Unifying

2001 Report to the American People

Federal Highway Administration

Unifying
America’s Lifelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Partnerships

Supporting Transportation System Improvements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Federal Lands

Ensuring Access to Federal and Indian Lands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Practices

Advancing Highway System Design, Construction, 

Operations, and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Interactions

Reaching Out and Listening to Transportation Systems Users. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Technologies

Developing and Using Technology for Tomorrow’s Transportation Systems . . . 22

Professionals

Training and Developing the Transportation Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Closing

Always Seeking to Move Ahead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Results

Measuring Our Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Financials

Financial Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Contacts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
I became Federal Highway Administrator in October 2001, but as Director of the Arizona Department of Transportation 

for the past four years, I am well aware of the agency’s broad range of programs serving the American people.

This 2001 Report to the American People will help you better understand what the Federal Highway Administration

(FHWA) does and how the agency works with its partners to build, operate, and maintain the best transportation 

system in the world.

The Report presents FHWA’s crucial role in the nation’s surface transportation network: from 

super-smooth pavements to sophisticated software; from the completion of arteries that carry 

millions each week in our cities to road building in rural areas across America; from helping the

Golden Gate Bridge resist earthquake damage to protecting bridge supports from severe erosion at

the Indian River Inlet Bridge in Delaware. FHWA is in each of these locations and hundreds more.

Transportation affects every person in our country. A safe, accessible, affordable, and reliable

transportation system is vital to every American, whether it be a child living within tribal nation

boundaries who needs transportation to school, a person with disabilities who needs access to

training, parents who want to spend less time commuting, or a senior citizen seeking mobility options.

FHWA works for all these people, but it does not work alone. Our transportation system is the product of partnerships

with state, local and tribal governments, other federal agencies, the transportation industry, academia, and the public.

We are always open to suggestions on how to do better. Starting on page 36, we have included a list of offices that you

can contact to offer suggestions or get information about FHWA and highway programs. You can also contact us on the

Web at www.fhwa.dot.gov or call the FHWA division office nearest you.

We at the Federal Highway Administration are proud to serve America by supporting the best in surface transportation.

The many projects profiled in this 2001 Report represent a fraction of our work, and we hope they convey the 

commitment and pride that FHWA and its many partners bring to their mission.

Mary E. Peters

Federal Highway Administrator

November 2001

Message from the Administrator
2

Every hour of every day, the work of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)

and its transportation partners touches the lives of nearly every citizen of the United

States. Everyone who commutes to an office, rides a bus, or hauls freight. Everyone

who embarks on a classic American road trip. All police

officers, firefighters, medical personnel, and members of

the military. And the highways involve even more.

Virtually every item in your home, place of employment,

or school spent time in a truck and traveled into your

life via one of our nation’s highways. The fact is that our

highway transportation system serves to unify America and sustain

the American way of life. The challenge of the FHWA, one that we

embrace, is to improve this vital transportation system to ensure that safe, 

reliable, and convenient access is provided for all.

AMERICA’S

highway and transit 

Today’s federal-aid LIFE

programs provide 

flexibility to state and

local officials to fund

highways, transit, 

or alternatives such as

bicycling or walking paths.

State and local officials “flexed” $1.25 billion in highway funds to transit projects in fiscal year 2001.  Lady Bird Johnson, wife of President Lyndon 
3

LINES

Johnson, inspired the Highway Beautification Act of 1965.  She also has been a leader in encouraging the planting of wildflowers along the

Highways strengthen each of our communities

and our nation’s economy as a whole.

Delivering for the 

American People

The FHWA plays an important role 

in the United States Department of

Transportation (DOT). We are more

than 2,800 professionals in all 50

states plus Washington, D.C., and

Puerto Rico. Our Washington, D.C.,

headquarters and four resource centers provide national leadership and

expert support to our 52 division and

four metropolitan offices throughout

the United States. We collaborate

with our partners to ensure that U.S.

highways remain the backbone of an

effective intermodal transportation

network. Our partners include the

state and local governments that 

own and operate the nation’s roads,

including the Interstate System.

Through the Federal-aid Highway

program, FHWA makes funds available each year to state transportation

departments. These departments, in

turn, work with local officials to plan

and select important transportation

system improvement projects. Our

three Federal Lands Highway Division

offices administer road programs for

federally owned lands and defense

installations, and provide federal

agencies with transportation services.

This 2001 Report to the American People

explains how FHWA has worked with others

over the past year to plan, build, preserve,

and operate our nation’s transportation system. We’ve contributed to new construction

and reconstruction projects, the preservation

of federal and Indian lands, the building of

quiet pedestrian bridges, improvements to

bridge superstructures, and analyses of safety

barriers. In each of our activities, we at FHWA

work with our partners to preserve and

enhance our nation’s transportation system

and help to grow a stronger America.
4

A New Focus in the 

Post-Interstate Era 

Throughout our history, FHWA has met the

challenge that comes with changing times.

Beginning in the 1950s, we concentrated 

on working with the states to build the

42,800-mile Interstate Highway System in 

49 states, plus additional roads in Alaska, 

the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

With the system complete, the focus of

FHWA shifted dramatically with the passage

of the Intermodal Surface Transportation

Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA), which

launched the post-interstate era for surface

transportation programs. 

ISTEA created new areas of focus for U.S.

DOT and FHWA. The Act authorized a

National Highway System—160,000 miles—

to include the Interstate System and other

important roads and connections to intermodal facilities. And it increased support to

programs such as Intelligent Transportation

Systems (ITS) in recognition of the need to

apply technology to improve operations and

make the current highway system more 

efficient and safer. ISTEA also improved

access to national parks, national forests,

and other federal lands; supported national

defense mobility and emergency preparedness; enhanced the fiscal integrity of

transportation decisionmaking; and, for the

first time, introduced a requirement for a

statewide transportation planning process,

offering opportunities for public involvement.

ISTEA also reorganized the federal-aid highway and transit programs to give state and

local officials greater flexibility in using 

federal funds—for highways, transit, or

alternatives such as bicycling and walking

paths—to best meet each area’s unique

transportation infrastructure needs. 

In 1998, the Transportation Equity Act for 

the 21st Century (TEA-21) reauthorized the

ISTEA programs. While retaining ISTEA’s

post-interstate program structure, TEA-21

authorized higher funding levels for the

Federal-aid Highway and Federal Lands

Highway programs. In addition, TEA-21 

formalized and authorized the Research 

and Technology Program, including Surface

Transportation Research, University

Transportation Centers, and enhanced 

technology deployment and training.

Our Unique Roles

As a steward for taxpayer dollars, FHWA 

fulfills six unique roles highlighted in this

2001 Report to the American People:

• We fund and support projects to improve

the design, operation, and maintenance 

of roads and bridges throughout the

country. We help our partners better

manage their transportation assets. 

We fund an array of national programs

such as improving transportation safety,

encouraging mass transit options, reducing congestion, preserving scenic and

historic byways, enhancing and protecting

the environment, constructing facilities for

bicyclists and pedestrians, and more.

• We make federal lands and facilities more

accessible, support national security, and

provide emergency relief funds to restore

highways and bridges damaged by natural disasters or catastrophic failures.

• We promote improved highway planning,

design, construction, operation, and 

maintenance by working with our partners

to develop standards and deploy new

strategies and advanced technologies.

• We exchange vital information with the

public through a variety of programs,

forums, and media events.

• We research, develop, and transfer 

technologies to operate today’s roads and

improve tomorrow’s. Such developments

include state-of-the-art practices and 

technologies to help state and local 

agencies get the most out of the existing

transportation system.

• We train and develop the professional

transportation community.

nation’s highways.  Today, all 50 states plant wildflowers along the National Highway System.  On a typical day, Americans make 1 billion shor
5

distance trips, and travel about 9 billion miles.  Travel by private vehicle accounts for 86 percent of all travel and 91 percent of the distance 

Moving Ahead

In 2000, FHWA surveyed overall 

public satisfaction with the nation’s

highway transportation system—the

satisfaction not only of drivers, but

of all travelers. On March 20, 2001,

FHWA released the results of these 

surveys in Moving Ahead: The

American Public Speaks on Roadways

and Transportation in Communities.

The results reflect overall satisfaction

with roads and bridges—in part, 

due to the increasing federal and

state highway funds invested in our

highway system since the early

1980s—but dissatisfaction with traffic

congestion. As illustrated below, the

survey also identified areas that the

traveling public would like to see

improved, including traffic safety 

and congestion, pavement conditions,

work zones, and maintenance

response times. 

For FHWA, these are the bedrock

issues, the issues we work on every

day, the points where our work 

is seen and experienced by American

motorists.

Our View of Success

Each day, we at FHWA aggressively pursue

our vision—to create the best transportation

system in the world, and our mission—to

continually improve the quality of our

nation’s highway system and its intermodal

connections. We pursue this vision and 

mission by focusing on six strategic goals:

Safety

Continually improve highway safety.

Mobility

Continually improve the public’s access 

to activities, goods, and services by 

preserving, improving, and expanding 

the highway transportation system—

and enhancing its operations, efficiency, 

and intermodal connections.

Productivity

Continually improve the economic 

efficiency of the nation’s transportation 

system to enhance America’s position 

in the global economy.

Human and Natural Environment

Protect and enhance the natural 

environment and communities affected 

by highway transportation.

National Security

Improve the nation’s national 

defense mobility.

Organizational Excellence

Advance FHWA’s ability to manage 

for results and innovation.
6

Supporting Transportation 

System Improvements

At FHWA, we help our partners enhance the U.S. transportation system, supporting our

country’s economic vitality, quality of life, and environment. This is the heart of the 

FHWA mission. To meet our national needs, we make funds available for projects chosen

by state departments of transportation (DOTs), metropolitan planning organizations, and

other partners. We focus on the contracting process and timelines and ensure compliance

with federal requirements. The projects profiled in this section illustrate the range of

FHWA’s recent work with a variety of public and private-sector partners.

PARTNERSHIPS

traveled.  The average driving time per day for all drivers is 1 hour and 13 minutes.  Between the ages of 20 and 54, men drive an average of 

Bypass designs are currently being evaluated to alleviate 

traffic bottlenecks on the road spanning the Hoover Dam. 

Photo courtesy of: Bureau of Reclamation

Ahead Ahead
7

An Ecological Treasure

The Tweeds Mill Bridge over White Clay

Creek, Delaware, built of hand-cut stone

more than 150 years ago, fell into disrepair

and out of service early in the 20th century.

Given the significance of White Clay Creek as

“a national ecological treasure,” the Delaware

Department of Natural Resources and

Environmental Control and the Delaware

Department of Transportation constructed a

new pedestrian bridge on the surviving stone

bridge abutments and wing walls. The state

combined federal funds (Transportation

Enhancement and Recreational Trail) with

state funds to build the bridge. The new 

90-foot, self-weathering steel span was 

dedicated on June 1, 2001, and enhances the

safety and pleasure of visitors to White Clay

Creek State Park.

