BTS defines close access to transportation as residing within either 25 miles from a nonhub or small hub airport, bus or rail station, or ferry terminal providing intercity service or 75 miles from a medium- or large hub airport.

The report states 8.9 million rural residents lacked close access to intercity transportation last year. That was an increase from 5.4 million in 2005. Out of the 71.7 million rural residents with close access to intercity transportation services in 2010, 3.7 million lost access to more than one of those modes in previous years.

Since 2005, "significant changes have occurred to the networks of several of the modes," according to the report. Key examples include bus network reductions made by Greyhound and the suspension of the New Orleans-Jacksonville, Florida rail route that had been provided by Amtrak's Sunset Limited.

Overall, intercity bus transportation served 78% of rural residents last year -- more than any other mode but down from the 89% in 2005. Air transportation service remained the same at 72% while intercity rail access decreased from 42% to 40%.

Nationally in 2010, 15.7 million rural residents had access to one mode only, 29.1 million had access to two modes, 25.3 million to three modes, and 1.6 million to four modes.

The 22-page BTS report, "U.S. Rural Population and Scheduled Intercity Transportation in 2010: A Five-Year Decline in Transportation Access," is available at bit.ly/BTS-Report.

Rural Transport Needs Examined by State Governments

The Council of State Governments, in a brief released Wednesday, similarly addresses the challenges of rural communities nationwide when it comes to transportation. Some of those transportation needs, including how to handle traffic congestion and a lack of highway capacity, are the same as those in large cities. Other needs, however, loom larger for rural residents.

An example discussed in the report involves safety, with 56% of all highway deaths nationally taking place on rural roads. The report also examines the importance of and growing need for mass-transit options in rural areas.

"Public transportation in rural communities may look a little different than it does in big cities, but it is no less important," according to the report. "The aging of the population in rural America has contributed to rising demand for transit."

The 11-page CSG brief, "Rural Transportation Needs," is available at bit.ly/CSG-Brief.