State Transportation and Highway Departments
As of 1979, some 40 states had followed the pattern of the federal government and organized Departments of Transportation. In them are centered state-level activities in highways, mass transit, airways, railways, and sometimes marine. They are also the center of overall transportation planning. In some instances, other functions such as driver licensing, vehicle licensing and inspection, and policing are included.
In state departments of transportation, the level of attention devoted to the various modes varies markedly. Almost always, the highway division will incorporate fully developed design, construction, maintenance, and operation activities and the laboratories and other facilities to support them. In some departments, planning activities are under the highway division; in others there is a common planning unit for highways and public transportation. Activity and staffing levels of the other divisions may be lower than for highways. For example, the public transportation, railroad, and aviation branches may function as advisors to state government and local agencies and as a mechanism for passing through or distributing funds from federal or state sources. These diversities at state level are to be expected, since situations among the 50 states are so different.
Ten states retain state highway departments as separate entities. Their activities parallel those of the highway divisions of state departments of transportation.
State organizations for carrying out the highway function all deal with similar technical problems, but on far different scales. Mileages administered range from less than 1100 to more than 76,000; annual expenditures from less than $70 million to more than $1.4 billion.
State departments typically are headed either by a director, or by a commission of three to seven members appointed by the governor, which in turn selects & director or chief engineer. With an appointed director, responsibility is clear and centralized, but political forces may be direct and strong. Under the commission form of organization, the chief officer is less vulnerable. Furthermore, if commissioners are appointed at large rather than by districts, and with stag¬gered terms, there is a further cushion against partisan control and conflicts over where and how funds are to be spent. Today, all but a few state transportation or highway agencies operate on a highly professional basis and under civil service rather than the spoils system.
Many state agencies carry out research in all areas affecting their operations. All have well-staffed in-house or affiliated laboratories for research and testing.
Title Post: State Transportation and Highway Departments
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Author: aditya
Rating: 100% based on 99998 ratings. 5 user reviews.
Author: aditya
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