Expedited Project Delivery

The intersection of State Highways 4 and 17

in Paramus, New Jersey, was built in the

early 1930s and currently accommodates

more than 280,000 vehicles per day. The

state DOT expected reconstruction of this

critical and congested intersection, located

near three shopping malls, to take four

years. Innovative contracting methods promoted by the FHWA, including a complex

contractor cash-incentive program, shortened

the federal-aid project time by 15 months.

Construction costs amounted to approximately $57 million, with an additional 

$40 million in right-of-way (ROW) funds. 

The state of New Jersey was nominated for 

a National Partnership of Highway Quality

Achievement Award for its work on the State

Highways 4 and 17 project.

,500 miles per year and women drive an average of 11,700 miles.  On November 11, 1926, the American Association of State Highway Officials

“Going into this, the community

was skeptical. But when all was

said and done, they were very

happy that they were only 

affected one weekend.’’

Tom Nelson

American Concrete

Pavement Association

June 19, 2001

In and Out in 72 Hours

Faced with the prospect of lengthy 

work zone projects to reconstruct three

intersections on U.S. 395 in Kennewick, 

the Washington State Department of

Transportation (WSDOT) took a bold step. 

It decided to shut down each intersection

completely for one weekend, enabling work

to be completed on an aggressive timeline

built around hours instead of days. An 

intensive information campaign for motorists

and the use of quick-setting Portland cement

concrete were instrumental in the ahead-ofschedule completion of each project. An

open-house co-hosted by WSDOT, the

American Concrete Pavement Association,

and FHWA drew attendees from surrounding

states and Canada who wanted to learn more

about this innovative way to complete major

projects with minimal impacts on mobility

and safety. A similar weekend closure of

New Circle Road for bridge repairs in

Lexington, Kentucky, was also welcomed 

as the technique of the future by local 

residents and press.
8

Design-Build Successes

The design-build concept allows contractors

maximum flexibility for innovation in selecting design, materials, and construction

methods. With design-build procurement, 

the contracting agency identifies the end

result and establishes the design criteria.

Prospective bidders then develop design

proposals that optimize their construction

abilities. From the contracting agency’s 

perspective, the potential for time savings 

is a significant benefit. Since the design 

and construction are performed through 

one procurement, construction can begin

before all design details are finalized. 

The following describes two current major 

projects featuring design-build construction.

An Economic Boost

Two aging bridges, the narrow Grace Bridge

and the three-lane Pearman Bridge, span the

Cooper River and connect Charleston and

Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. The bridges

have been unable to meet steadily increasing

traffic demands, and their low heights have

limited shipping activities in Cooper River. 

As a result, mobility, safety, and productivity

have been affected. In 2001 the South

Carolina Department of Transportation and

officials of Charleston, Mt. Pleasant, and

FHWA agreed to use design-build contracting

to erect a 2.5-mile cable-stayed bridge that

will provide a link to vital federal defense

facilities, major employment centers in North

Charleston, and residential and recreational

areas east of Cooper River. It will also

enhance national and international shipping

accessibility to the Port of Charleston and

ensure the continued economic development

of the region. With its 1,546-foot main channel span, the bridge is one of the longest

cable-stayed structures under construction 

in the world.

An Olympic Undertaking

The I-15 reconstruction in Utah involved more

than 142 bridges, 18 miles of interstate, eight

interchanges with urban crossroads, and

three major junctions with other interstates,

including I-80 and I-215. All work had to be

completed before the 2002 Winter Olympic

Games. FHWA and the Utah Department of

Transportation’s I-15 Team used design-build

contracting to complete the project on time

and on budget. The agencies also developed

a public relations initiative to offer the latest

traffic information to the traveling public 

via: a website with real-time photos, toll-free

telephone numbers, faxes to businesses,

advertising, and public meetings. The PR

campaign helped to achieve widespread 

public approval of the project despite the

significant disruption to travel in the Salt

Lake Valley. Dedicated on May 14, 2001, 

the new I-15 will help meet the crush of

Olympics traffic and serve motorists in 

Utah for years to come.

The Big "I"

The I-25/I-40 interchange in downtown

Albuquerque, New Mexico, was originally

designed for daily volumes of 40,000 vehicles. In 2002 it will handle 400,000 vehicles 

a day. Innovative designs were submitted 

to meet the New Mexico State Highway and

Transportation Department’s (NMSHTD)

aggressive 24-month construction schedule. 

If met, this schedule will establish a national

record for most rapid completion of an

urban freeway interchange of this size. 

FHWA committed an on-site bridge engineer

to work with NMSHTD for the duration of 

the project to accelerate construction

changes and work order adjustments. 

This unusual measure has proven to be a

significant factor in moving the Big “I” 

project ahead of schedule, shortening the

period of inconvenience for city travelers.

Big “I”, Albuquerque, New Mexico

adopted the plan for numbering U.S. highways, including U.S 1, U.S. 40, U.S. 66, and dozens of others.  In 1957, that plan was modified for numb
Springfield Interchange, Springfield, Virginia

9

The Wildlife Highway

Along a two-mile stretch of U.S. 441 in Florida’s Paynes

Prairie State Preserve, frogs, snakes, alligators, and 75

other wildlife species were falling victim to motor vehicles

and posing a serious threat to traveler safety. To solve this

problem, a group composed of state transportation and 

natural resource agencies, environmental groups, and the

University of Florida came up with an innovative strategy: 

construct concrete walls to contain area wildlife. The three-and-a-half-foot

walls feature a six-inch lip at the top, similar to walls in zoo 

serpentariums, that channel animals along the roadway and into one

of eight culverts beneath U.S. 441. The Florida Department of Transportation,

working with the FHWA, completed the project in one year, enhancing safety 

on U.S. 441. The design has since been dubbed an ecopassage.

ing the Interstate System.  Even-numbered Interstates with one or two digits are always east-west routes.  Odd-numbered Interstates with

Environmental Streamlining

To meet the mandates of the

Transportation Equity Act for the 

21st Century and the National

Environmental Protection Act (NEPA),

FHWA is working in partnership with

federal agencies and the states to

make good, sound project decisions

faster. Environmental streamlining—

primarily shortening the number of

months to complete environmental

studies—is a priority throughout

FHWA. For example, on the U.S. 119

improvement project in Indiana

County, the Pennsylvania Department

of Transportation (PennDOT) completed and FHWA approved the

environmental impact statement in

only 22 months instead of the 

average 3 years for similar projects.

Combining early agency coordination

and the creative use of technology,

PennDOT engaged the public and

accomplished better environmental

results in less time. Features included

use of CD-ROM technology to review

permits and make decisions, a revised

NEPA coordination process, and

development of regional environmental streamlining approaches.

FHWA recognized the PennDOT 

project team with an Environmental

Excellence Award.

Life in the Mixing Bowl

The Springfield Interchange Project in 

northern Virginia is an eight-year, sevenphase construction project in the Washington,

D.C., metropolitan area. One of the largest

reconstruction projects in the nation, it began

in 1999. Known for years as the Mixing Bowl,

this interchange blends I-95 through-traffic

with local traffic on I-495, I-395, and VA 644.

The question was how to keep 400,000 vehicles a day moving through the interchange

area as construction progresses. Working 

with the FHWA, the Virginia Department of

Transportation (VDOT) created an extensive

congestion management plan, featuring no

lane closures during rush hours, subsidized

train and bus fares, and additional park-andride lots at shopping mall transit pick-up

points. As a result, traffic is running smoother

now than before construction began.
Preserving the Spirit of Place

The widening of a 56-mile portion of U.S. 93

in Montana posed a special challenge to 

the Montana Department of Transportation

(MDT). This stretch bisects the reservation of

the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes

(CSKT) of the Flathead Native American

Nation—two groups who felt strongly that

any reconstruction project to improve safety

and operations should show respect to their

homeland and allow the highway traveler 

to enjoy the beauty of the country. In

December 2000, the FHWA, the MDT, and 

the CSKT agreed to create a context-sensitive

design that includes animal crossings and a

focus on cultural and historic preservation

within a concept termed Spirit of Place. 

This sensitivity has raised the bar for future

partnerships within communities; the design

will be adapted to improve safety and 

mobility within the state and region.

More Freight, Less Delay

FHWA works closely with states, localities,

and the private sector to alleviate congestion

and improve the efficiency of freight transportation. In 1996, the U.S. DOT provided

$400 million in loans for work on the

Alameda Corridor in California, one of 

several high-priority transportation corridors

identified in TEA-21. The project will improve

railroad and highway access to the Ports of

Los Angeles and Long Beach, two of the

busiest ports in the United States. Along the

20-mile corridor, all freight rail operations

will be consolidated into one high-capacity

route and 200 rail-highway-grade crossings

will be eliminated, a move that will significantly increase safety. These changes will

save an estimated 15,000 hours of delay 

per day for vehicles at railroad crossings.

Alameda Street, which runs from downtown

Los Angeles to the ports, also will be

improved to provide better access to 

highway ramps. The $2.4 billion Alameda

Corridor project will create economic 

benefits that extend well beyond Southern

California to other parts of the nation by

helping to maintain U.S. competitiveness 

in international trade. Currently, the project

is on schedule for expected completion in 

April 2002. Loan paybacks are guaranteed by

charging rail lines a fee of $30 per container

to use the Corridor.

Rural Public Transit and More

Reach Your Destination Easily (RYDE) began

operation in central Nebraska in January

2000 with two buses and a van, transporting

elderly persons and other special needs 

passengers to such destinations as medical

facilities and shopping areas. That first

month, the system carried 1,180 passengers a

total of 5,471 miles. Less than one year later,

monthly boardings increased to 4,055 passengers traveling 10,797 miles.

In July 2001, FHWA

provided funding for a computerized 

dispatch to cover the large distances in the

service area. RYDE performs a vital service

by transporting medical patients, who 

comprise 20 to 30 percent of daily riders.

Thirty percent of riders are wheelchair users.

Partners for RYDE include the Buffalo County

Community Health Partners, Mid-Nebraska

Community Action, Nebraska State

Department of Roads, Buffalo County, and

the Federal Transit Administration.

"The groundbreaking approach to 

safety and environmental sensitivity 

of the U.S. 93 project marks a new

era in Montana highway construction."

Judy Martz

Governor of Montana

June 8, 2001

10

one or two digits are always north-south routes.  If you feel you are going in circles on an Interstate, check its number.  It will have three digi
The Sparkling Necklace

In July 2001, the FHWA approved the Record

of Decision that concluded the environmental

review for replacing the earthquake-damaged

east span of the historic San FranciscoOakland Bay Bridge, which opened in 1936.

A few days later, the California Department

of Transportation advertised the first of four

construction projects in the area. FHWA

worked closely with federal, state, and local

officials to overcome many challenges before

selecting the best replacement alternative, a

unique design that not only complements 

the west span and the nearby Golden Gate

Bridge but is constructed using the latest

technology for resisting future earthquakes.

The design for the new east span has been

called one more diamond in the sparkling

necklace of bridges that ring the Bay.

Building a Smarter Roadway

Although a narrow two-lane roadway, 

U.S. 15 serves as an important and heavily

traveled corridor between Maryland and

Leesburg, Virginia. This road has recently

experienced an increased number of traffic

crashes involving injuries and fatalities. 

