The Department of Transport
The Department of Transport is the government department in South Africa concerned with transport. It is headed by the Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula. The Minister is a South African who is elected for a three-year term. He is responsible for many functions, including planning, infrastructure, and traffic.
U.S. Department of Transportation
The United States Department of Transportation is the executive department of the federal government. It was established in 1966 when Congress passed the Department of Transportation Act. The department works to improve the nation’s infrastructure and provide jobs. There are several aspects of the transportation system that it manages, including traffic and rail transportation.
The DOT employs almost 55,000 people across the country. It is organized into bureaus and operating administrations, each with its management structure. The DOT’s budget is over $39 billion for this fiscal year. Nearly half of this money is for highways. Another quarter of the money goes to aviation, which includes air traffic control operations and airport grants. These funds come from taxing airline tickets and smaller aviation user taxes.
The Secretary of Transportation is the chief adviser to the President on federal transportation policies and programs. A Deputy Secretary assists him. The Secretary oversees the formulation of national transportation policy, promotes intermodal transportation, and negotiates international transportation agreements. He also regulates U.S. airlines and ensures compliance with air travel consumer protection regulations. Finally, he prepares transportation legislation.
The DOT has remained virtually unchanged since 1966. However, President Clinton pushed for significant changes in the department’s structure and budget. The Clinton Administration’s National Performance Review recommended restructuring the agency, including consolidation of surface transportation programs, consolidation of air traffic control, and infrastructure block grants to states. The National Performance Review also recommended a reduction in federal transportation spending.
New York City Department of Transportation
The New York City Department of Transportation is the government agency that manages much of the transportation infrastructure of New York City. It is led by Ydanis Rodriguez, appointed by Mayor Eric Adams in January 2022. The agency’s mandate includes ensuring that New York City’s transportation network remains efficient and safe for residents and visitors.
Other department duties include maintaining roads, bridges, sidewalks, traffic signals, and street lights. They also handle a wide range of transportation-related issues, including the issuance of permits and contracts with private companies. They also oversee the installation of street meters. And also have an ongoing education program for students and adults to promote traffic safety.
The department manages seventy-four percent of the city’s roadways and has a small portfolio of movable bridges. These include most of the East River and Harlem River bridges. It also oversees a variety of other bridges, including the Carroll Street and Borden Avenue bridges. The department also coordinates transportation opportunities for people with disabilities, the elderly, and low-income populations.