THE DIVISION

About Us

The District of Columbia (DC) Division is located in the Nation's Capital. We work in partnership with the DC Department of Transportation, the DC Metropolitan Police Department, the Metropolitan Council of Governments, and others on issues that involve roadways located in Washington, DC.

Our Mission

To provide technical and administrative assistance to the DC Department of Transportation in order to enhance its capabilities to more effectively discharge its responsibilities under Title 23.

Who We Are

The vision of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is to create the best transportation system in the world for the American people through proactive leadership, innovation, and excellent service. We also provide expertise, resources, and information to continually improve the quality of our nation's highway system and its intermodal connections. We undertake this mission in cooperation with all of our partners to enhance the country's economic vitality, quality of life, and environment.

The FHWA is a part of the Department of Transportation headquartered in Washington, DC with field offices across the United States. The FHWA performs its mission through these main programs:

The Federal-aid Highway Program is a program of financial assistance to the States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico for highway construction and improvements. This program provides for the construction and preservation of the National Highway System (NHS), and is financed generally on an 80-percent Federal, 20-percent city basis. The improvement of other federally eligible roads is financed at approximately 80-percent Federal and 20-percent city money. As existing sections of the NHS deteriorate, certain repair, construction, and rehabilitation projects are awarded Federal funds.

The Federal-aid Highway Program is a reimbursable program; that is, the Federal Government only pays the costs actually incurred by the District. The authorized amounts distributed represent lines of credit upon which the States may draw as they advance in the completion of Federally assisted projects. Funding for highway projects are drawn from the Highway Trust Fund, which was created in 1956. Revenue for the Trust fund is derived from dedicated highway user fees such as taxes on fuel, tires, and truck sales. Trust fund monies are distributed or "apportioned" to the States according to formulas written into "authorizing" legislation by Congress. These formulas are based on various factors including lane miles, vehicle miles of travel, population, historic levels of funding, and the District's share of receipts into the Trust Fund. Details on the Surface Transportation Reauthorization legislation can be found on the DOT Surface Transportation Reauthorization site.

The Federal Lands Highway Program provides access to land within national forests, national parks, Native-American homelands, and other public lands by preparing plans, letting contracts, supervising construction facilities, and conducting bridge inspections and surveys. A more complete and detailed explanation of the program can be obtained by clicking on the link above and by visiting the Eastern Federal Lands website.

Performance Plan

The DC Division Office Performance Plan is a collaborative effort with our partner, the DC Department of Transportation. It is a multi-year, goal -oriented agreement with elements of the plan set to begin in the first half of 2004 and continuing on through FY 2005.