While it is not involved in funding the 

reconstruction project, FHWA participates 

in a task force consisting of citizens, elected

officials, local agencies, VDOT, and the

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration,

which has identified many low-cost, shortterm improvements to increase safety. The

improvements include lowering the speed

limit, installing flashing yellow beacons to

alert drivers to the lower limit, new traffic

signals, center line rumble strips, and 

widening shoulders and edge lines. The

results have been rewarding. Average speeds

decreased (from 60 mph to 45 mph) as have

serious injuries and fatalities. FHWA continues to participate in the task force, which

meets regularly to see if other adjustments

are needed. An FHWA participant says this

project is one of the best examples he has 

ever seen of small improvements having big

safety impacts.

, as three-digit Interstates beginning with an even number are often loops around a city, but always connect with the main Inte rstate (carrying

The Mega-Projects Team

The Central Artery/Tunnel Project

(CA/T), in Boston, Massachusetts, is

one of the most spectacular engineering challenges in the history of the

Interstate System. Known as the Big

Dig, the CA/T Project includes building

a tunnel to replace the 1950s era 

elevated I-93 freeway while the freeway remains in operation; providing 

a third harbor tunnel that will extend 

I-90 to improve access to Logan

International Airport; and creating a

signature I-93 cable-stayed bridge

across the Charles River. Controversy

has added to the challenge. Project

management and cost increases have

made the Big Dig, at more than 

$14 billion, the most expensive 

interstate project ever. Experience 

on the CA/T and other projects

prompted DOT to establish a task

force on oversight of large transportation infrastructure projects. As a

member of the task force, FHWA is

implementing the recommendations 

on all large and complex (mega) 

federal-aid projects. Although state

transportation departments 

will retain primary responsibility for

managing mega-projects (projects

over $1 billion), FHWA will ensure

improved planning to meet the TEA-21

requirement of annual approval of a

financial plan for all such projects.

Though controversial, the CA/T project

has been responsible for innovative

design, construction, and other 

technologies that advance highway,

bridge, and tunnel technology.

11
12

Ensuring Access to Federal 

and Indian Lands

Through the Federal Lands Highway Program, FHWA provides funding as well as design

and construction expertise to build and improve more than 90,000 miles of public roads,

giving access to and within federal and Indian lands. The program serves recreational

travel and tourism needs, protects and enhances natural resources, improves safety,

encourages economic development in rural areas, and supports transportation access for

Native Americans. In cooperation with agencies such as the National Park Service, the

Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the

Forest Service, we plan, locate, and design highway

projects on federal and Indian lands. We also award construction contracts and provide full-time project oversight.

ERAL LANDS Photo: National Scenic Byways ProgramFEDERAL LANDS

the last two digits) on both ends.  Three-digit Interstates beginning with an odd number are spurs connecting only on one end.  The longest In

Our Our
Preserving Popular Parks

America’s national parks and other

public lands are increasingly popular

destinations for Americans and 

visitors from around the world. 

This popularity is, unfortunately, 

leading to overcrowding, congestion,

and pollution that threaten the 

public lands and the enjoyment of 

visitors. FHWA, the Federal Transit

Administration, and the National Park

Service are jointly assessing alternative

transportation strategies to ease 

overcrowding by vehicles within nearly

a dozen of our most popular national

parks and other public lands. The

strategies will help protect the sites’

cultural, natural, and historical

resources and improve the quality of

visits to the sites. FHWA provided most

of the funding for two initiatives that

have already had a major impact on

lessening vehicle traffic: the new transit

start-up programs in Acadia National

Park in Maine and the transit system in

Zion National Park in Utah.

13

Yosemite National Park

Yosemite’s Natural Wonder 

The 70-year-old El Portal Road winds

through the Merced River Canyon in

Yosemite National Park for 7.5 miles. Severe

flooding in January 1997 closed the roadway

for several months until emergency repairs

could be completed. At the request of the

National Park Service, FHWA contracted for

permanent improvements to the roadway

that would also protect the natural and cultural resources of the Merced River Canyon

as outlined in the Yosemite National Park

A Capital Improvement

In Washington, D.C., security concerns

prompted the closing of E Street, NW, south

of the White House between 15th and 17th

Streets. When city officials pushed to reopen

the street to westbound traffic, they were

stalled by a lack of resources. Enter the

FHWA, which stepped in to assist, facilitate,

and coordinate all elements of design, 

environmental review, and construction of 

the project. Leading the charge to work

together, FHWA skillfully facilitated the

efforts of a wide variety of agencies, which

ultimately served to bring the project to a

successful completion in just one year.

General Management Plan. Surveys of

species indigenous to the area were 

conducted, and FHWA worked with a

National Park Service landscape architect to

ensure minimal disturbance to hillsides and

riverbanks. The project, completed on

October 18, 2000, included realigning and

widening the roadway, stabilizing the

roadbed, improving drainage, replacing the

guard wall and pavement, and restoring the

river to its natural state. The stronger, less

vulnerable El Portal Road facilitates regional

mobility as well as revealing the natural

wonder of the Merced River Canyon to 

visitors from around the world.

Zion National Park, Utah

rstate is I-90 from Seattle to Boston at 3,085 miles; the second longest Interstate is I-80 from San Francisco to Teaneck, New Jersey at 2,907
Creative Wetlands Mitigation

While planning an improvement to Oregon

Forest Highway 164, FHWA was faced with 

a problem: how to offset the 5.18 acres of

wetlands that would have to be filled. An

innovative solution developed when officials

heard about Whalen Island, not far from the

site. The island is part of one of the most

intact natural estuaries along the Oregon

coast, but developers intended to buy the

land and build as many as 40 homes. This

action would have eliminated significant

habitat for diverse wildlife as well as a haven

for area residents who enjoy fishing and bird

watching. To prevent the development, the

Trust for Public Lands secured an option for

purchasing Whalen Island and sought partners for its preservation. That’s where the

FHWA came in.

To replace the

wetlands

Operation Alaskan Road

The Metlakatla Indian Community is located

on an island in the southeastern tip of

Alaska. Without a road link, the community 

is often isolated for weeks at a time. To 

remedy this situation, FHWA is helping to

coordinate and fund the formidable challenge

of constructing a 14.8-mile road linking the

town of Metlakatla with the Southeast Alaska

Regional Transportation System of highways

and ferries. FHWA is also providing engineering design and construction management

expertise in partnership with the military.

This joint military construction team faces

great challenges during construction, including mountainous terrain and extreme cold.

Because they work in environmentally sensitive areas, officials are coordinating closely

with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)

to preserve eagle nests and other friendly

obstacles they encounter. The future Walden

Point Road is a partnership among FHWA,

the Department of Defense (DoD), the Alaska

Department of Transportation and Public

Facilities, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and

the Metlakatla Indian Community. When construction is complete, residents can expect a

safe transportation corridor that enhances

the mobility and security of the region.

miles.  Texas has more Interstate mileage (3,232 miles) than any other state, but New York has mo

Drilling rock on Annette Island, Alaska, part of the 

$33 million project to link the remote island to the 

mainland. Innovative applications included geodesic construction technology developed and pioneered by FHWA. 

Photo courtesy of: DoD

14

that would be filled for the Highway 164

project, FHWA worked in partnership with

the Trust for Public Lands, the Oregon Parks

and Recreation Department (PRD), and the

Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board to

provide funding to preserve the island and

its diverse ecosystem. The Oregon PRD now

owns the island and opened a park there in

February 2001. This creative public/private

partnership helped to reduce an adverse

impact of the Highway 164 project, which

will go to construction in early 2002. The

partnership also helps ensure the availability

of 93 acres of wetlands for the wildlife that

inhabit it and the visitors who treasure it.
15

Fulfilling Our National

Security Role

In times of war and states of emergency, the

highway transportation system that carries us

to work and play serves a strategic military

role by enabling personnel and equipment to

move quickly and efficiently around the

country. Through the years, FHWA, with

cooperation from the state transportation

departments, has developed a close working

relationship with the DoD to identify and

meet transportation needs and ensure military

preparedness in war and peace.

While the 42,800-mile Interstate System is 

the backbone of our defense highway commitment, it does not include all corridors

critical from a military standpoint. DoD

worked with FHWA and each state to 

designate the Strategic Highway Network

(STRAHNET), a 61,044-mile system of interconnected highways, including the Interstate

System. DoD estimates that much of the

equipment tonnage required to support a

full-scale mobilization of active and reserve

forces would operate over STRAHNET and 

its connectors to more than 200 important

military installations and ports. 

How effective is this network? To find out, an

FHWA-led joint effort conducted phase one

of a pilot study of STRAHNET readiness

involving one of five fort-to-port routes in

the U.S. Southeast in June 2001. The fortto-port team traveled the STRAHNET deployment route from Ft. Benning/Ft. Stewart to

Savannah in Georgia, to observe its state of

readiness and identify needed infrastructure

improvements. The team noted pavement

capacity, checked on bridges with low sufficiency ratings, and studied two-lane sections

of highway between Ft. Benning and I-16. The

team concluded that this STRAHNET corridor

stands ready to meet national security needs.

The second phase of the study will be an

audit of the Ft. Bragg and Camp LeJeune

access routes in North Carolina. Under the

Defense Access Road program, FHWA works

with the DoD to study, designate, design,

and construct access roads to and within 

military and defense facilities.

"America's freedom of movement 

has been challenged. We will meet

that challenge." 

Norman Y. Mineta

Secretary of Transportation

October 1, 2001

(at the Annual Meeting of the American 

Public Transportation Association)

Interstate routes (28, compared with 25 in California).  The first and only highway connecting Alaska with the lower 48 states was completed in

Photo courtesy of: DoD

In the Wake of National Tragedy

Soon after the collapse of the 

World Trade Center towers in the

September 11 terrorist attack, FHWA

worked with the New York State

Department of Transportation 

(NYSDOT), the New York City

Mayor’s office, and the Federal

Emergency Management Agency

(FEMA) to assess road damage and

determine how Federal-aid

Emergency Relief funds could be

used to help in the recovery effort.

Within 24 hours of the attack, FHWA

approved NYSDOT’s initial request for

$25 million in emergency relief funds

to help remove debris from the roads

and provide temporary transportation. After making available federalaid highway funds to establish 

temporary detour routes and repair

damaged roads, FHWA continues to

work with NYSDOT and local officials

to plan projects to repair damaged

roads and streets, including a principal

arterial (Route 9A). FHWA also took

the lead in establishing an Emergency

Preparedness and Response Team to

identify transportation infrastructure

vulnerability and critical transportation

system operational issues and is

working closely with the American

Association of State Highway and

Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

and the state departments of transportation to identify ways to protect

critical highway bridges and tunnels

from future terrorist attacks.
16

Advancing Highway System 

Design, Construction, Operations, 

and Maintenance

One of the FHWA's most important roles is working with partners to identify the best 

practices for designing, constructing, operating, maintaining, and improving the safety 

of highways. For example, we work with the American Association of State Highway and

Transportation Officials (AASHTO), which develops guides, standards, and references that

are adopted and used by the public. State departments of transportation (DOTs) and local

governments generally use the same publications for improving other roads and streets. In

other efforts, we partner with the National Association of County Engineers (NACE) to help

public works and transportation managers deliver effective transportation services to their

communities. We are also cooperating with other administrations of the U.S. DOT, as well

as state, local, and industry officials, to develop regional architectures that ensure

computer programs can talk to each other. 

