The Maritime Administration (MARAD) https://www.maritime.dot.gov/ is responsible for America's waterborne transportation system by promoting this transportation sector and integrating it with other transportation nodes. It has been part of the Transportation Department since 1981, though its historical origins date back to the 1916 Shipping Act (P.L. 64-260) https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-39/pdf/STATUTE-39-Pg728-2.pdf establishing the United States Shipping Board to promote the U.S. Merchant … Continue reading Maritime Administration (MARAD)
Update from the Midwest NCSA (National Collections Steering Committee)
Midwest FDLP library coordinators, Congratulations are in order! February 2025 marked the one-year anniversary of GPO’s new “Limited Print Distribution (LPD) Framework.” We hope that everything is going smoothly at your libraries under this new, more digital model. Of course, with change comes the need to adjust policies, and that’s what we’ve been working on in … Continue reading Update from the Midwest NCSA (National Collections Steering Committee)
Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS)
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) Bureau of Transportation Statistics is the Department of Transportation's statistical branch. BTS was formally established during the George H.W. Bush Administration in February 1990 https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/531 in its Statement of National Transportation Policy which expressed concern about data gaps in multiple transportation sectors along with insufficient financial information on financial and operating characteristics of smaller transportation … Continue reading Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS)
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Home was initially established in the Transportation Department in 1967 before congressional re-establishment as an independent agency in 1974. Its purpose is investigating, reporting on, and making recommendations to avoid the occurrence of further transportation accidents for the following transportation sectors: aviation, hazardous materials, highway, marine, pipeline, and railroad. Since … Continue reading National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) https://railroads.dot.gov/ is part of the Department of Transportation established in 1966. FRA is responsible for ensuring the safe, reliable, and efficient movement of goods and people by rail. The most recent law covering this entity was the 2008 Federal Rail Safety Improvements Act https://railroads.dot.gov/sites/fra.dot.gov/files/fra_net/2189/RSIA_Pub.%20L.%20No.%20110-432%20in%20pdf.pdf and FRA’s overall legal authority comes from 49 USC 103 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title49-section103&num=0&edition=prelim Regulations … Continue reading Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)
Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) https://www.transit.dot.gov/ is responsible for providing grants to local transit systems including buses, subways, light and commuter rail, trolleys, and ferries. It also conducts research in these areas and administers a transit safety program. FTA was established by Public Law 88-365 https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-78/pdf/STATUTE-78-Pg302-2.pdf signed by President Johnson on July 9, 1964. 49 USC 107 https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2022-title49/html/USCODE-2022-title49-subtitleI-chap1-sec107.htm is its governing … Continue reading Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) https://www.faa.gov/ is a the U.S. Dept. of Transportation agency responsible for regulating U.S. civilian aviation. Governmental regulation of civilian aviation began with the 1926 Air Commerce Act directing the Commerce Department to promote air commerce, enforce traffic rules, license pilots, and other related factors. In 1958 the Federal Aviation Agency … Continue reading Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
The FMCSA https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/ in the Dept. of Transportation is the lead federal government agency responsible for regulating and providing safety oversight of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs). Its mission is reducing crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving large trucks and buses. FMCSA partners with industry, safety advocates, and state and local governments to keep our nation's roadways … Continue reading Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Federal Highway Administration (dot.gov) is part of the Department of Transportation supporting state and local governments in designing, constructing, and maintaining the national highway system. This occurs through the Federal Aid Highway Program which is described in this Federal-Aid Highway Program (FAHP): In Brief (congress.gov) 2021 Congressional Research Service analysis. FHWA's historical origins begin with … Continue reading Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PMHSA) https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/ is a Department of Transportation agency established in 2004 by Public Law 108-426 https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-108publ426/pdf/PLAW-108publ426.pdf. PMHSA’s responsibilities include protecting the public and environment by enhancing and regulating the safe transportation of energy and other hazardous materials. This involves establishing national policy, setting and enforcing standards, educating, conducting … Continue reading DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)
Indiana GovInfo 