History of the Federal Highway Administration's South Dakota Division

The Federal Highway Administration's origin dates back to 1893. The agency was originally called the Office of Road Inquiry, then the Office of Public Road Inquiry, the Office of Public Roads and Rural Engineering, the Bureau of Public Roads, the Public Roads Administration, and finally in 1967, the Federal Highway Administration. The South Dakota branch or division was established in 1932. Business was conducted at the local converted train depot in Pierre, South Dakota until an official Federal Building was constructed in 1965. After more than 30 years in the Federal Building at 225 South Pierre Street, the division office was relocated to the Sibley Building at 116 East Dakota Avenue in March, 1995. The division's principle mission before World War II was to bring rural America together with a road system that provided for the efficient movement of goods and services. Of particular concern was the farm-to-market routes which were needed to move the food supply from the country's farms to the Nation's growing cities and towns. This era of getting the farmer out of the mud was particularly beneficial for South Dakota since agriculture has been our biggest industry.

The Division workforce (i.e., Federal-aid element) was, and still is, mainly composed of highway, structural, and planning engineers. In addition, there is a financial section with a fiscal support staff and a computer specialist. Over the past 61 years there have been 11 different Administrators who have served in the Division. The office has had as many as 24 and as few as 14 employees taking care of FHWA business. At present, there are 18 employees carrying out its various missions. The workforce includes 13 people in the Federal-aid office and 5 people in the Office of Motor Carriers section.

The Federal-aid section is charged with assuring that the Federal funds allocated to the South Dakota Department of Transportation (approximately $120 million annually) are expended in a prudent and conscientious manner in accordance with Federal regulations. The principle workday activities include oversight of the design and construction of highways and bridges on the Federal-aid Highway system, with due regard for roadway safety and environmental compatibility. Over the years as part of our project development activities, we have become involved in the broader social concerns prompted by Federal legislation. These include Civil Rights, programs for elderly drivers and pedestrians, highway beautification, preservation of historical and archaeological sites, environmental issues and drug/alcohol transportation-related issues.

The Office of Motor Carriers ensures the safe operation and safe use of the equipment of commercial motor carriers engaged in interstate or foreign commerce; the safe movement of dangerous cargoes, such as explosives, flammables, and other hazardous materials. They also guide direction of enforcement programs to promote compliance and ensure the enforcement of minimal financial responsibility required by statute for interstate and foreign carriers.

South Dakota's present road system includes 134,153 kilometers (83,361 miles). The recently designated National Highway System consists of 4,670 kilometers (2,906 miles), which constitutes only 4 percent of South Dakota's public roads. However, the NHS in South Dakota carries over 40 percent of the State's traffic and over 70 percent of the commercial truck traffic and tourist traffic. Included in the NHS are 1,090 kilometers (678 miles) of Interstate Highways. South Dakota was one of the first states to complete its Interstate System in 1982. South Dakota's extensive network serves to bring farm products to market and bridge the east and west coast areas of the country. The network serves an expanding tourism industry, particularly for the western Black Hills area which includes Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

With the recent legislative initiatives, reorganizing, recreating, and reinventing the Division is an ongoing proposition, but we remain responsive to diversified needs and programs. We are front-runners in meeting the demands of changing times and new missions, fine-tuning activities and goals for our customers and partners. The South Dakota Division office looks forward to the future in the hope that we will develop an even more meaningful relationship with the traveling public.

Courtesy of Sheridan Shoemaker

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