PRACTICES

Major improvements to road signs,

such as the yellow-green fluorescent

colors you see at neighborhood

school crossings, are incorporated in

the latest addition of the Manual

on Uniform Traffic Control

Devices Development,

released by FHWA 

in December 2000.

1942.  The rural speed limit in Nebraska was 20 mph in 1905; 60 mph in 1941; and as high as 75 mph today.  The first National Road in the Unite
17

Nationwide, municipalities and state highway

agencies spend at least $2 billion a year to 

combat snow and ice, and another $4 billion 

to repair damage done to the infrastructure. 

This damage can be minimized using advanced

technology, such as this high-tech snowplow

with a collision warning system for zero 

visibility conditions.

Photo courtesy of: Minnesota DOT

Providing Access to All

Accessibility for all Americans under the 1990

Americans with Disabilities Act remains a 

primary focus of the FHWA. Sidewalks and

trails serve as critical links in the transportation network, providing pedestrian access 

to commercial districts, schools, businesses,

government offices, and recreation areas.

FHWA helps to ensure that all sidewalks and

trails are designed to meet the needs of the

widest possible range of users. One example

is the Recreational Trails Program, which

provides funds to develop and maintain

recreational trails for motorized and nonmotorized recreational trail users. We also

produced the landmark Designing Sidewalks

and Trails for Access, Part 2, Best Practices

Design Guide, which is used as a tool for

planning, designing, and constructing 

pedestrian facilities. The Guide also covers

legislative requirements and users’ needs.

Waging War on Winter

A high-tech snowplow developed by the

Minnesota DOT is one example of equipment

seen at the Eastern Winter Road Maintenance

Symposium and Equipment Expo co-hosted

by FHWA. This annual showcase of advances

in technology and equipment improves 

the safety and mobility of the traveling 

public. It also features educational sessions

detailing new ways to battle snow and ice,

including automated bridge deck deicing,

advanced road weather information systems

technology, vehicle-location systems, and

smart road technologies. Every other year,

the FHWA partners with the American Public

Works Association’s Colorado Chapter to

bring similar information to the western

region of the nation.

States (later designated U.S. 40 and then I-70) was based on a Native American path that was widened by a British general fighting the French in

International Scanning Tours

For the past ten years, the

International Technology Exchange

Program, directed by the FHWA

Office of International Programs, has

funded and led scanning teams that

identify state-of-the-art procedures

and products in highway design, 

construction, maintenance, and 

right-of-way acquisition and relocation from around the world. The

teams are composed of representatives from both the public and private

sectors who look for ideas that could

be used on the nation's roads. The

teams also showcase innovative 

practices used in the United States,

sharing this technology with the 

host countries. Highlights for FY 2001

include a recycled materials conference held in Houston; demonstration

of a Swiss lighting system for pedestrian crossings; and organization of a

context-sensitive design scan followup workshop to be held in Seattle in

May 2002. FHWA also assisted with

follow-up and agenda-setting conferences in Brownsville, Texas, and

Ottawa, Canada, for a freight logistics

scan related to the North American

Free Trade Act (NAFTA).
18

511 for Traveler Information

Americans will soon have a powerful new

tool at their fingertips for making informed

choices about their travel time, mode of

travel, and routes. By dialing 511, travelers

will have access to information on weather

conditions, road closings, traffic congestion,

parking availability, the tourism industry,

hotel accommodations, and public transit. 

The FHWA launched 511 in the Cincinnati and

Northern Kentucky metropolitan area in 

June 2001, working in partnership with the

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, the Federal

Communications Commission, and other state

and federal entities. Plans call for availability

in other jurisdictions soon, with the ultimate

goal of national implementation.

Applications of ramp metering—traffic signals that

control the flow of traffic entering freeways—

have proven to increase vehicle throughput by

8% to 22%, while reducing crashes by 15% to

50%. Drivers in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area 

can attest to these dramatic results. When ramp

metering was turned off for six weeks as a test,

there was an average 9% reduction in freeway

volume, a 22% increase in freeway travel times, a

7% reduction in freeway speed, and a 26%

increase in crashes. 

Photo courtesy of: Minnesota DOT

Taking Back the Roads

Our nation's highway transportation system

is increasingly indispensable to modern life

and commerce. Indeed, in our highly mobile

society, the system has almost become a

victim of its own success, attracting such

high levels of use that congestion and delays

are growing problems. Building new roads

and adding more transit are part of the 

solution. But these steps are costly.

Fortunately, information technology can

enable the existing system to operate closer

to peak performance, postponing the need

for system expansion. Through the Intelligent

Transportation Systems (ITS) program, 

FHWA and its partners are developing 

information technology to alert drivers to 

a wide range of traffic-snarling conditions—

from crashes to weather, special events to

work zones—and suggest alternate routes.

The right information, at the right time, 

will help Americans take back the roads 

and go a long way toward keeping traffic

moving efficiently.

An example of our operational guidance is

the new self-assessment software for government entities. This tool helps professionals

evaluate their operations to make improvements in such areas as providing information

to travelers, coordinating freeway and 

arterial operations, and managing traffic

around construction work zones.

Another technology-based solution is represented by the Transportation Management

Centers. By adjusting signal timing at intersections and ramp meters, the centers can

enhance traffic flows during rush hours and

special events, alleviate congestion resulting

from crashes, improve safety, and improve

mass transit capacities in periods of high 

ridership. More than 40 centers are currently

in use, with additional centers in development across the country. 

Compatible computer communication protocols are essential to ITS approaches. FHWA 

is cooperating with other administrations of

the U.S. DOT, as well as state, local, and

industry officials, to ensure that computer

programs can talk to each other, and to 

provide significant training, guidance, and

technical assistance.

Transportation Management

Centers use real-time data to

manage the day-to-day

demands of regional traffic.

1755.  In 1995 alone, Americans took 1 billion long-distance trips that covered 827 billion miles.  The nation’s 250 million citizens own 216 million
ITS Architecture

Computer programs at the heart of ITS must

be able to communicate with each other or

the value of ITS to traffic operations and 

safety will be undercut. FHWA is cooperating

with other administrations of the U.S. DOT, 

as well as state, local, and industry officials

to develop regional architectures that ensure

computer programs can talk to each other. 

As each area of the country develops its first

ITS application, we will help it create a

regional architecture within four years. The

architecture will be used on all future ITS

applications. The FHWA will cooperate with

the U.S. DOT to provide training, guidance,

and technical assistance.

Clearing Crash Scenes Faster

Commuters often wait for hours at crash

scenes while investigators gather information

and take exhaustive measurements. On

December 3, 2000, a fatal six-vehicle collision

on a Chattanooga bridge produced just such

a monumental delay. But this investigation

was different, taking an innovative approach

to analyzing crashes. Working with an 

FHWA grant to the Tennessee Department 

of Transportation and Chattanooga police,

crash scene investigators used the December

3 collision as a field test of photogrammetry

software designed to expedite their work.

Photogrammetry measures 2D or 3D objects

from photographs or from photo or video

data files. It aids mapmakers, architects, 

civil engineers, and plastic surgeons. 

The photogrammetry investigation in

Chattanooga (using photographs of the

scene and one measurement for scale) was

completed in less than an hour; the conventional investigation that was also performed

that day took three hours. The use of 

photogrammetry at crash scenes in Oregon,

California, Utah, Arizona, and Washington is

alleviating congestion while also reducing the

risk of secondary collisions resulting from

traffic snarled by a crash scene investigation.

Enhanced Transportation Planning

ISTEA and TEA-21 have enabled FHWA

to facilitate best practices in planning

among state DOTS and metropolitan

planning organizations. For example,

FHWA and the Florida Division

worked with the Florida Department

of Transportation to develop the

Environmental Transportation

Decision-Making (ETDM) process.

With active support from FHWA and

the Transportation Research Board

(TRB), six states have begun sponsoring their own Safety Conscious

Planning Forums, bringing together

members of the planning, safety, 

and motor carrier enforcement community. The Maryland Forum created

the state’s first intermodal action 

plan to incorporate safety into the

planning program and improve

access to crash data. 

Consistent with TEA-21’s emphasis on

system management and operations

as a key planning principle, FHWA

sponsored workshops and seminars

highlighting the need for stronger

links between transportation planning

and operations. An excellent 

response can be seen in the San

Francisco Metropolitan Transportation

Commission’s draft 2001 regional

transportation plan, which stresses

addressing congestion through better

management, improved maintenance,

and more efficient operation of the

existing system.

Among the educational tools that FHWA has

produced is a videotape that shows how

Advanced Traveler Information Systems (ATIS)

can improve mobility in urban areas. The tape

depicts the advantages of ATIS in providing a

wide array of new choices to drivers on the

highway. These choices involve time savings,

route changes, and alternative modes of travel.

Although these systems won’t eliminate congestion, they can give motorists more control of

their daily lives.

19

vehicles.  America’s Byways include 72 nationally designated All-American Roads and National Scenic Byways.  Americans spend $424 billion
20

Reaching Out and Listening

to Transportation System Users

What good is the greatest and most complex highway transportation system in the world

if it doesn’t meet the needs of the people who use it? FHWA’s public awareness and 

education campaigns foster citizen involvement and interaction in making the system 

work as effectively as possible. One example is A Citizen’s Guide to Transportation

Decisionmaking, a booklet created by FHWA and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA)

to promote understanding of highway management and the transportation project process,

ensuring that citizens can be involved in the transportation decisions that affect their lives.

Through surveys and other initiatives, we

also conduct an ongoing dialogue with

the American public to help us set 

goals and determine future areas of

focus. We have met with more than 

100 groups of Native Americans in the

past year alone to discuss transportation

issues in and around their lands. We are

as near as the telephone in every state,

and available on the Web. In challenging

situations, we also use our imaginations,

as in Alaska where we partnered with the state department of transportation to collect 

user feedback from rural areas via a call-in radio program. Whatever it takes, we want 

the voice of America’s travelers to be heard.

INTERACTIONS

The safety of pedestrians and bicyclists on the nation’s roadways is a

continuing concern of transportation

officials around the country. In 2000,

4,739 pedestrians and 690 bicyclists

lost their lives. These totals fell from 

1999 numbers (4,939 pedestrians and

754 bicyclists), but we must do more

to make walking and bicycling safer. 

To increase public awareness, the

FHWA has worked with its partners to

create safety tools for use at the

local, state, and national levels. 

These include a Pedestrian and

Bicycle Safety Resource set, a pedestrian and bicycle crash analysis tool,

and Safer Journey, an award-winning

interactive pedestrian safety awareness CD-ROM. FHWA has developed 

a National Bicyclist Safety Education

Curriculum for all ages and levels 

of cyclists.

