Legal Definitions - Federal Highway Administration

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is an agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation. Its primary mission is to support the nation's highway system by providing financial assistance to states for the construction, maintenance, and improvement of roads and bridges. The FHWA also plays a crucial role in enhancing highway safety, promoting consistent regulations for commercial trucking across state lines, and ensuring the safe operation of commercial motor vehicles engaged in interstate commerce. Additionally, it offers training and technical assistance to state and local personnel involved in federally funded highway projects.

Here are some examples illustrating the work of the Federal Highway Administration:

• Example 1: Interstate Highway Expansion

  A rapidly growing state identifies a critical need to expand a congested segment of an interstate highway that serves as a major freight corridor and commuter route. The state applies for and receives significant funding from the FHWA to help finance the multi-billion dollar project, which involves adding new lanes, rebuilding interchanges, and upgrading bridges. The FHWA's involvement ensures that the project adheres to federal engineering standards, environmental regulations, and safety guidelines throughout its planning and construction phases.

  This example demonstrates the FHWA's core function of granting aid to states for highway construction and improvement, enabling large-scale infrastructure projects that are vital for economic growth and transportation efficiency.

• Example 2: Pedestrian Safety Initiative

  A city within a state experiences a concerning increase in pedestrian accidents and fatalities, particularly near schools and commercial districts. The state's Department of Transportation, in collaboration with the city, develops a comprehensive pedestrian safety program that includes installing new crosswalk signals, improving street lighting, and launching a public awareness campaign. The FHWA provides a matching grant to the state, covering a substantial portion of the program's costs, contingent on the state also contributing funds and demonstrating measurable safety outcomes.

  This illustrates the FHWA's responsibility for providing matching grants to states for highway-safety programs, encouraging and supporting local and state efforts to reduce accidents and improve safety for all road users.

• Example 3: Interstate Trucking Operations

  A national logistics company operates a fleet of commercial semi-trucks that transport goods across dozens of state lines every day. The FHWA sets and enforces federal safety regulations that these trucks and their drivers must comply with, such as rules regarding vehicle maintenance, driver hours-of-service limits, and cargo securement. Furthermore, the FHWA works to standardize requirements for commercial motor-carrier registration and taxation across different states, simplifying the administrative burden for the logistics company and promoting a more efficient national transportation network.

  This example highlights two key aspects of the FHWA's role: regulating the safety of motor carriers operating in interstate commerce to protect drivers and the public, and seeking uniformity among states in commercial motor-carrier registration and taxation to streamline operations for businesses.