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A Look at the History of the Federal Highway Administration

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May 6

1954

In a signing ceremony attended by Commissioner F. V. du Pont, President Dwight D. Eisenhower uses seven pens to sign the Federal-Aid Highway Act authorizing $175 million a year for Interstate construction (FYs 1956-1957) at a Federal-State matching share of 60-40. The act also authorizes the Secondary Road Plan to reduce Federal reviews on FAS projects.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1954- The White House ceremony is attended by Members of Congress who were instrumental in passage of the measure. From left to right: Senator William F. Knowland (CA), Senate Majority Leader; Representative George A. Dondero (MI), Chairman, House Public Works Committee; Representative Clifford Davis (TN), member, House Public Works Committee; Senator Francis Case (SD), Chairman, Senate Subcommittee on Roads; Representative Homer D. Angell (OR), member, House Public Works Committee; Senator Edward Martin (PA), Chairman, Senate Public Works Committee; Representative J. Harry McGregor (OH) Chairman, House Subcommittee on Roads; and Representative George H. Fallon (MD), ranking minority member, House Subcommittee on Roads.

1971

1971 At the Pan American Union in Washington, DC, the U.S. and Colombia sign an agreement covering the responsibility of each party in carrying out the $100 million Darien Gap Highway Program for closing the gap between the Inter-American Highway and the Pan American Highway System of South America.

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