Summary of Changes Made in DOT Order 1100.63E, July 1, 2024

Subject: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ORGANIZATION MANUAL, FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION

1. PURPOSE: To issue a revision to the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) section of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Organization Manual.

2. CANCELLATION: This Order cancels DOT Order 1100.63D, DOT Organization Manual, FHWA, dated November 16, 2021.

3. BACKGROUND: The FHWA was created on October 15, 1966, after having had several predecessor organizations. It was established as a segment of DOT on April 1, 1967. Representing the Federal interest in the Nation's highway transportation system, FHWA was comprised of entities transferred from the Bureau of Public Roads (previously the Office of Road Inquiry), and the National Highway Safety Bureau within the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Bureau of Motor Carrier Safety within the Interstate Commerce Commission.

4. REFERENCES: DOT Order 1320.16D, DOT Directives System, dated January 19, 2021.

5. EXPLANATION OF CHANGES:

   This change restructures and realigns functions to improve the overall operations and to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of FHWA offices and programs, and better position FHWA to meet statutory requirements of the historic 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). In addition, the manual reflects editorial and administrative edits for consistency and to align with the Agency’s overall restructuring.

   Documented below is information addressing the overall FHWA restructuring and realignment. These changes are included in the FHWA section of the DOT Organization Manual.

   • a. The Office of Transportation Workforce Development and Technology Deployment (HIT): HIT is being restructured and renamed the Office of Technical Services (OTS). This change will improve Agency consistency and increase program effectiveness and operational efficiency. The Tier A, Associate Administrator Senior Executive Service (SES) level position for this office is being repurposed for the new Tier B SES position of Director, Office of Technical Services. The position is currently vacant and FHWA will recruit to fill this position. A total of 20 HIT employees will be realigned to other FHWA offices as a result of this organization change.

     Other HIT offices are being restructured and functions realigned to various Headquarters (HQ) program offices:

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     • 1) The Office of Innovation Implementation – Resource Center (OII RC), is being restructured realigned with the same office name under OTS, (OTS-OII RC), and will continue to effectively promote, implement, and administer FHWA’s technical assistance and technology deployment program. This office is led by a Tier B SES level Director position, currently occupied. The position description is being updated to reflect the impact of this realignment. The following three OTS-OII RC specialty functions will be realigned and 15 employees transferred as follows:

       • a) Transportation Performance Management and Asset Management functions are realigned to the Office of Infrastructure’s (HIF) Office of Stewardship, Oversight, and Management. There is no impact to the SES position in this office. Six OII RC employees will be transferred to HIF.

       • b) Freight Analytics functions are realigned to the Office of Operations’ (HOP) Office of Freight Management and Operations. There is no impact to the SES position in this office. Five OII RC employees will be transferred to HOP.

       • Right-of-Way functions are realigned to the Office of Planning, Environment, and Realty’s (HEP) Office of Real Estate Services. There is no impact to the SES position in this office. Four OII RC employees will be transferred to HEP.

     • 2. The Office of Innovation Management, Education, and Partnerships (OIMEP) coordinates the integration of innovative technologies and practices in the transportation community, development of learning and educational programs, deployment of innovative technologies and practices, and assisting FHWA partners and stakeholders in the areas of workforce development. The office was allocated a Tier-B SES Director level position but was never filled. The office is being abolished and FHWA is repurposing this Tier-B SES allocation. These three OIMEP programs/functions are being realigned and five employees transferred as follows:

       • a) The Tribal Technical Assistance Program is realigned to the Office of Federal Lands Highway (HFL). This office is led by a Tier-A, Associate Administrator SES level position and there is no impact to this SES position. Two OIMEP employees will be transferred to HFL.

       • b) The Workforce Development Programs (Garrett A. Morgan Transportation Technology Education Program and National Summer Transportation Institutes) are realigned to the Office of Administration (HAD). This office is led by a Tier- A, Associate Administrator SES level position and there is no impact to this SES position. Two OIMEP employees will be transferred to HAD.

       • c) The On-the-Job Training/Support Services Program is realigned to the Office of Civil Rights (HCR). This office is led by a Tier-A, Associate Administrator SES level position and there is no impact to this SES position. One OIMEP employee will be transferred to HCR.

       • d) As a result of a Departmental assessment to strengthen civil rights Title VI compliance in DOT Operating Administrations, HCR updated its mission and functions to include the Title VI Investigations function to oversee and deliver more effective and efficient investigations or special reviews of external complaints.

   • b. The Office of Administration (HAD): To meet anticipated organizational mission changes as well as current and future industry demands, FHWA identified the need to restructure HAD, by combining discretionary grants coordination functions and workforce programs to establish a new Office of Discretionary Grants and Workforce Programs. Combining these function/programs into HAD will benefit DOT, FHWA, and our transportation partners by creating greater synergy, eliminating workload duplication and stove-pipe barriers, and increasing efficiencies and effectiveness in implementing the congressionally mandated provisions of the historic BIL legislation. FHWA also identified the need for repurposing the OIMEP Tier-B SES allocation to add a new SES position to HAD for the new office, Director, Office of Discretionary Grants and Workforce Programs. FHWA will be recruiting to fill this new SES position. HAD currently has one Tier-A Associate Administrator SES position and two Tier-B SES positions.

     On October 2, 2023, the DOT Executive Resources Board approved the FHWA restructure, realignment of functions, abolishment and repurpose of the SES positions outlined above.

    

   Shailen P. Bhatt Administrator