Proposed Reorganization of US DOT By WILLIAM T. SUNLEY, Engineer of Local Roads and Streets

Legislation was introduced in Congress in April 1995 proposing the comprehensive reorganization of the U.S. Department of Transportation. It is uncertain whether this proposed legislation will be enacted. There is much concern among state transportation officials and local highway authorities as to whether the level of service currently provided by the Federal Highway Administration would continue under this proposal.

At present, the department is made up of ten separate agencies. Legislation would consolidate the agencies into three units: the Federal Aviation Administration, the Coast Guard, and the new Intermodal Transportation Administration. The key goals of the plan are to eliminate the need to have multiple administrative operations serving the existing ten agencies and to provide DOT customers in state and local government and private industry with "one-stop shopping."

Of the ten models within DOT, only the Coast Guard would continue to operate largely as it has in the past. The proposed Intermodal Transportation Agency would merge the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Rail Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, the Maritime Administration, and the Research and Special Programs Administration.

Transportation Secretary Federico Pena cautioned that history has demonstrated that reorganizing is a profoundly difficult task. Despite recommendations by virtually every DOT Secretary since the department was formed nearly thirty years ago, only minor changes have occurred. The proposal's timetable is to establish the Intermodal Transportation Administration in October 1995. During Fiscal Year 1996, the reorganization effort will focus on merging the headquarters operations of the modes in an orderly year-long process. Restructuring of field operations would occur in FY 1997, after detailed study and consultation with Congress.

Since Secretary Pena took office in 1993, DOT has eliminated over 4,000 positions, resulting in annual savings of $260 million. If the proposed legislation is passed, the U.S. Department of Transportation anticipates significant downsizing within the next five years.

Due to the magnitude of this change, legislation implementing this reorganization appears to be doubtful by October of this year. Leadership of the key Congressional committees with jurisdiction over the federal transportation programs has expressed concerns about the proposal. Regardless of what happens with the suggested reorganization of the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Illinois Department of Transportation will strive to ensure there is no interruption in either funding or services needed for the construction of highway related projects for local agencies in Illinois. •

Page 18 / Illinois Municipal Review / July 1995