased 41 percent from 2000 to 2009, the greatest decline recorded by any mode of transport.
In 2009, those entering from Canada preferred to use their own vehicles (84%) with less than 1 percent crossing on foot. In contrast, pedestrians accounted for 22% of total traffic at the Mexican borders in 2009, with 74.5% opting to enter into the United States with their personal vehicle.
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
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