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General Highway History

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General Highway History

Back in Time

Rickie Longfellow was a Program Assistant in the Federal Highway Administration's Ohio Division Office. As a writer-editor for many years, she decided to combine her love of history with her interest in highways by writing a column, "Back in Time," for FHWA News. Ideas for the column come from...

Section 2

The Natives are Restless

The FHWA published the Notice shortly before the presidential election on November 5, 1968. Former Vice President Richard M. Nixon defeated the Democratic candidate, Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey, and would take office on January 20, 1969. The outgoing Democratic Administration accelerated the remaining steps to implement the change in the 1968 Act before the Republican Administration took office.

Section 1

One option not available is to disassociate and insulate our activities from the sweep of events in America today. To pretend otherwise would be the depth of self-delusion.Lowell K. Bridwell
Federal Highway Administrator
December 1968


 

The Sixties

When historians give a nickname to a decade, such as the Roaring 20's, the nickname usually doesn't apply from the first day of the decade to the last. That is the case with "The Sixties." That nickname evokes images and ideas that evolved during the decade.

Section 3

National Environmental Policy Act of 1969

Senator Henry "Scoop" Jackson (D-Wa.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, was looking for a way to ensure all Federal actions reflected the new environmental awareness. Late in the Johnson Administration, Senator Jackson wanted to increase the expertise of his staff in this area, but did not have the funds to do so. He asked Train if the Conservation Foundation would pay for the consultant services of Professor Lynton K. Caldwell of Indiana University to work with the committee. Train agreed.