NAME?
BY DAV ID NIL L E S
A LOOK BACK It hasn’t always been that way. Looking back at the history of the agency, the Arkansas General Assembly created the first highway administrative agency in 1913. Act 302 of 1913 established the State Highway Commission and, under the same Act, the State Highway Department
roads; overseeing the efficient utilization of county and State convicts; and promoting greater interest in the improvement of Arkansas’ highways.
BECOMING AN INDEPENDENT AGENCY
was created as an affiliate of the Department of State
In 1929, the General Assembly separated Highways from
Lands. The new agency was renamed the Department
the Department of State Lands, Highways and Improvements,
of State Lands, Highways and Improvements. The
making it a State agency of its own right. Its name… The
Department was divided into three divisions: the State
Arkansas Highway Department.
Land Division, Automobile License Division and the Highway Division. Specifically defined responsibilities of the Department included the general supervision over road construction
Fast forward to 1977 and the Highway Department took on new responsibilities. As a result, it was renamed the Arkansas State Highway & Transportation Department (AHTD). Act 192 gave the AHTD the authority and duty to coordinate
and maintenance; furnishing counties and improvement
planning for all modes of transportation. Arkansas’
districts with advice and assistance; preparing and
highway system remained the primary responsibility of the
distributing information relative to roads, bridges,
Department, but preserving rail service and administering
drainage levees and other public improvements;
public transportation programs were placed under the
distributing available funds for the construction of public
AHTD’s authority as well. (continued on page 14) ARKANSAS HIGHWAYS MAGAZINE • MAY 2015
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