To celebrate the opening of Arizona’s Loop 101 

(Pima Freeway), the Phoenix community gathered 

for dedication festivities on the new road.

on travel away from home within the United States, and this spending generates additional indirect induced sales of $565.3 billion.  The German a
Ensuring Civil Rights in

Transportation

FHWA, like all federal agencies, is

committed to reaching out to traditionally underserved populations 

by identifying and addressing the

effects of our programs, policies, and 

activities on minority and low-income

populations, and by getting people

involved in developing transportation

projects that fit harmoniously within

their communities without sacrificing

safety or mobility. In 2000 and 2001,

FHWA and FTA staff conducted more

than 50 workshops (one in each

state, the District of Columbia and

Puerto Rico) on the needs of underserved populations. 

The three principles we strive to 

meet are:

1. Avoid, minimize, or mitigate 

disproportionately high and

adverse human health and 

environmental effects.

2. Ensure full and fair participation 

by all potentially affected communities in the transportation

decisionmaking process.

3. Prevent the denial of, reduction 

in, or significant delay in the

receipt of benefits by minority 

and low-income populations.

FHWA on

the Web

Every month,

Internet users log in

for more than 283,000

sessions at the FHWA

website. Among the site’s

many features is the Expertise Locator, which

connects FHWA workers and customers with

experts among the staff who can provide

solutions to travel-related problems. To help

motorists plan their trips around the country,

the National Traffic and Road Closure page

provides links to state transportation departments and other sources of reports on

construction zones or other activities that

can affect travel routes. 

Another innovative destination is Re: NEPA,

an online public forum for the exchange 

of knowledge, information, ideas, and best

practices concerning FHWA’s implementation

of the National Environmental Policy Act

(NEPA) and related environmental issues.

More than 700 people representing industry

and governments, as well as private citizens,

are using eDialogue, an online national forum

to improve highway operations. Part of the

National Dialogue on Operations, its aim 

is to help transportation professionals

exchange ideas that lead to increased 

mobility, productivity, and safety.

Web links mentioned above include:

• Expertise Locator

http://highwayexpertise.fhwa.dot.gov

• National Traffic and Road Closure

http://wwwcf.fhwa.dot.gov/trafficinfo

• Re: NEPA

http://nepa.fhwa.dot.gov

• National Dialogue on Operations

http://www.nawgits.com/opdialog

Educational Programs

FHWA provides highway users with

educational programs through partnerships at the federal, state, and

local levels. One example is Keeping

the Noise Down, a plain language 

citizens’ guide developed in 2001, that

addresses highway traffic noise, how noise

barriers and other mitigation measures work,

and how officials decide where to put them.

We also provide workshops, as well as

printed, CD-ROM-based, and online information on all aspects of transportation safety

and awareness.

Education has been a big factor in pursuing

safer work zones. FHWA worked with more

than a dozen organizations to create National

Work Zone Awareness Week, and promoted

the concept of smart work zones, featuring

traffic detection cameras and a series of

changeable message signs in and around

work zone areas. Another effort, the Work

Zone Mobility and Safety Program, included

strategic analysis tools and models for 

transportation professionals. We also 

co-sponsored the Work Zone Safety

Information Clearinghouse on the Web, providing information and technical assistance

about safe and effective work-zone operation.

As part of the 2001 National Work Zone

Awareness Week, 868 orange traffic cones stood

on the grounds of the Washington Monument as

testimony to the workers and travelers killed in

1999 work zone crashes. Other safety-related

observances include National Stop on Red Week,

Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day, and

International Walk to School Day.

21

obahn network was a model for the U.S. Interstate highway system.  The first segment of the autobahn opened for traffic in May 1935.  Many
22

U.S. officials visited Germany to see the autobahn before World War II.  During World War II, General Dwight D. Eisenhower learned firsthand how

TECHNOLOGIES

Developing and Using Technology 

for Tomorrow’s Transportation Systems

FHWA places a very high value on new technologies, materials, and innovations to

improve the nation’s roadways. Applications of advanced technology to the nation’s highways are yielding impressive returns in safety, mobility, productivity, and environmental

quality due to our efforts. FHWA invests strategically in research and technology to

improve the transportation system.

Our approach emphasizes partnership with a broad range of organizations, including 

other departments of transportation (DOTs) and federal agencies; state, local, and county 

governments; and international organizations. We are continually

reassessing our highway transportation vision and research niche to

better integrate our efforts with others in the field. The goal: to

identify, develop, and accelerate the transformation of new ideas

into better transportation systems, processes, and services.

In one such partnership, FHWA works closely with the

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 

in a continuing effort to share knowledge and support

research collaboration. Recent joint efforts have included

technical symposia, software for alternate bridge construction 

materials, and highway construction materials testing.

PONTIS 2000, a Windows®-based

bridge management software tool

developed by FHWA, analyzes 

cost and condition data of bridge

components for long-term preservation and improvement.
23

Germany’s autobahn enhanced that country’s troop mobility. After the war, President Eisenhower put these lessons to use by crea ting the U.S.

Tomorrow’s Road Surfaces

Pavement condition affects wear and tear 

on vehicles, fuel consumption, travel time,

congestion, comfort, and traffic safety.

FHWA’s focus on pavement smoothness and

durability is ongoing. This focus is yielding a

new generation of pavements that will serve

the nation for decades to come. For example:

• In 2001 the FHWA Pavement Smoothness

Initiative put in place specifications for

construction in 15 states and worked to

improve construction techniques for

asphalt and concrete pavements. New

equipment helps contractors spot qualitycontrol problems and take corrective

action hours after paving is put in place.

FHWA is working with several groups to

make this equipment more available.

• FHWA aggressively promotes best 

practices for constructing smooth 

pavements. The new Superior Performing

Asphalt Pavements Systems, or 

SUPERPAVE, is a mixture-and-designanalysis system that yields more durable

and longer-lasting asphalt pavements.

HIPERPAV, a Windows®-based computer

program, guides the design and construction of concrete pavement, enabling

engineers to predict and thereby prevent

uncontrolled cracking during the construction phase, hours after a surface has 

been placed. These two systems helped

40 states achieve their pavement smoothness targets for FY 2000.

• The Concrete Pavement Technology

Program is a five-year effort to research

improved methods of using concrete

pavement in the construction, reconstruction, and repair of federal-aid highways.

FHWA and the Innovative Pavement

Research Foundation are administering 

the program with other partners, 

including state highway agencies and 

the Transportation Research Board.

Transportation Pooled 

Fund Program

The Transportation Pooled Fund

Program is a partnership by federal

and state officials, as well as private

organizations and academia, in areas

of mutual interest. It enables joint

funding of research, planning, and

technology innovation activities by

government, academia, foundations,

and private industry. FHWA contributes directly to some pooled fund

studies. We also encourage states to

pool their funds to address problems

of regional or national interest.

One such Pooled Fund program, the

Infrastructure Consortium, represents

the interests of state and local highway transportation infrastructure

providers in the development and

deployment of advanced highway

safety technologies. The Consortium

is expected to:

• sponsor and support innovative

research in cooperative Intelligent

Vehicle Initiative (IVI) services, 

• represent the interests of all state

and local governments, and

• promote the deployment of costeffective, cooperative IVI services.
24

precipitation, dew points, wind speed and

direction, relative humidity, barometric pressure, road pavement temperature, road

freeze points, and snow depth at any point

on a highway. In the future FORETELL will

serve summer highway maintenance crews

plus railroad, aeronautical, and waterways

needs. It will also assist farmers, emergency

management agencies, flood control districts,

and others. FORETELL is being developed by

a partnership that includes FHWA’s Office of

Transportation Operations, Canadian agencies, and private entities and is currently

being field tested with the cooperation of

state DOTs in Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin.

Safer Roads Through 

Better Design

Road safety evaluation software called the

Interactive Highway Safety Design Model

(IHSDM) marshals available knowledge about

safety into a more useful form for highway

planners and designers. IHSDM modules 

estimate the number and severity of crashes

on specified roadway segments, evaluate the

operating speed consistency along roadways,

estimate drivers’ speed and path choice

along roadways, evaluate the safety impact

of intersection design alternatives, run automated checks of compliance with highway

design policies, and estimate the operational

effects of road designs under current and

projected traffic flows. FHWA has been

developing IHSDM with an initial focus on

two-lane rural roadways. Beta testing of

IHSDM modules is in progress, with public

release scheduled for late 2002. Preliminary

plans call for a multi-lane version in 2006.

IHSDM is one of the most significant programs currently in progress within FHWA 

that concerns the safety and mobility of the

nation’s traveling public.

The Power of Information

FHWA’s Intelligent Transportation Systems

(ITS) program promotes the application of

information and communications technologies

that are changing the face of transportation.

Tomorrow’s highways will be safer and more

efficient, thanks to ITS innovations. The intermodal freight industry is also being transformed. Real-time information provided via

tracking and communication systems enables

integrated freight operations across the 

supply chain. It can help optimize the 

operational efficiency of highway and rail

access to the nation’s ports and terminals,

enhancing safety and productivity in an environment of growth and increasing congestion.

One ITS initiative—FORETELL—will 

promote a single point of access for

advanced weather system predictions, 

seamlessly networked across the continent. 

A primary goal is to reduce winter-related

road deaths by at least 15 percent. FORETELL

maps will show current and forecasted 

Interstate System.  President Franklin D. Roosevelt suggested in 1939 that the United States build a system of direct interregional highways.  M

Finite element analysis (FEA) is a computer-aided technique for “virtual” testing of structures. With FEA,

roadside hardware can be tested repeatedly against

large impacting forces to the point of failure, yielding

in-depth data at a minimal cost per “crash.” In contrast,

crashing real vehicles into the same hardware costs in

excess of $25,000 per crash and doesn’t always yield 

definitive results. Researchers from FHWA, the National

Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and George

Washington University are working together to develop

tools and techniques for crashworthiness research.
25

souri, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania have all claimed the distinction of developing the first Interstate roadway.  The Pennsylvania turnpike, opened

Ensuring Better Bridges

The nation’s highways include 575,000

bridges of all types, from the majestic

Golden Gate Bridge to the common overpass. Some are so striking they inspire

poetry, while most simply do their jobs 

day in and day out. Each, however, is a 

vital link in the highway network. FHWA has

a long history of working with its partners 

to improve bridge construction, maintenance,

technology, and safety. 

Turning Failure into Success

Early one cold December morning in 2000, 

a couple crossed the northbound span of

Milwaukee’s Daniel Webster Hoan Bridge 

(I-794) and watched in alarm as the bridge

began to buckle and crack. They dialed 911 

to report that the bridge seemed to be

falling. A Milwaukee County sheriff’s deputy

rushed to the scene and verified that two of

the steel beams supporting the bridge had

cracked. Officials then closed the bridge,

averting a potential catastrophe. After the

structure was declared unstable, a controlled

demolition collapsed the failed 130-foot section. According to a detailed forensic analysis

by the FHWA lab, the Wisconsin Department

of Transportation (WisDOT), Lehigh and

Northwestern Universities, and a private consulting engineering firm, the bridge failure

began in a joint on the center girder of the

northbound section. The stresses of extreme

cold and traffic contributed to that failure.

