U.S. Department of Transportation

Main website: https://www.faa.gov/

Established: 1958 (under the Federal Aviation Act of 1958) and then under the DOT in 1967 (Public Law No. 89-670)

Mission: "To provide the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world."

Additional FAA information and resources:

Main website: https://highways.dot.gov/

Established: 1893 as the Office Road, in 1905 as the Office of Public Roads under the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in 1915 as the Bureau of Public Roads, in 1939 as the Public Roads Administration, in 1949 as the Bureau of Public Roads under the U.S. Department of Commerce, and in 1966 as FHWA.

Mission: "To deliver a world-class system that advances safe, efficient, equitable, and sustainable mobility choices for all while strengthening the Nation’s economy."

Additional FHWA information and resources:

Main website: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/

Established: 2000 (Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999)

Mission: "To reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities involving large trucks and buses."

Additional FMCSA information and resources: 

Main website: https://railroads.dot.gov/

Established: 1967 (Public Law No. 89-670)

Mission: "To enable the safe, reliable, and efficient movement of people and goods for a strong America, now and in the future."

Vision: RAIL - Moving America Forward

Additional FRA information and resources:

Main website: https://www.transit.dot.gov/

Established: In 1964 as a federal transit program (Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964), moved under the DOT as the Urban Mass Transportation Administration in 1967, and then and renamed in 1991 as FTA

Purpose: "Supports transit systems nationwide, including buses, subways, light rail, commuter rail, trolleys and ferries, through funding — currently investing more than $20 billion annually — and technical assistance."

Additional FTA information and resources: 

Main website: https://www.seaway.dot.gov/

Established: 1954 (Public Law 83-358)

Mission: "To serve the marine transportation industries by providing a safe, secure, reliable, efficient, and competitive deep draft international waterway, in cooperation with the Canadian St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC)."

Additional GLS information and resources

Main website: https://www.maritime.dot.gov/

Established: 1950 (Reorganization Plan No. 21) and later in 1981 moved under the DOT

Mission: "To foster, promote and develop the maritime industry of the United States to meet the nation’s economic and security needs."

Additional MARAD information and resources:

Main website: https://www.nhtsa.gov/  

Established: 1970 (Highway Safety Act of 1970)

Purpose: "Through enforcing vehicle performance standards and partnerships with state and local governments, NHTSA reduces deaths, injuries and economic losses from motor vehicle crashes."

Additional NHTSA information and resources: 

Main website: https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/

Established: 2004 (Norman Y. Mineta Research and Special Programs Improvement Act)

Mission: "To protect people and the environment by advancing the safe transportation of energy and other hazardous materials that are essential to our daily lives."

Additional PHMSA information and resources: