2023-06-30
|
FHWA Highway History Website Articles
|
PDF
The U.S. numbering plan was developed in the mid-1920's by the U.S. Bureau of Public Roads and the State highway agencies. The Joint Board on Interstate Highways, consisting of Federal and State highways officials, developed the numbering plan in 1925. The plan was as follows: East-west routes were assigned even numbers, with the transcontinental o
...
Weingroff, R. F. (2023). U.S. 12 Michigan to Washington. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/76525
Weingroff, Richard F.. U.S. 12 Michigan to Washington. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration, 2023. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/76525.
Weingroff, Richard F. U.S. 12 Michigan to Washington. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration, 2023, ROSA P. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/76525.
2023-06-30
|
FHWA Highway History Website Articles
|
PDF
If you've read an anti-sprawl book, you've read the horror story: the evil Highway Lobby (motto: Let's Pave Over America) tricked Congress in 1956 into building Interstate highways instead of providing aid to transit as Congress otherwise would have done-thereby forcing people who longed for transit to buy cars instead. The question is: was Congres
...
Rambler, T. (2023). Ask the Rambler: Did the Highway Lobby Stop Congress from Funding Transit Instead of the Interstate System in 1956?. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/75917
Rambler, The. Ask the Rambler: Did the Highway Lobby Stop Congress from Funding Transit Instead of the Interstate System in 1956?. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration, 2023. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/75917.
Rambler, The Ask the Rambler: Did the Highway Lobby Stop Congress from Funding Transit Instead of the Interstate System in 1956?. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration, 2023, ROSA P. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/75917.
2023-06-30
|
FHWA Highway History Website Articles
|
PDF
Despite this irrational unwillingness to get on a bicycle, the Rambler has to admit the bicycle has sparked several revolutions in transportation since its popularization in the 1880's. These revolutions include the improvement of roads, contributions to the automobile era, and an impact on aviation pioneers, the Wright Brothers.
Rambler, T. (2023). The Bicycle Revolution. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/75827
Rambler, The. The Bicycle Revolution. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration, 2023. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/75827.
Rambler, The The Bicycle Revolution. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration, 2023, ROSA P. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/75827.
2023-06-30
|
FHWA Highway History Website Articles
|
PDF
The Rambler tells the history of two California Bridges, the Golden Gate Bridge and the San-Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. These histories include the planning, design, construction, and response to each bridge.
Rambler, T. (2023). Two Bay Area Bridges - The Golden Gate and San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/75912
Rambler, The. Two Bay Area Bridges - The Golden Gate and San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration, 2023. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/75912.
Rambler, The Two Bay Area Bridges - The Golden Gate and San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration, 2023, ROSA P. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/75912.
2023-06-30
|
FHWA Highway History Website Articles
|
PDF
The Highway History page recently received an inquiry about where the first Walk/Don't Walk sign was installed. This question has come up before, but we've never been able to find the answer. Our research helped pin down the time frame (late 1930's), but not the location. The Highway History page does not like to fail, but here's a summary of the r
...
Weingroff, R. F. (2023). Where Was the First Walk/Don’t Walk Sign Installed? You Will Not Find the Answer Here. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/76512
Weingroff, Richard F.. Where Was the First Walk/Don’t Walk Sign Installed? You Will Not Find the Answer Here. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration, 2023. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/76512.
Weingroff, Richard F. Where Was the First Walk/Don’t Walk Sign Installed? You Will Not Find the Answer Here. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration, 2023, ROSA P. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/76512.
2023-06-30
|
FHWA Highway History Website Articles
|
PDF
Since the beginning of time, creeks, rivers and other bodies of water have flooded their banks for a variety of reasons: steady and/or torrential rains, hurricanes, melting ice and other natural occurrences. Flash floods, caused by breaking dikes and dams are the most dangerous as there is little time for escape. Pathways, roads, and subsequently s
...
Longfellow, R. (2023). Back in Time Flooded Roadways. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/75674
Longfellow, Rickie. Back in Time Flooded Roadways. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration, 2023. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/75674.
Longfellow, Rickie Back in Time Flooded Roadways. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration, 2023, ROSA P. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/75674.
United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration
2023-06-30
|
FHWA Highway History Website Articles
|
PDF
A 1915/1916 map of the stretch of the Pikes Peak Ocean to Ocean Highway from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania to New York City, New York.
United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration (2023). Pittsburg, Pa., to New York City. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/76405
United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. Pittsburg, Pa., to New York City. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration, 2023. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/76405.
United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration Pittsburg, Pa., to New York City. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration, 2023, ROSA P. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/76405.
2023-06-30
|
FHWA Highway History Website Articles
|
PDF
The Rambler is often asked how Hawaii can have Interstate highways when the roads clearly don't connect two States. The question is often followed by the observation that, just in case the Rambler hadn't noticed, Hawaii doesn't share a border with any other State and is, in fact, ____ miles away. (The blank indicates that people asking the question
...
