-
- Formed: October 15, 1966
- Established by an act of Congress
- Preceding agency: Department of Commerce
- Headquarters: Washington, D.C.
- Department of the Presidential Cabinet
- Employees: 58,622
- Secretary: Ray LaHood
- Budget: $58 billion
-
-
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is Cabinet-level federal agency. It was created in 1966 to oversee all matters concerning national transportation. The DOT is comprised of multiple subsidiary agencies which oversee road, air, and sea travel.
On March 3, 2009, President Barack Obama visited the department. During his visit, Obama and Vice President Joe Biden spoke about the money in the stimulus package which will be used for transportation, including $27.6 billion for highways.Bloomberg: Obama Releases Billions of Dollars as ‘Shovels Hit the Ground’ (March 3, 2009)
Early History
The responsibilities eventually delegated to the Department of Transportation were originally under the jurisdiction of the Department of Commerce. In 1965 the director of the Federal Aviation Agency (later renamed the Federal Aviation Administration) suggested to President Johnson that the issue of transportation deserved its own Cabinet department.Transportation Funds
Billions of dollars in the stimulus package will be devoted to transportation, including $27.6 billion for highways, $8.4 billion for public transportation and $8 billion for high-speed rail and intercity passenger lines. Obama is also proposing an increase in the general transportation budget in 2010, from $70.5 billion proposed in 2009 to $72.5 billion proposed in 2010.Bloomberg: Obama Releases Billions of Dollars as ‘Shovels Hit the Ground’ (March 3, 2009)Fuel Economy Standards
On January 26, 2009, President Barack Obama ordered the Department of Transportation to begin drawing up higher fuel economy standards on cars and light trucks, to require a 40% increase in fuel efficiency by 2010.New York Times: Obama Directs Regulators to Tighten Auto Rules (January 26, 2009)-
-
U.S. Department of Transportation Questions
What qualifications does Jill Zuckman have in the area of transportation/public affairs? 1 AnswerNow, I don't know a lot about politics, but I don't get it. How can a journalist be the best candidate for assistant to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. M... read more
Will there be another civil war in the U.S.? 9 AnswersProbably not. 150 years ago, people were different and much more willing to take action on what they believed in. It seems now that everything is just an inte... read more
What are the best colleges in the U.S.? 7 AnswersFind out where people you respect went to college. What do you want to study? Who do you look up to in that field? Where did they go to college. This can hel... read more
When is AJ McLean coming to the U.S? 1 AnswerI'm sorry, I checked Ticketmaster, LiveNation and did a general web search but could not find any indication that AJ McLean with or without the Backstreet Boys ... read more -
U.S. Department of Transportation Recent News
- Google News and DOT Official Website: <grouprss>http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&q=us+department+of+transportation&ie=UTF-8&output=rss;http://service.govdelivery.com/service/rss/item_updates.rss?code=USDOT_30</grouprss>
- Bloomberg: Obama Releases Billions of Dollars as "Shovels Hit the Ground" (March 3, 2009)
- The Washington Post: Obama, Biden Visit DOT (March 3, 2009)
- ABC News: President Obama Introduces "Sheriff" Biden, Touts Roads & Jobs (March 3, 2009)
- New York Times: Obama Directs Regulators to Tighten Auto Rules (January 26, 2009)
- Transport Topics Online: Transportation News
-
U.S. Department of Transportation Timeline
- 1808: Federal Subsidization of a National Road is proposed by Albert Gallatin
- 1926: Air Commerce Act of 1926
- 1936: Bureau of Air Commerce takes over Air Traffic Control responsibilities
- 1966: Creation of the Department of Transportation
- 1970: President Nixon signs the National Highway Safety Act
- 1976: Conrail Begins Operations
- 1978: Airline Deregulation Act
- 1979: Chrysler Loan Guarantee Act of 1979
- 1981: Air Traffic Controllers Strike
- 1988: Pan Am Flight 103 Crashes
- 1989: Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
- 2001: September 11, 2001 Attacks
- 2003: President Bush signs the Homeland Security Act of 2002



