U.S. Department of Transportation celebrates 50 years

Updated Feb 8, 2016

BoydTribute
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) was formed 50 years ago under the Lyndon B. Johnson Administration and Alan Boyd served as the first Secretary of Transportation, the 12th cabinet post to be created.

Screen Shot 2016-02-04 at 4.29.26 PMIn honoring this milestone, USDOT is focusing its celebration on a different theme each month.

The agency says the purpose of the themes is to “educate Americans about the direct and indirect connections between transportation and our daily lives; celebrate the achievements of the department in solving past transportation challenges; and engage audiences in our efforts to meet the transportation challenges of the future.”

The themes include:

  • February: Transportation’s Role in Advancing Ladders of Opportunity
  • March: Women in Transportation
  • April: Safety Then and Now
  • May: Celebrating Public Service at DOT
  • June: Advancing Innovation and Technology Across the Transportation System
  • July: Paying for a 21st Century Transportation System
  • August: Climate Change and Transportation
  • September: Local and State Transportation Solutions
  • October: How We Move Things
  • November: Veterans in Transportation
  • December: Future Leaders in Transportation

On Feb. 3, USDOT held a ceremony for the 50th anniversary and to honor previous secretaries of transportation, including Boyd (1967-1969), James Burnley (1987-1989), Samuel Skinner (1989-1991), Rodney Slater (1997-2001), Norman Mineta (2001-2006) and Mary Peters (2006-2009).

More information on the department’s history and milestones is available here.