The Evolution Of State DOTs

[TheArkansasRoadgeek]

The US is always under going change in some way. I want to disscuss the evolution of the term Department Of Transportion. To clear the confusion, take AHTD for example, which turned into ARDOT. What will be the evolution of the term Dept Of Transportation, Dept Of Wheels, Dept. Of Moving Wheels? Any idea what would be next in line to broaden the spectrum in which our state DOTs are involved in?

[Beltway]

The US is always under going change in some way. I want to disscuss the evolution of the term Department Of Transportion. To clear the confusion, take AHTD for example, which turned into ARDOT. What will be the evolution of the term Dept Of Transportation, Dept Of Wheels, Dept. Of Moving Wheels? Any idea what would be next in line to broaden the spectrum in which our state DOTs are involved in?

Beginning around 1970, many state highway departments started also getting involved in mass transit, railroads and airports.  Some administered these directly and others did not, but they at least provided funding mechanisms for state and federal financial support for other modes of transportation.

Therefore many modified their names to Department of Transportation.  That name at least covers all forms of transportation, so those names probably will not change.

[TheArkansasRoadgeek]

The US is always under going change in some way. I want to disscuss the evolution of the term Department Of Transportion. To clear the confusion, take AHTD for example, which turned into ARDOT. What will be the evolution of the term Dept Of Transportation, Dept Of Wheels, Dept. Of Moving Wheels? Any idea what would be next in line to broaden the spectrum in which our state DOTs are involved in?

Beginning around 1970, many state highway departments started also getting involved in mass transit, railroads and airports.  Some administered these directly and others did not, but they at least provided funding mechanisms for state and federal financial support for other modes of transportation.

Therefore many modified their names to Department of Transportation.  That name at least covers all forms of transportation, so those names probably will not change.

Is there any other aspect that would likely change in the near future? Maybe not the term, but there is no perfect process within such an organization, I feel there is more to come from our state DOTs, in some fashion.

[PHLBOS]

Massachusetts went from the Mass DPW (Department of Public Works) to MassHighway sometime during the early 1990s then changed to MassDOT in 2009.

[roadman]

Massachusetts went from the Mass DPW (Department of Public Works) to MassHighway sometime during the early 1990s then changed to MassDOT in 2009.

The change from MassDPW to MassHighway happened in the early days of Commissioner Jim Kerasiotes' reign.  Story goes is that he demanded the name change - and the repainting of maintenance trucks to off-chartruse - to stop people telling "What's orange and sleeps six" jokes (answer - a DPW truck).

[jakeroot]

WSDOT had several forerunners. The Washington State Highway Board and the Washington State Highways Department (two separate agencies) were first in line (1905). The Highways Department joined the State Department of Public Works in the early 20s, and the State Highway Board became the Washington Highway Committee. A couple years later, the Highways Department separated from the DPW. In the late 20s, the Highways Department and the Highway Committee merged (under the guise of the Highway Department). In 1964, the Highway Department became WSDOT. In 1977, the Washington State Transportation Committee was formed (similar to the earlier boards) to help guide WSDOT.

In the future, I suspect that government-type names ("Department of Transportation") will become friendlier names like (in the case of London) "Transport for ....". Vancouver has Translink, which operates all aspects of transportation (roads, trains, buses) in the Vancouver area (the MOT still works on provincial routes). I think this is a friendlier name than an acronym.

[Beltway]

VDOT History Highlights

1906: The General Assembly establishes the first State Highway Commission.

1927: The Virginia Department of Highways is established as a state agency.

1974: The department's name is changed to the Virginia Department of Highways and Transportation (VDH&T), adding rail and public transportation to its jurisdiction.

1986: A special session of the General Assembly expands revenue sources for transportation, including a new emphasis on airports and seaports. Legislators also expand the state transportation board, the  Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) from 12 to 15 members and rename the agency the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).

1992: The General Assembly elevates VDOT's rail and public transportation division to department level, reporting directly to the secretary of transportation.

[vdeane]

For NYSDOT: https://www.dot.ny.gov/about-nysdot/history/past-present

Any idea what would be next in line to broaden the spectrum in which our state DOTs are involved in?

This: https://www.transports.gouv.qc.ca/en/Pages/Home.aspx