Federal Highway Administration facts for kids
Federal Highway Administration logo
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| Agency overview | |
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| Formed | April 1, 1967 |
| Preceding agency |
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| Jurisdiction | Federal government of the United States |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Annual budget | $46.0 billion (FY2019) |
| Agency executives |
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| Parent agency | Department of Transportation |
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is an important part of the United States Department of Transportation. It helps make sure that roads and highways across the country are safe and work well. The FHWA focuses on everything to do with highway transportation. This includes building new roads and keeping old ones in good shape.
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What Does the FHWA Do?
The FHWA has many jobs to help people travel safely and easily. It works to improve roads, bridges, and tunnels. This agency also helps states and local communities with their transportation projects.
Building and Improving Roads
One of the main jobs of the FHWA is to help build and improve highways. They provide money and expert advice for big road projects. This includes creating new roads and making existing ones wider or smoother. They also work on bridges and tunnels that are part of the highway system.
Keeping Roads Safe
Safety is a huge part of the FHWA's mission. They set rules and guidelines to make sure roads are safe for drivers, cyclists, and walkers. This includes things like designing safer intersections and using clear road signs. They also study accidents to find ways to prevent them in the future.
Research and Innovation
The FHWA also does a lot of research. They look for new and better ways to build roads. This might involve testing new materials or technologies. Their goal is to make roads stronger, last longer, and be more environmentally friendly. They also research smart transportation systems.
Helping States and Localities
The United States has many different states and local governments. The FHWA works closely with them. They offer funding and technical help for local road projects. This ensures that even small towns can have good roads and bridges.
A Look Back: FHWA's History
The Federal Highway Administration was officially created on April 1, 1967. But its work started much earlier. Before the FHWA, other groups handled road duties.
From Early Road Offices to Today
The very first office that dealt with roads was the Office of Road Inquiry. This was way back in 1893. Later, it became the Office of Public Roads. Then, it was known as the Bureau of Public Roads. These earlier groups laid the groundwork for what the FHWA does today. They helped build the first major road networks in the U.S.
How the FHWA is Organized
The FHWA is part of a bigger government group. It belongs to the United States Department of Transportation. This department oversees all kinds of transportation in the U.S.
Leadership at the FHWA
The person in charge of the FHWA is called the Administrator. This leader helps guide the agency's goals and projects. The current Administrator is Nicole Nason. There are also other important leaders like the Deputy Administrator and the Executive Director. They all work together to manage the agency.
Important Facts About the FHWA
The FHWA is based in Washington, D.C., the capital of the U.S. It manages a very large budget. In 2019, its budget was about $46.0 billion. This money is used for all the important road projects and research across the country.
