USA Banner

Official US Government Icon

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure Site Icon

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation

Press Releases

If you are interested in searching for press releases prior to 2021, please visit our News Archive.

Work Zone Fatalities at Highest Level Since 2006, New Data Show

FHWA 09-21
Contact: Neil Gaffney
Tel: 202-366-0660

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) joined state Departments of Transportation and other organizations nationwide today to urge drivers to keep highway workers safe as construction activities increase. They also urged the public to wear orange on April 28 for a national “Go Orange” Day to show their support for highway workers.

In 2019, the most recent...

FHWA Greenlights Environmental Assessment for New York City’s Proposed Congestion Pricing Plan

FHWA 08-21
Contact: Doug Hecox
Tel.: (202) 366-0660

WASHINGTON – In a letter sent today to New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) determined that an Environmental Assessment (EA) is the appropriate next step for the New York City Congestion Pricing project, which would manage Midtown traffic congestion using...

Half-Million Emergency Responders Finish FHWA’s ‘Traffic Incident Management’ Training

FHWA 07-21
Contact: Nancy Singer
Tel.: (202) 366-0660

WASHINGTON – Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) officials announced today that 500,000 emergency responders have completed the specialized National Traffic Incident Management (TIM) Responder Training. This milestone reflects nearly a decade of efforts to improve safety for those on the scene at roadway crashes and represents the agency’s continued progress toward its goal of training one million first responders....

FHWA Awards $18.7 Million to Eight Projects to Explore New Highway Funding Methods

FHWA 06-21
Contact: Nancy Singer
Tel.: (202) 366-0660

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) today awarded $18.7 million in “Surface Transportation System Funding Alternatives” (STSFA) grants to eight projects, led by six state Departments of Transportation and two transportation coalitions, to test new user-based funding methods for highways and bridges. The program helps states explore innovative new ways to provide long-...

FHWA Announces Dates for Webinars on Proposed Updates to MUTCD

FHWA 05-21
Contact: Nancy Singer
Tel.: 202-366-0660

WASHINGTON – The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) today announced a series of webinars on proposed revisions to the “Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways” (MUTCD). This is the first proposed comprehensive update in more than a decade to a document that sets national standards for the use of traffic signs, signals and markings on all roads open to public travel in the United States.

...

New Freight Benchmark Shows Value and Weight of Goods Moved on America’s Transportation Network Rose Over a Five-Year Period

BTS 14-21
FHWA 05-21
Contact: BTS/Dave Smallen (202) 366-5568, david.smallen@dot.gov
FHWA/Nancy Singer (202) 366-0660, nancy.singer@dot.gov

...

U.S. Driving Last Year Was Lowest in Two Decades, New Data Show

FHWA 04-21
Contact: Doug Hecox
Tel.: (202) 366-0660

WASHINGTON – After six consecutive years of gradual increases in vehicle-miles traveled (VMT), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) today released new year-end estimates showing total U.S. driving fell by 13.2% – from 3.3 trillion VMT in 2019 to 2.83 trillion in 2020. This decrease equates to an estimated reduction of nearly 170 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

“As the Biden Administration works...

USDOT Announces New America's Byways® Designations

FHWA 03-21
Contact: Doug Hecox
Tel.: 202-366-0660

WASHINGTON – Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) officials today announced 49 new designations to the America's Byways® collection, including 15 All-American Roads (AAR) and 34 National Scenic Byways (NSB) in 28 states. This increases the number of America's Byways® to 184 in 48 states.

"Through their many unique qualities, each of these new additions to the National Scenic Byways program helps America’s roads tell...

FHWA Extends Comment Period for Proposed MUTCD Updates to May 14

FHWA 02-21
Contact: Nancy Singer
Tel.: (202) 366-0660

WASHINGTON – Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) officials this week extended the comment period for proposed revisions to the “Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices” (MUTCD) to May 14, 2021. The 60-day extension will allow additional time for public participation in the MUTCD’s first major update in more than 10 years.

“This important document will set the tone for the future of our transportation system for...