Research results from the failed Hoan Bridge

span are now being communicated by FHWA

to state DOTs so they can check similar

bridges to prevent failures. A two-day 

workshop that shared this information was

held in September 2001 with more than 100

transportation officials from all over the

United States. Through its partnership with

FHWA, WisDOT reconstructed the missing

span and reopened the bridge to traffic in

October 2001.

Earthquake-Resistant Bridges

Seismic isolation technologies, applied on

new and existing bridges, can be instrumental in saving lives during earthquakes. In the

seismic isolation approach, special bearings

actually isolate the bridge superstructure

from the movement of the ground. Bearings

are placed below the bridge superstructure

and above piers or abutments, adding flexibility to the bridge. About 90 U.S. bridges

have now been retrofitted with seismic isolation systems, which were developed by

FHWA, the California Department of

Transportation, and the Highway Innovative

Evaluation Center. This technology is now

being applied to the Golden Gate Bridge for

maximum protection if an earthquake of up

to 8.3 in magnitude occurs.

Fighting Scour

The Indian River Inlet Bridge in Delaware

Seashore State Park serves as a major route

for travelers. The inlet bridge piers have

experienced some of the most severe erosion

from rushing water, which is known as scour,

on record. Although this erosional process

does not immediately threaten the stability

of the two Indian River Inlet Bridge foundations and the safety and mobility of the

region, there are still some concerns that

scour in the inlet has not stabilized. While

the bridge was protected with large stone

armoring in the late 1980s, deeper scour

holes have developed near the bridge.

Recently, FHWA conducted an expert scour

workshop focusing on this bridge. The 

workshop, involving about 30 professionals

from government agencies and private firms,

addressed the current and future stability 

of the bridge and related water issues. It 

also helped to clarify agency responsibilities

in future efforts to deal with scour and

bridge stability.

The Golden Gate Bridge is among the 90 U.S. bridges being retrofitted with seismic isolation systems.
26

Training and Developing the

Transportation Community

The most important transportation assets are not made of concrete or steel. They are the

professionals who build, operate, and maintain roads and bridges at the federal, state, 

and local levels, as well as in the private sector and academia. To help develop these 

professionals, FHWA offers expert consultation

and a wide range of courses in all aspects 

of highway planning, design, construction,

operation, and maintenance. Approximately

15,000 individuals, roughly two-thirds from

state departments of transportation (DOTs),

attended more than 500 training courses 

in 2000.

FHWA also delivers hands-on technology and training through the Local Technical

Assistance Program (LTAP), serving transportation providers in some 38,000 local agencies

and tribal governments. A national network of 56 technology transfer centers housed 

at universities, LTAP makes available a variety of tools for improving transportation 

operations. The centers provide more than 5,000 training events to 135,000 participants 

per year. Federal and tribal government employees also receive training in new 

technology from Federal Lands Highway division offices.

in 1940, was the first limited-access interstate-type highway in the U.S.  With one exception, the Interstate System is owned and operated by the

PROFESSIONALS

FHWA employees have worked for several

years in partnership with Associated

General Contractors, the California

Department of Transportation, and

Operating Engineers Local 3 in a program

to educate area high school students

about highway construction careers. FHWA and other federal officials join

Transportation Secretary Mineta to celebrate 

the opening of Utah’s I-15 reconstruction project.
On the Road to Africa

Internationally, FHWA shares U.S.

transportation technology and 

practices through train-the-trainer

courses. For example, at a transportation technology transfer

conference in Arusha, Tanzania, in

May 2001, a train-the-trainer course

on work zone traffic control and an

instructor development course were

offered to delegates from Malawi,

Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. The newly

certified master trainers will train

their colleagues throughout subSaharan countries.

27

The Future Workforce

Recent studies show that a significant 

percentage of federal, state, and local transportation workforces will be eligible to retire

in the next 10 years. Studies also show that

the transportation workforce is declining due

to losses to other industries, public desire to

streamline agencies such as state DOTs, and

declining recruitment of students for transportation careers. FHWA is cooperating 

with the American Association of State

Highway and Transportation Officials, the

Transportation Research Board, and others 

to define and implement national workforce

strategies. Major efforts under way or

planned include a transportation-workforceneeds study, an international scan on

workforce development and training, and a

scan of training and development practices

within state DOTs.

FHWA’s commitment to its workforce begins

even before employment with outreach activities, such as the Dwight David Eisenhower

Transportation Fellowship Program (TFP),

designed to attract people with diverse skills

and talents to careers in transportation.

Administered by the FHWA’s Universities and

Grants Programs, TFP taps into a network of

more than 800 colleges and universities to

award about 100 fellowships per year. By

2003, $24 million will have been awarded to

prospective transportation professionals.

FHWA is committed to increase funding and

opportunities for the professional development and training of its current workforce.

Employee training investments reached

approximately 3.5 percent of the agency’s

payroll in fiscal year 2001, exceeding the target of 3 percent established earlier. FHWA

training and development topics include

roadway and bridge design, construction,

operations, and maintenance; value engineering and other project and program

evaluation tools; policy and planning; highway safety; intelligent transportation

systems; environmental protection and

enhancement; innovative financing; land

acquisition; relocation assistance; and

research, development, and technology

transfer. In addition, FHWA maintains strong

alliances with the American Society of Civil

Engineers (ASCE) and the National Society of

Professional Engineers (NSPE) to help transportation professionals and students develop

new skills and build upon their experience.

The FHWA’s professional development 

program for new employees is a 24-month

program consisting of on-the-job training,

developmental assignments, and a professional academy. The program is flexible,

structured to meet needs in all disciplines

and pay grade levels, including mid-career

employees who come into the agency at

grades above the entry level.

tates.  The Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge, which carries the Capital Beltway (I-95/I-495) across the Potomac River, is the only segmen t of
28

Always Seeking to Move Ahead 

In projects and initiatives found in all states and territories, FHWA strives to protect and

enhance our highway transportation system performance and, in so doing, make the experience of the traveler better. Sometimes that means providing funds for the reconstruction

of an interchange. Or deploying state-of-the-art traffic signals. Other times, it means

widening a rural road or developing an urban bike trail.

Our past investment in the National Highway System, including the development of the

interstate network, was a significant factor in the nation’s growth and prosperity during the

last 50 years. We have achieved the goal President Eisenhower stated to Congress in 1955

of unifying America through “individual and commercial movement over a vast system of

interconnected highways crisscrossing the country.”

Today, we must continue to invest in America’s highways in order to achieve our national

goals. A significant investment backlog for improvements now exists, based on a recent

assessment of the highway transportation system. But funding is only part of the story.

The other part is people working together to serve the nation. These people can be found

in the state departments of transportation, in other public sector organizations, in business

and industry, in the military, in groups of concerned citizens, and in academic institutions

around the country. They’re all FHWA’s partners in an ongoing effort to improve the

nation’s transportation system.

We at the FHWA are proud of our accomplishments, and honored to be entrusted with 

the task of preserving, enhancing, and improving the operation of our vital transportation

system. In the future we will continue to focus on excelling at our unique national roles

and demonstrating our value to the American people.

CLOSING

Working for America

“Transportation that is

responsive to the citizens and

businesses we serve is vitally

important to the quality of

life of every American.

Our transportation system

can meet these needs by:

•Ensuring the safety of 

travelers on our roads—

94 percent of all transportation fatalities occur 

on highways.

•Maintaining the mobility

and productivity of citizens

and freight that is crucial

to our nation’s economic

health.

•Protecting national security

by providing efficient 

mobilization of military

forces and deployment of

disaster response teams in

time of emergency.”

Mary E. Peters

Federal Highway Administrator

Washington, D.C.

October 2001

the Interstate System owned by the FHWA.  Its replacement, now under construction, will be owned by Maryland and Virginia. 
29

How we’ve done: While fatalities increased 

in all crashes from 41,727 in 1999 to 41,821 

in 2000, the rate of fatalities, a measure we 

use for comparison as travel levels change,

remains at a historic low. Also, trends in 

fatalities declined among passenger vehicle

occupants by 0.7% and among pedestrians,

bicyclists, and other nonoccupants of vehicles

by 4.6%.

Program highlights: Previous research shows

that, by buckling up, a driver or a passenger

reduces his or her risk of dying in a crash 

by almost half. In FY 2001, FHWA provided

$47.4 million in section 157 grants to 36 states,

plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico,

to fund and encourage innovative approaches

to increasing seat belt use.

Safety

Safety on our nation’s highways is a top 

priority in all FHWA programs and activities. 

As illustrated below, more than 41,000 people

are killed in traffic crashes on U.S. roads every

year, with an estimated 3.2 million injured. 

We are committed to reducing these numbers,

even though vehicle travel is expected to continue to increase and the number of high-risk

drivers will grow at a faster rate than overall

population growth. We pursue this goal by

focusing on preventing the following types of

crashes that occur most frequently: run-offroad, speed-related, intersection-related, and 

pedestrian crashes.

Measuring Our Performance

Now you know more about what we do. Working with the states and our partners, FHWA strives 

to improve the safety, mobility, and productivity of the traveling public. We seek to maintain and

enhance our human and natural environment, ensure national security, and create excellence in our

organization. For each of these goals, we have established a set of measures that allows us to

determine our progress annually. Following are highlights of our performance for fiscal years 

(FY) 2000 and 2001.
real-time (24 hours, 7 days a week) management of the system can 

substantially improve reliability and users’ ability to plan for just-in-time

delivery and arrival of people and goods. As the ITS network continues 

to be implemented, information on transportation reliability will become

more readily available to the public. 

How we’ve done: Data for NHS pavement condition, adjusted for vehicle

miles traveled, showed that 90.9% of the pavements had acceptable ride

quality in 2000. National Bridge Inventory data show that we exceeded

our 2000 target of 22.5%, as the percentage of deficient NHS bridges 

was only 21.5%.

A comprehensive Traveler Perception Survey was conducted in FY 2000

and key baseline data was collected in FY 2001. Of those surveyed, 65%

are satisfied with the major highways they travel most often, up 15%

since FY 1995; dissatisfaction increased by 6%. Heavy traffic is perceived

by 53% to be the most important reason for travel delay. About 20% of

the respondents indicated that traffic affected their decisions about where

and when to work, and 30% stated that it affected their decision about

where they live.

Program highlights: By FY 2001, SUPERPAVE-designed pavements were

employed in all states. The asphalt binder technology was fully implemented by 47 states, and the mixture and volumetric procedures were

used in 25 states. In FY 2001, FHWA provided $3.5 billion in funding 

for approximately 3,000 bridge projects through the Highway Bridge

Replacement and Rehabilitation Program. Included in this program were 

17 major replacement or rehabilitation projects and three seismic retrofit

discretionary bridge projects that received almost $88 million in funding.

30

Mobility

Mobility involves connecting more people and vehicles in less time with

their work, school, community services, marketplaces, and each other. It

also means using our highways to ensure connection between air, transit,

rail, and port facilities and terminals. We can enhance mobility by continuing to upgrade the condition of our highways, particularly the National

Highway System (NHS), in order to offset the aging of the infrastructure.