Rambler, T. (2023). Ask the Rambler Intestates in Hawaii: Are We Crazy?. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/75816
Rambler, The. Ask the Rambler Intestates in Hawaii: Are We Crazy?. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration, 2023. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/75816.
Rambler, The Ask the Rambler Intestates in Hawaii: Are We Crazy?. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration, 2023, ROSA P. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/75816.
2023-06-30
|
FHWA Highway History Website Articles
|
PDF
On the afternoon of May 3, 2010, the Washington Division hosted its third annual Retiree Ice Cream Social. As part of this event, the Division invited Mr. Alan Boyd, the first USDOT Secretary, to speak. Mr. Boyd currently lives in Seattle and late last year spoke to a group of Seattle area USDOT Federal Executives at one of their quarterly meetings
...
Mathis, D., & Canavan, M. (2023). First USDOT Secretary Visits Washington Division. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/75775
Mathis, Dan and Mike Canavan. First USDOT Secretary Visits Washington Division. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration, 2023. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/75775.
Mathis, Dan, and Mike Canavan First USDOT Secretary Visits Washington Division. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration, 2023, ROSA P. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/75775.
United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration
2023-06-30
|
FHWA Highway History Website Articles
|
PDF
Frederick W. Cron, an engineer with the U.S. Bureau of Public Roads from 1928 to 1969, was also a historian of highway design. While living in retirement in Colorado, he saw a letter in the Denver Post advocating a scenic design for Interstate highways. Mr. Cron wrote the following letter that was published on November 25, 1973.
United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration (2023). Frederick W. Cron on Highway Design Under Evolution. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/75783
United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. Frederick W. Cron on Highway Design Under Evolution. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration, 2023. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/75783.
United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration Frederick W. Cron on Highway Design Under Evolution. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration, 2023, ROSA P. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/75783.
2023-06-30
|
FHWA Highway History Website Articles
|
PDF
In American, covered bridges were first built in the 1800s as a free alternative to merchant run ferries for travelers looking to cross rivers and creeks. These bridges have a rich history. All over America concrete and steel have replaced instead of repaired the structures that are so vital to our historical past. Down from 3,500 to approximately
...
Longfellow, R. (2023). Back in Time Ohio's Vanishing Covered Bridges. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/75755
Longfellow, Rickie. Back in Time Ohio's Vanishing Covered Bridges. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration, 2023. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/75755.
Longfellow, Rickie Back in Time Ohio's Vanishing Covered Bridges. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration, 2023, ROSA P. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/75755.
2023-06-30
|
FHWA Highway History Website Articles
|
PDF
South Carolina's section of I-85 is 106 miles long, part of a route from Montgomery, Alabama, to Petersburg, Virginia. The first contract on I-85 in the State was awarded September 21, 1956, for a bridge over the Broad River in Cherokee County at a cost of $280,665. This was also the first contract in South Carolina's Interstate Program following P
...
Rambler, T. (2023). I-85 The Boom Belt, South Carolina. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/75832
Rambler, The. I-85 The Boom Belt, South Carolina. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration, 2023. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/75832.
Rambler, The I-85 The Boom Belt, South Carolina. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration, 2023, ROSA P. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/75832.
2023-06-30
|
FHWA Highway History Website Articles
|
PDF
Ohio plays an important role in the 50th anniversary of our Nation’s Interstate. Harvey Firestone, founder of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, was born in Columbiana, Ohio, in 1868. In 1904 he joined Henry Ford to make rubber tires for the newly invented automobile. In 1919, Lieutenant Colonel Dwight D. Eisenhower led that famous military con
...
Longfellow, R. (2023). Back in Time Ohio's Harvey Firestone and the Transcontinental Motor Convoy. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/75744
Longfellow, Rickie. Back in Time Ohio's Harvey Firestone and the Transcontinental Motor Convoy. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration, 2023. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/75744.
Longfellow, Rickie Back in Time Ohio's Harvey Firestone and the Transcontinental Motor Convoy. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration, 2023, ROSA P. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/75744.
United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration
2023-06-30
|
FHWA Highway History Website Articles
|
PDF
A 1915/1916 map of the stretch of the Pikes Peak Ocean to Ocean Highway from Eaton, Ohio, to Columbus, Ohio.
United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration (2023). Eaton, Ohio, to Columbus, Ohio. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/76400
United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. Eaton, Ohio, to Columbus, Ohio. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration, 2023. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/76400.
United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration Eaton, Ohio, to Columbus, Ohio. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration, 2023, ROSA P. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/76400.
