US Department of Transportation - Definition and Overview

Dept. of Transportation

Established	October 15, 1966
Activated	April 1, 1967
Secretary	Norman Mineta
Deputy Secretary	Kirk K. Van Tine (acting)
Budget	$58.0 billion (2004)
Employees	58,622 (2004)

The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) is a Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with transport. It was established by an act of Congress on October 15, 1966 and began operation on April 1, 1967. It is administered by the United States Secretary of Transportation.

Its mission is to "Serve the United States by ensuring a fast, safe, efficient, accessible and convenient transportation system that meets our vital national interests and enhances the quality of life of the American people, today and into the future."

Divisions

• Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
• Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
• Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)
• Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Related legislation

• 1806 - Cumberland Road
• 1862 - Pacific Railway Act
• 1887 - Interstate Commerce Act
• 1916 - Adamson Railway Labor Act
• 1935 - Motor Carrier Act
• 1946 - Federal Airport Act PL 79-377
• 1950 - Federal Aid to Highway PL 81-769
• 1954 - Saint Lawrence Seaway Act
• 1956 - Federal-Aid to Highway/Interstate Highway Act PL 84-627
• 1957 - Airways Modernization Act PL 85-133
• 1958 - Transportation Act PL 85-625
• 1958 - Federal Aviation Act PL 85-726
• 1959 - Airport Construction Act PL 86-72
• 1964 - Urban Mass Transportation Act PL 88-365
• 1965 - Highway Beautification Act PL 89-285
• 1966 - Department of Transportation established PL 89-670
• 1970 - Urban Mass Transportation Act PL 91-453
• 1970 - Rail Passenger Service Act PL 91-518
• 1970 - Airport and Airway Development Act PL 91-258
• 1973 - Federal Aid Highway Act PL 93-87
• 1973 - Amtrak Improvement Act PL 93-146
• 1973 - Federal Aid Highway Act PL 93-87
• 1974 - National Mass Transportation Assistance Act PL 93-503
• 1976 - Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act PL 94-210
• 1976 - Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act PL 94-435
• 1978 - Airline Deregulation Act PL 95-504
• 1980 - Motor Carrier Act PL 96-296
• 1980 - Staggers Rail Act PL 96-448
• 1982 - Transportation Assistance Act PL 97-424
• 1982 - Bus Regulatory Reform Act PL 97-261
• 1987 - Surface Transportation Act PL 100-17
• 1991 - Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act PL 102-240
• 1998 - Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century PL 105-178
• 2002 - Homeland Security Act (PL 107-296)

External links

• United States Department of Transportation Official Website (http://www.dot.gov/)
• U.S. Department of Transportation - Office of the Historian (http://isweb.tasc.dot.gov/Historian/historian.htm)

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