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Department of Transportation

Mission Statement

The nation's transportation system is composed of a vast and intricate network of highways, skyways, railways, rivers and roads.

Nothing is more essential to the well-being of the country's citizens and to its commerce than the efficient operations of this network, which crisscrosses the nation and touches the lives of everyone.

Since 1967, the Department of Transportation has been helping to keep this system running. It is responsible for ensuring the safety and reliability of all forms of transportation for protecting the interest of consumers; for conducting planning and research for the future, and in assisting cities and states to meet their local transportation goals.

The Department's employees are Coast Guard personnel, rail safety inspectors, highway engineers, pipeline experts, air traffic controllers, emergency medical service authorities, traffic specialists, Merchant Marine personnel and may others.

The Secretary of Transportation oversees the nine operating Administrations which compose the Department. Each Administration is concerned with a specific form of transportation. The Secretary's office also develops and updates national transportation policy, prepares needed transportation legislation, issues licenses for commercial expendable space launch vehicle operations, and helps negotiate international transportation agreements.

For more information, please write or call:
Office of Public Information
Office of the Secretary
U.S. Department of Transportation
Washington, D.C. 20590

202/366-5580

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