|
|
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, environment, and planning engineers. In addition, there is a financial section with a fiscal support staff and a local network administrator. Over the past 74 years there have been 19 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 14 employees and one contract employee carrying out its various missions.
The Federal-aid section is charged with assuring that the Federal funds allocated to the South Dakota Department of Transportation (approximately $250 million+ in FY 2008) 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, and environmental issues.
South Dakota's present road system includes 83,361 miles. The National Highway System (NHS) consists of 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 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 and the Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. It also provides roads and trails for big game hunters and tournament fishermen coming to South Dakota from all over the United States and some foreign countries.
With the legislative initiatives never ending and always changing, reorganizing, recreating, and reinventing the Division is an ongoing proposition. But the employees of the South Dakota Division 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 will always look forward to the future in the hope that we will continue to develop ever more meaningful relationships with the traveling public.
NOTE: This historical overview is designed to be of interest to the average citizen. For more detailed data on FHWA subjects, and for publications relating to our nation's highway, visit the following web site: www.fhwa.dot.gov/policy/ohpi. This site is a repository of highway information and statistics that includes the following:
The selected documents and periodicals are available there for your review. We hope they provide you with useful information to further your knowledge, research and planning activities.
For specific South Dakota Data, go to this web site: www.state.sd.us. You can find data on the following subjects and much more:
Happy trails to each and every one of you who will be taking advantage of our highways and byways in The Land of Infinite Variety, called South Dakota. From all of us at FHWA's South Dakota Division, have a safe trip!
| Courtesy of Sheridan Shoemaker | Division Home |
