Texas Department of Transportation
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) | |
 |
|
| Type | Government agency |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1917 |
| Headquarters | Austin, Texas |
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is a governmental agency in the U.S. state of Texas. Its purpose is to "provide safe, effective and efficient movement of people and goods" throughout the state. Though the public face of the agency is generally associated with maintenance of the state's immense highway system (every mile of which is paved), the agency is also responsible for aviation in the state and overseeing public transportation systems.
Contents |
[edit] History
The Texas Legislature created the Texas Highway Department in 1917 to administer federal highway construction and maintenance. Its responsibilities increased in 1975 when the agency merged with the Texas Mass Transportation Commission, to form the State Department of Highways and Public Transportation.
In 1986 the department started using Don't Mess with Texas as its slogan to reduce littering on Texas roadways, as part of a statewide advertising campaign. The phrase was prominently shown on road signs on major highways, as well as in television, radio and print advertisements. The slogan is still in use and remains very popular.
In 1991, the Legislature combined the State Department of Highways and Public Transportation, the Department of Aviation and the Texas Motor Vehicle Commission to create the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).
[edit] Administration
The executive director (currently Michael W. Behrens) is assisted by one deputy director (currently Steven E. Simmons), and two assistant executive directors. The department conducts its primary activities in 25 geographical districts, a large number but necessary due to Texas' sheer size (which results in widely varying climate and soil conditions plus differing needs of local populations). Each district, managed by a district engineer, is responsible for the design, location, construction and maintenance of its area transportation systems. Local field offices within districts are known as area offices, and many districts also have separate maintenance offices, usually on a county-by-county basis. Functional divisions and offices headquartered in Austin provide administrative and technical support to the districts.
[edit] Geographical Districts
[edit] Publications
Every month, TxDOT publishes Texas Highways, a magazine aimed at showcasing various aspects of the state, often by providing interesting travel information on a specific stretch of highway (or highways) in the state.
