About FHWA, California Division

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) was established in 1967 as one of the operating administrations of the Department of Transportation (U. S. DOT). The Agency has been in existence since 1893, and prior to 1967 was known by other names such as the Office of Road Inquiry and the Bureau of Public Roads. The organizational structure of the Agency consists of the Washington Headquarters, 4 Resource Centers , 52 Division Offices, 4 Metropolitan Offices and three Federal Lands Highway Offices. For more on the origin, history, or organizational structure of the FHWA, visit the FHWA Washington Headquarters Homepage.

The California Division represents FHWA in California and works in close partnership with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). The Division office is organized into the following functional teams:

Administrator's Team

The Administrator's Team is responsible for managing office-wide services and programs. Specific areas managed directly by the team include Civil Rights, Training Management, Program Coordination, Data Analysis and Information Technology Management.

Financial Services Team

This team is responsible for the financial transactions necessary for delivering projects in California , for program management and oversight activities included in FIRE requirements and all other aspects of Financial Management.. This Team also provides most of the internal support functions for the Division, including the Office Manager, managing budgets and support services.

Planning & air quality team

This Planning and Air Quality Team is responsible for oversight of the Metropolitan and Statewide planning programs; all air quality functions (regional and project level conformity, CMAQ, etc.); and the State's SPR Part 2 (Research) program.

National Programs Team

This team is responsible for administering the programs and functions that are of National importance and for determining and implementing strategies for National initiatives such as decreasing congestion and improving safety. The team consists of the following technical specialty areas: Intelligent Transportation Systems, Traffic Engineering, Safety, Traffic Operations, and Design, Pavements, and Asset Management.

State Programs Team

The State Programs Team is responsible for oversight of the delivery of State-administered projects. This includes working with Caltrans Headquarters on processes and procedures for State projects, including Program/Process/Verification Reviews and assuring that manuals are current with requirements. At the project level, the Team is responsible for approvals of all project actions not delegated to Caltrans, determining and providing the levels of oversight for all High Profile Projects delivered by Caltrans staff, and the additional oversight activities required for Major Projects delivered by Caltrans. This includes all phases of the projects from Environment (EISs for non-Assigned projects), through design, right-of-way and construction.

Local Programs Team

The Local Programs Team is responsible for oversight of the program for delivery of Local Agency-administered projects. This includes working with Caltrans Local Assistance on processes and procedures for Local Agency projects, including Program/Process/Verification Reviews and assuring that manuals are current with requirements. At the project level, this includes approvals of all project actions not delegated to Caltrans or the Local Agency, determining and providing the levels of oversight for all High Profile Projects delivered by Local Agencies, and the additional oversight activities required for Major Projects delivered by Local Agencies. This includes all phases of the projects from Environment (EISs for non-Assigned projects), through design, right-of-way, and construction.

Structures Team

This team is responsible for oversight of the federal-aid bridge program in California , which includes Highway and National Inspection Program. The team is also responsible for Structures, Hydraulics and Geotechnology design and review.

Los Angeles FTA/FHWA Metro Office

The Los Angeles Metro Office is a stand-alone office, serving as an extension of both the FTA Region and the FHWA Division Offices for their respective program areas. The FTA activities include responsibilities related to Los Angeles bus and monorail operations in a 6,400 square mile area with 15 million residents. Planning activities include working with the Southern California Association of Governments and the Caltrans District offices. ITS activities involve the Southern California Priority Corridor Project, which reaches 130 miles south of Los Angeles to San Diego and Tijuana , Mexico . Air Quality activities cover an area that stretches east nearly to Arizona .