Tennessee Department of Transportation

The major duties and responsibilities of TDOT are to:

• plan, build, and maintain the state-owned highway and Interstate system of over 14,000 miles (23,000 km);
• administer funding and provide technical assistance in the planning and construction of state and federal aid road programs for cities and counties;
• provide incident management on Tennessee's Interstate system through TDOT SmartWay, an intelligent transportation network of cameras and dynamic message signs;
• staff transportation management centers in the four largest urban cities in Tennessee;
• provide motorist information;
• construct and maintain 19 rest area facilities and 17 welcome centers;
• administer program for control of outdoor advertising adjacent to Interstate and state highways;
• issue and administer special permits for movement of overweight and over-dimensional vehicles;
• prepare and distribute city, county, and state road maps, aeronautical charts, and airport directories;
• promote safe driving behaviors on highways;
• provide management, technical and financial assistance, and supervision to public, private, and nonprofit public transportation agencies in the state
• administer funding and assistance in location, design, construction, and maintenance of the state's 80 public airports;
• support improvements in Tennessee's railroads and rail service;
• inspect over 19,000 bridges, 80 public airports, and all of the state's railroads;
• maintain state park roads;
• operate Reelfoot Airpark and ferry operations;
• respond to initiatives of the Tennessee Aeronautics Commission;
• provide aerial photography and mapping services to all state agencies;
• provide aircraft for state executive transportation and economic development recruiting;
• administer highway beautification programs;
• provide grants to all Tennessee counties for litter abatement and litter prevention education; and
• provide cycling trails that connect or go through state parks and natural areas.

Map of early federal--"interstate" highway system in Tennessee, circa 1927

Prior to 1915, the state had no central authority governing construction and maintenance of roads. The governor, legislature, other road associations, and local governments all attempted to serve these tasks, leading to a lack of planning and management. In 1915, a State Highway Commission was created to organize transportation services. The original commission consisted of six volunteer members. As responsibilities of the commission grew, this became inadequate, and in 1919 the commission was replaced with three paid members. By 1922, roads in Tennessee were behind surrounding states. Governor Austin Peay created a new Department of Highways and Public Works and appointed J.G. Creveling, Jr. as the single commissioner. Peavy also implemented a tax of two cents per gallon to fund the new department. The collapse of the banking system in 1930 resulted in significant losses for the state and led to an inability to fund the department. All of its workers had to be released. However, in 1933 the New Deal projects gave $11 million of federal money for highway projects. Diversion of federal funds and military enlistment of personnel during World War II again crippled the department. Following the war, the construction of the new Interstate Highway system brought a massive boom to the department. In 1972, due to its expanding role in all modes of transportation, it was renamed the Tennessee Department of Transportation. In the 1980s, TDOT began the $3.3 billion Better Roads Program to clear a backlog of projects and improve aging roads. In 1989, the gas tax was set at 21.40 cents per gallon to help fund this project. Through the 1990s and early 2000s, the department began working on ways to improve efficiency and involve communities.[1]

TDOT is headed by a single commissioner who is appointed by the governor. The leadership level also includes the Deputy Commissioner, and leaders for legal, aeronautics, community relations, and legislation. Three bureaus exist under this level. Most administrative offices operate from the TDOT headquarters in downtown Nashville, the state's capital city. There are also four regional offices across the state. Each region is further divided into districts which are then subdivided into county facilities.[6]

The following table lists the regions, district offices, maintenance and construction offices for each region, and counties served.

TDOT reports the following as Tennessee's transportation system:[13]

Funding for the state transportation system in Tennessee comes from a fund that is separate from the state's general fund which operates most of the other state agencies in Tennessee. Transportation revenues come from both federal transportation monies and from state funding resources. Those state funds come from a combination of dollars collected from gas and diesel tax revenues, titling and registration fees. Tennessee operates on a "pay as you go" system by using available revenues resulting in no debt service. Tennessee is one of three states in the nation that does not finance transportation through bonding. Critics of this mechanism claim that it inhibits the ability of the department to sufficiently complete necessary infrastructure improvements.[14]

The leaders of the department and its preceding organizations have been:[15]

• Official website
• TDOT Facebook
• TDOT Twitter pages
• TDOT Smartway Cameras
• Tennessee 511
• TDOT HELP program
• TDOT Civil Rights Division
• Governor’s Highway Safety Office
• SmartCommute
• Stop Litter