Indicators for our mobility goal focus on pavement smoothness, bridge

condition, and traffic flow. As illustrated in the figure below, pavement

condition has steadily improved since 1995. In 2000, 90.9% of travel on

the NHS occurred on pavements rated acceptable or better. Working with

the states and our partners, we set a target for 2002 at 92.5%. We also

want to increase the amount of travel on pavements rated good or 

better. States continue to reduce the number of bridges rated structurally

deficient, reducing the associated bridge deck area at risk, from 31.9% in

1999 to 30.8% in 2000. We have developed adjusted targets to address

bridge deficiencies based on daily traffic volume.

We can also optimize traffic flow and enhance transit operations by introducing Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) technologies and operating

practices such as signal retiming, incident management techniques, and

work zone improvements. Although congestion may never be eliminated,
31

Program highlights: FHWA assisted with the deployment of Intelligent

Transportation Systems (ITS) infrastructure in the top 78 metropolitan

areas. As illustrated below, 52 of the top 78 metropolitan areas 

are at the medium or high level of integrated deployment. Area-specific

service plan activities are being implemented in 58 of the 78 largest

metro areas with targeted service plan funding provided between FY 1999

and FY 2001. In addition, broader service plan activities are being implemented in many of the top-78 metro areas, and non-top-78 metro areas,

with non-targeted service plan and statewide/multi-state service plan

funding provided between FY 1999 and FY 2001.

Significant processing delays occured at ports of entry and an increasing

volume of traffic led to significant congestion at land-based border crossings. In FY 2001, FHWA and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety

Administration (FMCSA) formed the North American Strategy Team

(NAST) to address the emerging issues and concerns at our Northern 

and Southern borders. Under the auspices of the Border Station

Partnership Council made up of the U.S. Customs, the U.S. Immigration

and Naturalization Service, and the General Services Administration, NAST

has initiated the development of Border Wizard Pro software to better

predict and manage traffic flow at border crossings. FHWA has 

also developed a freight analysis framework tool to identify emerging

bottlenecks in the nation’s freight transportation system.

Productivity

Highways are increasingly congested, a situation that constricts our

nation’s productivity. In FY 1999, the nation lost an estimated $72 billion

in wasted time and fuel consumption. Traffic congestion has grown, in

part, because vehicle travel increased by 72% between FY 1980 and 

FY 1998, while roadway capacity grew only 0.3% per year in the past

decade. About 70% of all freight is transported over our highways, which

serve as connectors with water, rail, and air facilities. The United States

has the world’s best long-distance highway network, but capacity problems are on the increase, especially in urban areas. With operating costs

for long-haul vehicle operations averaging $40 to $60 per hour, disruptions can be costly to carriers, shippers, and the consumer. 

FHWA is committed to slowing the increase in traffic congestion, even 

as the volume of vehicle travel is expected to continue to increase. In 

FY 2001, three new measures were developed that will reflect changing

travel conditions more comprehensively in urban areas across the country

where congestion regularly occurs. The three measures are total congested travel (which includes congestion due to incidents and work zones),

expanded peak period (rush hour), and the average number of hours that

drivers spend stuck in traffic each year. We seek to limit the increase in

congested travel to 0.2% annually (targeted at 33.7% in FY 2002); limit the

increase in peak period travel time to 0.4% annually (targeted at 27.2% 

in FY 2002); and limit the increase in average number of hours per year

that drivers are delayed in traffic by 30 minutes annually (targeted at 

34 hours in FY 2002). In addition, to address border-crossing delays, we

monitor the hours of delay at National Highway System border crossings. 

How we’ve done: In FY 1999, percent of congested travel was 32.6%, 

peak period travel time was 25.5%, and average annual hours of delay

was 31.9%. The results for FY 2000-01 are currently being developed.

Delay measurements were made at 3 border crossings in FY 2000. At

Laredo, Texas southbound delays averaged 1.3 minutes and northbound

delays averaged 11 minutes per trip. At Otay Mesa, California southbound

delays averaged 55 minutes and northbound delays averaged 80 minutes

per trip. At Calais, Maine southbound delays averaged 6 minutes and

northbound delays averaged 4 minutes per trip. In FY 2002, we expect 

to measure performance at 5-6 additional border crossings in order to

establish a performance baseline.
32

In 2000, 100% of high-particulate matter areas, 98% of high-ozone areas,

and 96% of high-carbon monoxide areas met their goals toward reducing

on-road emissions. As a nation, we have exceeded our annual targeted

emission reductions in every year since 1996, making progress toward 

the ultimate goal of a 20% reduction by 2008. As illustrated in the figure

below, nearly four times as many wetland acres were gained in 2000 than

were lost due to federal-aid highway projects. Thanks to innovative mitigation strategies, this success ratio goes well beyond the performance

goal of 1.5 to 1.

Program highlights: In FY 2000, FHWA awarded 84 grants totaling 

more than $31 million for Transportation and Community and System

Preservation (TCSP) pilot programs. TCSP grants respond to a pressing

need to leverage resources to make communities more livable by 

preserving green space, easing traffic congestion, and employing smart

growth strategies. For example, Charlottesville, Virginia, residents can

now click on a land-use-and-transportation computer model website and

review several scenarios of how the region might look in the future.

Human and Natural Environment

Transportation profoundly affects where we live and how we get to jobs,

services, shopping, and recreation. It is vital for supporting welfare-towork, mobility for people with low incomes, and accessibility for people

with disabilities. We are committed to considering the effects of our 

programs and projects on minority or low-income populations. 

We must also ensure that projects do not adversely impact the natural

environment. Working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, one

of our goals is to reduce on-road mobile source emissions to 61.1 million

tons in 2002. When impacts may be unavoidable, as in the case of some

wetland losses, we seek to minimize the impacts. One goal is to replace

at least an average of 1.5 acres of wetlands for every acre directly

impacted by federal-aid highway projects. 

How we’ve done: We seek to increase the level of public satisfaction with

highway systems and projects based on community priorities. A national

omnibus telephone survey conducted in FY 2000 revealed that 56% of 

the public were either satisfied or very satisfied with the transportation 

system and transportation options in their communities. However, most

people also said that transportation could be improved to better meet 

the needs of their local communities. 
National Security

Because our nation’s highways link U.S.military bases with rail, seaports,

and airports, the National Highway System (NHS) serves as a key component in national defense mobility. When the federal government must

respond to a threat around the world or a natural disaster at home, our

highways must be ready to support this effort. Working with the U.S.

Department of Defense (DoD) and states, we are committed to ensuring

defense mobilization by improving the condition of the Strategic Highway

Network (STRAHNET) and its connectors. FHWA coordinates emergency

preparedness meetings with military and state officials to address the

many issues associated with military deployment coordination during

national security emergencies. FHWA also coordinates with the Federal

Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Office of Emergency

Transportation in the planning and implementation of the hurricane 

evacuation liaison program, in order to provide traffic information during

major evacuations. 

How we’ve done: The condition of STRAHNET routes surpassed that 

of the overall NHS. Pavement smoothness was much better than NHS 

levels in 2000, with 96.3% of mileage rated acceptable or better. Bridge

deficiencies were identical to NHS levels at 21.5%. The condition of

bridges with 16 or more feet of clearance showed steady improvement.

The percent acceptable increased from 67% in 1994 to 70.8% in 2000.

Program highlights: Without commercial airline service in the wake of the

September 11th terrorist hijackings, surface transportation proved to be

an important alternative for civilian and military use. The DoD’s Military

Traffic Management Command faced the challenge of moving a backlog

of recruits to basic training sites in Illinois, South Carolina, and Texas.

Commercial bus carriers and Amtrak offered their services to move more

than 7,000 recruits using the highway and rail transportation system. In 

addition, FHWA took the lead in key states by inviting all the involved

agencies such as the state departments of transportation, state police,

and others to coordinate with the military base personnel to develop

plans and procedures to ensure prompt and efficient military movements.

Organizational Excellence

We are committed to listening to customers and partners, learning from

them, and using their feedback in order to meet their wants and needs.

We are also committed to increasing employee job satisfaction, streamlining our recruitment and hiring process, and improving the delivery 

of programs.

How we’ve done: When state DOT district engineers were asked in 

FY 2000 to rate their satisfaction with various dimensions of FHWA’s 

customer service, we scored near the government-wide average using 

the American Customer Satisfaction Index survey. This survey establishes

a baseline against which future improvement efforts will be measured. 

Program highlights: The FY 2000 Federal Lands Highway (FLH) Program

Administration Survey determines whether FHWA is meeting the needs 

of the partners and division offices with whom we work. The satisfaction

score for field division offices is 64.8, with 72.9 for program strategy and

71.2 for program support. FLH will target the funds allocation number for

its field division offices, 54.5, as reflective of an area that needs improvement. The overall FY 2000 satisfaction score for FLH partner agencies is a

high 77.9, and an exceptionally high 81.1 for program support.

How We Achieve Results–Our Corporate Management Strategy

At FHWA, we continue to reorganize our work and improve the design of our organization to better achieve our strategic

goals. We use the President’s Quality Award Criteria for Performance Excellence to guide this improvement effort and 

periodically assess our own performance. Our Corporate Management Strategy reflects these criteria. FHWA leadership

demonstrates our values and sets our vision, mission, and goals. Through strategic planning, customer focus, and the

analysis of information, we create our objectives, measures, and plans. We manage our processes and human resources

to implement the plans, and we measure results to gauge our progress annually.

33
Where Highway Monies Comes From

In FY 2000, the revenues to the Highway Account of the Federal Highway

Trust Fund totaled $31.504 billion. Approximately 85% of the revenues

resulted from taxes on gasoline, diesel, and other motor fuels. A portion

of the Highway Trust Fund revenue accrues to the Mass Transit account,

which is used to finance federal transit programs.

How Much Money Is Available

TEA-21, ISTEA, and prior highway authorization acts provide for the

apportionment and allocation of Highway Account revenues to the states

acting as contract authorities, less the allowance for administration of the

program and metropolitan transportation planning activities. The use of

contract authority gives the states advance notice of the size of the

Federal-aid Highway program as soon as an authorization is enacted. 

The total amount of funds obligated for federal highway-related activities

increased from $12.819 billion in FY 1987 to $29.596 billion in FY 2000.

Financial Highlights

The Federal Highway Trust Fund is the main source of funding for federal-aid highway and transit

programs. The funds are generated from excise taxes on gasoline, diesel, and other motor fuels, as

well as excise taxes related to the sale and use of commercial trucks. The Federal Highway Trust

Fund has two accounts: Highways and Mass Transit. Programs and activities of FHWA are supported

from Highway Account revenues.

34
Where Federal Aid Monies Go

FHWA enters into project agreements with states, in advance of appropriations that

provide for cash reimbursement. When federal funds are obligated to approved 

and agreed-to projects, the federal government is committed to pay a state for the

federal share of the cost, which is reimbursed to a state after the costs are incurred.

Approximately 56% of federal funds were set aside to pay for projects in the

Surface Transportation Program, the National Highway System, and Interstate

Maintenance programs in FY 2000.

