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Department of Transportation (DOT
www.transportation.gov
The Honorable Pete Buttigieg
Secretary of Transportation
Polly Trottenberg
Deputy Secretary
Laura Schiller
Chief of Staff
Carlos Monje
Senior Advisor
The DOT was established by an act of Congress in October 1966. DOT’s mission is to ensure America has the safest, most efficient and modern transportation system in the world, which boosts our economic productivity and global competitiveness and enhances the quality of life in communities both rural and urban.
DOT KEY PRIORITIES
• Safety: Reduce transportation-related fatalities and serious injuries across the transportation system. Safety has consistently been DOT’s top strategic and organizational goal. • Infrastructure: Invest in infrastructure to ensure safety, mobility and accessibility and to stimulate economic growth, productivity and competitiveness for american workers and businesses. • Innovation: Lead in the development and deployment of innovative practices and technologies that improve the safety and performance of the nation’s transportation system.
OFFICE OF THE UNDER SECRETARY FOR POLICY
Serves as a principal advisor to the Secretary and provides leadership in the development of policies for the Department, generating proposals and providing advice regarding legislative and regulatory initiatives across all modes of transportation.
OFFICE OF TRANSPORTATION POLICY
Responsible for recommending overall surface transportation policy initiatives to the Secretary. The office coordinates multi-modal initiatives and processes, such as the development of DOT’s proposed reauthorization language, and the coordination of the President’s Executive Order on streamlining environmental reviews of transportation infrastructure.
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC & STRATEGIC ANALYSIS Initiates and develops Secretarial policies relating to the financing of transportation infrastructure; the use of economic analysis in evaluating infrastructure investments, rulemakings, Departmental programs, and other initiatives; the use of economic analysis in reducing congestion and enhancing the efficient operation of transportation networks; and other applications of economic analysis in transportation policymaking. Provides economic analysis of recommendations and proposed rules. Oversees the development and implementation of the Department’s strategic plan.
OFFICE OF INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCE AND INNOVATION
Responsible, in coordination with the Office of the Chief Economist, for providing policy direction related to the implementation of infrastructure grant programs, credit programs and regulations that impact infrastructure development and operation.
OFFICE OF AVIATION & INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
Serves as DOT’s decision maker in proceedings involving the allocation of international aviation route authority, licensing of air carriers, providing air services to rural communities, and grants of antitrust immunity for international aviation alliance activities. In addition, leads the DOT’s efforts on international cooperation, export promotion and trade facilitation in transportation.
GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
Principal advisor to the Secretary, Deputy Secretary and senior staff with respect to legislative affairs, Congressional relations, and policy matters affecting Federal, state and local governments, and public and private Principal advisor to the Secretary, Deputy Secretary and senior staff with respect to legislative affairs, Congressional relations, and policy matters affecting Federal, state and local governments, and public and private interest groups.
Ensures the development, coordination and execution of plans and procedures for the DOT to balance transportation security requirements with the safety, mobility and economic needs of the nation through effective intelligence, security, preparedness and emergency response programs.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA)
Steve Dickson, Administrator The FAA oversees the safety of civil aviation. The safety mission of the FAA includes the issuance and enforcement of regulations and standards related to the manufacture, operation, certification and maintenance of aircraft. The agency is responsible for the rating and certification of airmen and for certification of airports serving air carriers. It also regulates a program to protect the security of civil aviation, and enforces regulations under the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act for shipments by air.
The FAA, which operates a network of airport towers, air route traffic control centers, and flight service stations, develops air traffic rules, allocates the use of airspace, and provides for the security control of air traffic to meet national defense requirements. Other responsibilities include the construction or installation of visual and
electronic aids to air navigation and promotion of aviation safety internationally. The FAA, which regulates and encourages the US commercial space transportation industry, also licenses commercial space launch facilities and private sector launches.
FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION (FHWA)
Stephanie Pollack, Acting Administrator The FHWA coordinates highway transportation programs in cooperation with states and other partners to enhance the country’s safety, economic vitality, quality of life, and the environment. Major program areas include the Federal-Aid Highway Program, which provides federal financial assistance to the states to construct and improve the National Highway System, urban and rural roads, and bridges.
FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (FMCSA)
Meera Joshi. Deputy Administrator FMCSA’s primary mission is to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries. Administration activities contribute to: ensuring safety in motor carrier operations through strong enforcement of safety regulations, targeting high-risk carriers and commercial motor vehicle drivers; improving safety information systems and commercial motor vehicle technologies; strengthening commercial motor vehicle equipment and operating standards; and increasing safety awareness.
FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION (FRA)
Amit Bose, Deputy Administrator The FRA promotes safe and environmentally sound rail transportation. With the responsibility of ensuring railroad safety throughout the nation, the FRA employs safety inspectors to monitor railroad compliance with federally mandated safety standards including track maintenance, inspection standards and operating practices.
The FRA conducts research and development tests to evaluate projects in support of its safety mission and to enhance the railroad system as a national transportation resource.
FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION (FTA)
Nuria Fernandez, Deputy Administrator The FTA assists in developing improved mass transportation systems for cities and communities nationwide. Through its grant programs, FTA helps plan, build, and operate transit systems with convenience, cost, and accessibility in mind. While buses and rail vehicles are the most common type of public transportation, others include commuter ferryboats, trolleys, inclined railways, subways, and people movers. In providing financial, technical and planning assistance, the agency provides leadership and resources for safe and technologically advanced local transit systems while assisting in the development of local and regional traffic reduction.
MARITIME ADMINISTRATION (MARAD)
Lucinda Lessley, Acting Administrator MARAD promotes development and maintenance of an adequate, well-balanced, US merchant marine, sufficient to carry the nation’s domestic waterborne commerce and a substantial portion of its waterborne foreign commerce, and capable of serving as a naval and military auxiliary in time of war or national emergency. MARAD also seeks to ensure that the US enjoys adequate shipbuilding and repair service, efficient ports, effective intermodal water and land transportation systems, and reserve shipping capacity in time of national emergency.
Dr. Steven Cliff, Acting Administrator NHTSA is responsible for reducing deaths, injuries and economic losses resulting from motor vehicle crashes. NHTSA sets and enforces safety performance standards for motor vehicles and equipment, and through grants to state and local governments enables them to conduct effective local highway safety programs. NHTSA investigates safety defects in motor vehicles, sets and enforces fuel economy standards, helps states and local communities reduce the threat of drunk drivers, promotes the use of safety belts, child safety seats and air bags, investigates odometer fraud, establishes and enforces vehicle anti-theft regulations and provides consumer information on motor vehicle safety topics.
PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (PHMSA)
Tristan Brown, Acting Administrator PHMSA oversees the safety of more than 800,000 daily shipments of hazardous materials in the United States and 64 percent of the nation’s energy that is transported by pipelines. PHMSA is dedicated solely to safety by working toward the elimination of transportation-related deaths and injuries in hazardous materials and pipeline transportation, and by promoting transportation solutions that enhance communities and protect the natural environment.
Craig H. Middlebrook, Deputy Administrator SLSDC operates and maintains a safe, reliable and efficient waterway for commercial and noncommercial vessels between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean. The SLSDC, in tandem with the Saint Lawrence Seaway Authority of Canada, oversees operations safety, vessel inspections, traffic control, and navigation aids on the Great Lakes and the Saint Lawrence Seaway.
Important to the economic development of the Great Lakes region, SLSDC works to develop trade opportunities to benefit port communities, shippers and receivers and related industries in the area.
Strengthens research and technology initiatives across all operating administrations. The Office ensures that the Department’s innovation priorities and policies are implemented across the Department and leads a range of cross-modal research initiatives to address strategic goals Departmentwide. OST-R also leads and administers the Department’s multimodal statistics and data programs and oversees the work of related fee-for-service organizations.
SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD (STB) The STB is an independent, bipartisan, adjudicatory body organizationally housed within the DOT. It is responsible for the economic regulation of interstate surface transportation, primarily railroads, within the US. The STB’s mission is to ensure that competitive, efficient, and safe transportation services are provided to meet the needs of shippers, receivers, and consumers. The board is charged with promoting, where appropriate, substantive and procedural regulatory reform in the economic regulation of surface transportation, and with providing an efficient and effective forum for the resolution of disputes.