2023-06-30
|
FHWA Highway History Website Articles
|
PDF
The Blue Star Memorial Highways are a tribute to the armed forces that have defended the United States of America. The National Garden Clubs, Inc., is the parent organization for Blue Star Memorial Highways. The idea dates to 1944 when the New Jersey State Council of Garden Clubs beautified a 5½-mile stretch of U.S. 22 from Mountainside to North Pl
...
Weingroff, R. F. (2023). Blue Star Memorial Highways. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/76509
Weingroff, Richard F.. Blue Star Memorial Highways. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration, 2023. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/76509.
Weingroff, Richard F. Blue Star Memorial Highways. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration, 2023, ROSA P. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/76509.
United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration
2023-06-30
|
FHWA Highway History Website Articles
|
PDF
In the late 1920's, the Bureau of Public Roads (BPR) issued a series of news releases on the major U.S. highways. The releases described the routes, including road conditions and tourist opportunities along the way. The following memorandum on U.S. 11 was prepared for the series, but the BPR did not issue a release on the route. The following is pr
...
United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration (2023). Bureau of Public Roads Memorandum to Mr. Rose From Mr. Mills. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/76482
United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. Bureau of Public Roads Memorandum to Mr. Rose From Mr. Mills. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration, 2023. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/76482.
United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration Bureau of Public Roads Memorandum to Mr. Rose From Mr. Mills. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration, 2023, ROSA P. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/76482.
2023-06-30
|
FHWA Highway History Website Articles
|
PDF
All forms of transportation are risky. Stagecoaching was no exception. The condition of the roads-and the drivers-ensured that. Two famous 19th century writers left accounts of their own perils on travels around the United States.
Rambler, T. (2023). Literary Stagecoaching: Famous Victims. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/75853
Rambler, The. Literary Stagecoaching: Famous Victims. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration, 2023. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/75853.
Rambler, The Literary Stagecoaching: Famous Victims. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration, 2023, ROSA P. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/75853.
2023-06-30
|
FHWA Highway History Website Articles
|
PDF
These photographs from a 1923 dictionary show early twentieth century road construction and the vehicles and equipment of the day. The photographs were entitled as "Newest Methods in Good Road Construction." One photograph is captioned as a "U.S. Object Lesson Road." But what exactly is an object lesson road? In a nutshell, beginning in the 1800s,
...
Longfellow, R. (2023). Back in Time The Object Lesson Road. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/75742
Longfellow, Rickie. Back in Time The Object Lesson Road. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration, 2023. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/75742.
Longfellow, Rickie Back in Time The Object Lesson Road. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration, 2023, ROSA P. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/75742.
2023-06-30
|
FHWA Highway History Website Articles
|
PDF
The National Scenic Byways Program of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, has been in full swing with 309 projects in 45 States chosen in 2006 to receive $25.5 million in grants. The program, established in 1991, has provided funding for 2181 State and nationally designated byway projects in 50 States, Puerto Rico
...
Longfellow, R. (2023). Back in Time Lower Valley Pike Scenic Byway. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/75705
Longfellow, Rickie. Back in Time Lower Valley Pike Scenic Byway. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration, 2023. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/75705.
Longfellow, Rickie Back in Time Lower Valley Pike Scenic Byway. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration, 2023, ROSA P. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/75705.
2023-06-30
|
FHWA Highway History Website Articles
|
PDF
Ohio has been celebrating its Bicentennial all year. Many barns were painted with the Bicentennial logo. (See photographs below.) A Wagon Train left Martin's Ferry, Ohio, on June 20, and will cross Ohio on the National Trail. It arrived in Reynoldsburg, an adjoining city to Columbus, Ohio's capital and home of the FHWA Ohio Division, on July 4th at
...
Longfellow, R. (2023). Back in Time Ohio Celebrates Bicentennial-1803-2003. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/75743
Longfellow, Rickie. Back in Time Ohio Celebrates Bicentennial-1803-2003. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration, 2023. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/75743.
Longfellow, Rickie Back in Time Ohio Celebrates Bicentennial-1803-2003. United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration, 2023, ROSA P. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/75743.
Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving a Bureau of Transportation
Statistics (BTS)/National Transportation Library (NTL)
Web-based service.
Thank you for visiting.
You are about to access a non-government link outside of
the U.S. Department of Transportation's National
Transportation Library.
Please note: While links to Web sites outside of DOT are
offered for your convenience, when you exit DOT Web sites,
Federal privacy policy and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation
Act (accessibility requirements) no longer apply. In
addition, DOT does not attest to the accuracy, relevance,
timeliness or completeness of information provided by linked
sites. Linking to a Web site does not constitute an
endorsement by DOT of the sponsors of the site or the
products presented on the site. For more information, please
view DOT's Web site linking policy.
To get back to the page you were previously viewing, click
your Cancel button.