How Highway Monies Are Used 

Federal funds are used for a variety of highway improvement purposes, depending on the

priority needs and goals in each state. Projects and activities that support the achievement

of national goals are given full consideration. In FY 2000, approximately 47% of federal

funds were used for system preservation purposes including reconstruction, minor widening,

restoration and rehabilitation, and resurfacing. Over the past decade, an increasing percentage of federal funds were used for system enhancement, as opposed to building new

capacity or making improvements for system preservation.

Innovative Financing

FHWA uses several innovative methods of

project finance, beyond the traditional

pay-as-you-go grants, to reduce project

costs, expedite project completion, and

leverage additional non-federal funds for

transportation projects. 

• The Transportation Infrastructure

Finance and Innovation Act, (TIFIA),

provides federal credit assistance for

critical national highway transportation

investments such as intermodal facilities, border-crossing infrastructure,

highway trade corridors, and regional

transit or passenger rail facilities.

Current transportation improvement

projects funded through the TIFIA program include:

– Miami International Center, FL

– Farley Penn Station, NY

– Cooper River Bridge, SC

– Tren Urbano, PR

– Central Texas Turnpike, TX

– Reno Rail Corridor, NV 

• A State Infrastructure Bank (SIB) is 

a state or multi-state fund that offers

loans and credit enhancements to 

highways and transit project sponsors.

SIBs have been approved in 39 states.

• A Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle,

(GARVEE) is a transportation bond

issued by a state or local government

and repaid with federal-aid highway

funds apportioned or allocated to the

state over the life of the bond issue.

Five states have approved the use of

GARVEE bonds. 

35
3636

RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, 

AND TECHNOLOGY

(202) 493-3165

www.tfhre.gov

High-performance highway and bridge material,

human factors, traffic modeling, highway technology,

and advanced research. 

SAFETY

(202) 366-2288

safety.fhwa.dot.gov

Roadside safety, speed management, pedestrian and

bicyclist safety, intersection safety, and work zone safety.

Resource Centers

Expert technical and program assistance, training, and

technology deployment.

EASTERN

(410) 962-0093

10 S. Howard Street, Suite 4000

Baltimore, MD 21201-2819 

MIDWESTERN

(708) 283-3510

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Olympia Fields, IL 60461-1021 

SOUTHERN

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WESTERN 

(415) 744-3102

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San Francisco, CA 94105 

FHWA Division Offices

ALABAMA

(334) 223-7370

500 Eastern Boulevard, Suite 200

Montgomery, AL 36117-2018 

ALASKA

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Juneau, AK 99802-1648 

ARIZONA

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Phoenix, AZ 85004-2220

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Federal Office Building

700 W. Capitol Avenue, Room 3130

Little Rock, AR 72201-3298 

CALIFORNIA 

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CONNECTICUT

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Glastonbury, CT 06033-5007 

DELAWARE

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300 S. New Street, Suite 2101

Dover, DE 19904-6726 

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

(202) 219-3536

1990 K Street NW, Suite 510

Washington, DC 20006-1103 

FLORIDA

(850) 942-9650 Ext. 3001

227 N. Bronough Street, Suite 2015

Tallahassee, FL 32301-1330 

GEORGIA

(404) 562-3630

61 Forsyth Street SW, Suite 17T100

Atlanta, GA 30303-3104 

HAWAII

(808) 541-2700

Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Federal Building

300 Ala Moana Boulevard, Room 3-306

P.O. Box 50206

Honolulu, HI 96850-3306 

IDAHO

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ILLINOIS

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Springfield, IL 62703-4514 

Chicago

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200 West Adams, Room 2410

Chicago, IL 60606-5232

INDIANA

(317) 226-7475

575 N. Pennsylvania Street, Room 254

Indianapolis, IN 46204-1576 

IOWA

(515) 233-7300

105 Sixth Street

Ames, IA 50010-6337 

KANSAS

(785) 267-7281

3300 S. Topeka Boulevard, Suite 1

Topeka, KS 66611-2237 

KENTUCKY

(502) 223-6720

John C. Watts Federal Building

330 W. Broadway

Frankfort, KY 40601-1922 

LOUISIANA

(225) 757-7600

5304 Flanders Drive, Suite A

Baton Rouge, LA 70808-4348 

FHWA Headquarters

ADMINISTRATION

(202) 366-0604

Highway financing, Highway Trust Fund, contracts and

procurement, information technology, employment

information. 

CHIEF COUNSEL

(202) 366-0740

Legislation and regulations, and highway safety law. 

CIVIL RIGHTS

(202) 366-0693

Equal employment issues, Title VI, Disadvantaged

Business Enterprises (DBEs), ADA, Welfare-to-Work 

initiatives. 

CORPORATE MANAGEMENT

(202) 366-9393

Knowledge management, quality management, 

performance planning, program evaluation, and

performance measurement. 

FEDERAL LANDS

(202) 366-9494

www.fhwa.dot.gov/flh

Transportation in and around national forests, Indian

reservations, national parks, and other federal lands. 

INFRASTRUCTURE

(202) 366-0371

www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure

Federal-aid highway program administration, 

pavement and bridge technology, asset management,

and emergency relief.

OPERATIONS

(202) 366-0408

www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov or www.its.dot.gov

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), traffic 

operations, work zones, freight systems, traveler information, and emergency preparedness.

PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT

(202) 366-0116

www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep

Transportation planning, real estate services, air 

quality, environmental issues, scenic byways, cultural/

historic preservation and bicycle/pedestrian programs. 

POLICY

(202) 366-0585

www.fhwa.dot.gov/policy

Highway legislation, congressional relations, international relations, transportation studies, highway

statistics, and travel trends. 

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

(703) 235-0500 or (703) 235-0550

www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov

National Highway Institute—training for state, federal,

other non-federal employees and university students. 

PUBLIC AFFAIRS

(202) 366-0660

Media inquiries/interview requests, press releases, and

general information. 
37

MAINE

(207) 622-8487

Edmund S. Muskie Federal Building

40 Western Avenue, Room 614

Augusta, ME 04330-6394 

MARYLAND

(410) 962-4440

The Rotunda 

711 W. 40th Street, Suite 220

Baltimore, MD 21211-2108 

MASSACHUSETTS

(617) 494-3657

55 Broadway, 10th Floor

Cambridge, MA 02142-1093 

MICHIGAN

(517) 377-1844

Federal Building

315 W. Allegan Street, Room 207

Lansing, MI 48933-1528 

MINNESOTA

(651) 291-6100

Galtier Plaza

380 Jackson Street, Suite 500

St. Paul, MN 55101 

MISSISSIPPI

(601) 965-4215

666 North Street, Suite 105

Jackson, MS 39202-3199 

MISSOURI

(573) 636-7104

209 Adams Street

Jefferson City, MO 65101-3203 

MONTANA

(406) 449-5302

2880 Skyway Drive

Helena, MT 59602-1230 

NEBRASKA

(402) 437-5521

Federal Building

100 Centennial Mall North, Room 220

Lincoln, NE 68508-3851 

NEVADA

(775) 687-1204

705 N. Plaza Street, Suite 220

Carson City, NV 89701-0602 

NEW HAMPSHIRE

(603) 228-0417

279 Pleasant Street, Suite 204

Concord, NH 03301-7502 

NEW JERSEY

(609) 637-4200

840 Bear Tavern Road, Suite 310

West Trenton, NJ 08628-1019 

NEW MEXICO

(505) 820-2021

604 W. San Mateo Road

Santa Fe, NM 87505-3920 

NEW YORK

(518) 431-4125

Leo W. O’Brien Federal Building

Clinton Avenue and N. Pearl Street

Room 719

Albany, NY 12207 

New York City

(212) 668-2206

One Bowling Green, Room 428

New York, NY 10004-1415

NORTH CAROLINA

(919) 856-4346

310 New Bern Avenue, Suite 410

Raleigh, NC 27601-1441 

NORTH DAKOTA

(701) 250-4204

1471 Interstate Loop

Bismarck, ND 58503-0567 

OHIO

(614) 280-6896

200 N. High Street, Room 328

Columbus, OH 43215 

OKLAHOMA

(405) 605-6011

300 N. Meridian, Suite 105 S

Oklahoma City, OK 73107-6560 

OREGON

(503) 399-5749

The Equitable Center 

530 Center Street, NE., Suite 100

Salem, OR 97301-3740 

PENNSYLVANIA

(717) 221-3461

228 Walnut Street, Room 558

Harrisburg, PA 17101-1720 

Philadelphia

(215) 656-7070

1760 Market Street, Suite 903

Philadelphia, PA 19103

PUERTO RICO

(787) 766-5600

Frederico Degetau Federal Building

Carlos Chardon Street, Room 329

San Juan, PR 00918-1755 

RHODE ISLAND

(401) 528-4541

380 Westminster Mall, 5th Floor

Providence, RI 02903-3246 

SOUTH CAROLINA

(803) 765-5411

Strom Thurmond Federal Building

1835 Assembly Street, Suite 1270

Columbia, SC 29201-2483 

SOUTH DAKOTA

(605) 224-8033

The Sibley Building

116 East Dakota Avenue

Pierre, SD 57501-3110 

TENNESSEE

(615) 781-5770

640 Grassmere Park Road, Suite 112

Nashville, TN 37211-3568 

TEXAS

(512) 536-5900

Federal Office Building

300 East Eighth Street, Room 826

Austin, TX 78701-3233 

UTAH 

(801) 963-0182

2520 West 4700 South, Suite 9A

Salt Lake City, UT 84118-1847 

VERMONT

(802) 828-4423

Federal Building

87 State Street

Montpelier, VT 05602-2954

VIRGINIA

(804) 775-3320

400 N. 8th Street, Room 750

Richmond, VA 23240 

WASHINGTON

(360) 753-9480

Evergreen Plaza, Suite 501

711 S. Capitol Way

Olympia, WA 98501-1284 

WEST VIRGINIA

(304) 347-5928

700 Washington Street East

Geary Plaza, Suite 200

Charleston, WV 25301-1604 

WISCONSIN

(608) 829-7500

Highpoint Office Park

567 D’Onofrio Drive

Madison, WI 53719-2814 

WYOMING

(307) 772-2101

1916 Evans Avenue

Cheyenne, WY 82001-3764 

For a direct link to FHWA 

Resource Centers and Division Offices

www.fhwa.dot.gov/field.html#fieldsites

Federal Lands Highway

Division Offices

EASTERN

(703) 494-6201

www.efl.fhwa.dot.gov

Loudon Tech Center 

21400 Ridgetop Circle

Sterling, VA 20166-6511 

CENTRAL

(303) 716-2000

www.cflhd.gov

555 Zang Street

Lakewood, CO 80228-1010 

WESTERN

(360) 696-7700

www.wfl.fha.dot.gov

610 East Fifth Street

Vancouver, WA 98661-3801
For additional copies of the report, 

please contact:

Federal Highway Administration

Corporate Management

Room 4208

400 7th Street, SW

Washington, D.C. 20590

Telephone: (202) 366-9393

We invite you to find out more about the Federal Highway Administration.

For additional information, please contact the division office located nearest

you, one of our four resource centers, or offices in our Washington, D.C.,

headquarters. You may also visit our website at www.fhwa.dot.gov.

Publication No. FHWA-HCM-01-002