Transportation
Federal agency websites and information resources on transportation, including TRIS, an online searchable transportation database.Government Agencies
- Department of Transportation
- "The mission of the DOT is to serve the United States by ensuring a fast, safe, efficient, accessible and convenient transportation system that meets our vital national interests and enhances the quality of life of the American people, today and into the future."
- "The mission of the DOT is to serve the United States by ensuring a fast, safe, efficient, accessible and convenient transportation system that meets our vital national interests and enhances the quality of life of the American people, today and into the future."
- Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS)
- "BTS compiles, analyzes, and makes accessible information on the Nation's transportation systems; collects information on intermodal transportation and other areas as needed; and works to enhance the quality and effectiveness of government statistics." BTS maintains the Intermodal Transportation Database (ITDB) as a central access point for a broad collection of transportation data collected by government agencies.
- BTS also offers the Pocket Guide to Transportation, 2003, which offers statistics on the extent of transportation system use, its safety, security, mobility,
economy, and the environment.
- "BTS compiles, analyzes, and makes accessible information on the Nation's transportation systems; collects information on intermodal transportation and other areas as needed; and works to enhance the quality and effectiveness of government statistics." BTS maintains the Intermodal Transportation Database (ITDB) as a central access point for a broad collection of transportation data collected by government agencies.
- National Transportation Library
- The NTL is administered by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. It contains documents and databases provided from throughout the transportation community.
- The NTL is administered by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. It contains documents and databases provided from throughout the transportation community.
- Federal Aviation Administration
- "The FAA is responsible for the safety and certification of aircraft and pilots, for the security of our airports, and for the around-the-clock operation of our nation's air traffic control system."
- "The FAA is responsible for the safety and certification of aircraft and pilots, for the security of our airports, and for the around-the-clock operation of our nation's air traffic control system."
- The General Accounting Office: Reports
- A number of reports stem from this page, including those below, dealing with subcommittee hearings on aviation-related matters. The reports are in PDF format:
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Enhanced Brigade Readiness Improved but Personnel and Workload Are Problems -
Safer Skies Initiative Has Taken Initial Steps to Reduce Accident Rates by 2007
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Aviation Security: Vulnerabilities Still Exist in the Aviation Security System
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Civil Air Patrol: proposed agreements with the Air Force are intended to address identified problems
- A number of reports stem from this page, including those below, dealing with subcommittee hearings on aviation-related matters. The reports are in PDF format:
- Federal Highway Administration
- "The FHWA provides technical expertise to its partners and customers in areas such as: roadway and bridge design, construction, and maintenance; value engineering and other project and program evaluation tools; policy and planning; highway safety; intelligent transportation systems; environmental protection and enhancement; innovative financing; land acquisition; research, development, and technology transfer."
- "The FHWA provides technical expertise to its partners and customers in areas such as: roadway and bridge design, construction, and maintenance; value engineering and other project and program evaluation tools; policy and planning; highway safety; intelligent transportation systems; environmental protection and enhancement; innovative financing; land acquisition; research, development, and technology transfer."
- Federal Railroad Administration
- "The Federal Railroad Administration promotes safe, environmentally sound, successful railroad transportation."
- "The Federal Railroad Administration promotes safe, environmentally sound, successful railroad transportation."
- Federal Transit Administration
- The FTA "provides financial and technical assistance to the local transit systems", such as Washington DC's Metro system.
- The FTA "provides financial and technical assistance to the local transit systems", such as Washington DC's Metro system.
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA investigates safety defects in motor vehicles, sets and enforces fuel economy standards, helps states and local communities reduce the threat of drunk drivers, promotes the use of safety belts, child safety seats and air bags, investigates odometer fraud, establishes and enforces vehicle anti-theft regulations and provides consumer information on motor vehicle safety topics.
- NHTSA investigates safety defects in motor vehicles, sets and enforces fuel economy standards, helps states and local communities reduce the threat of drunk drivers, promotes the use of safety belts, child safety seats and air bags, investigates odometer fraud, establishes and enforces vehicle anti-theft regulations and provides consumer information on motor vehicle safety topics.
- Office of Airline Information
- The OAI mission is to provide the U.S. government, DOT, and other users with uniform and comprehensive financial and market/traffic statistical economic data on individual air carrier (airline) operations and the air transportation industry.
- The OAI mission is to provide the U.S. government, DOT, and other users with uniform and comprehensive financial and market/traffic statistical economic data on individual air carrier (airline) operations and the air transportation industry.
- Office of Highway Policy Information
- The Office of Highway Policy Information (OHPI) collects, analyzes and distributes highway related data from federal, state and local sources. Selected documents and periodicals are available here for your review.
- The Office of Highway Policy Information (OHPI) collects, analyzes and distributes highway related data from federal, state and local sources. Selected documents and periodicals are available here for your review.
- Office of Highway Safety
- The Office of Highway Safety is part of the Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation. The OHS focuses on high risk areas and provides technical assistance and training to States and local governments, and public safety information to the driving public.
- The Office of Highway Safety is part of the Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation. The OHS focuses on high risk areas and provides technical assistance and training to States and local governments, and public safety information to the driving public.
Other Information Organizations
- Critical Issues in Transportation, 2002
- Published by the Transportation Research Board (TRB), this article was reprinted from TR News 217, November/December 2001.
- TRIS Online: Transportation Research Information Services
- Produced and maintained by the Transportation Research Board (TRB) at the National Academies of Sciences, "the TRIS Database is the world's largest and most comprehensive bibliographic resource on transportation information." Contains more than 400,000 records of published transportation research.
- Produced and maintained by the Transportation Research Board (TRB) at the National Academies of Sciences, "the TRIS Database is the world's largest and most comprehensive bibliographic resource on transportation information." Contains more than 400,000 records of published transportation research.
- Journal of Transportation and Statistics
- The Journal of Transportation and Statistics (JTS) is a scholarly, peer-reviewed journal sponsored by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The journal serves the transportation community by increasing the understanding of the role of transportation in society, its function in the economy, and its interactions with the environment.
- The Journal of Transportation and Statistics (JTS) is a scholarly, peer-reviewed journal sponsored by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The journal serves the transportation community by increasing the understanding of the role of transportation in society, its function in the economy, and its interactions with the environment.
- Transportation Environment Research Program
- The goal of the Transportation Environmental Research Program (TERP) is to fund research in transportation and environmental issues at universities and colleges. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) hopes that by committing to TERP, the research will provide insight on the difficult policy decisions that FHWA will undertake in the future.
- The goal of the Transportation Environmental Research Program (TERP) is to fund research in transportation and environmental issues at universities and colleges. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) hopes that by committing to TERP, the research will provide insight on the difficult policy decisions that FHWA will undertake in the future.
Historic Transportation
Aviation:
NARA Resources
- Aviation History
- The ALIC Reference at Your Desk page on military aviation history.
- The ALIC Reference at Your Desk page on military aviation history.
Other Resources
- American Aviation: The Early Years
- From the magazine CRM published by the National Park Service, this issue concentrates on the early years of American aviation.
- From the magazine CRM published by the National Park Service, this issue concentrates on the early years of American aviation.
- Black Wings: African American Pioneer Aviators
- Designed to complement an exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, this site provides educators and
researchers with resources that will enhance their study of American history and, in particular,
the history of African American pioneer aviators.
- Designed to complement an exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, this site provides educators and
researchers with resources that will enhance their study of American history and, in particular,
the history of African American pioneer aviators.
- College Park (Maryland) Aviation Museum
- Established in 1909 when Orville and Wilbur Wright set out to teach the first two Army officers to fly, it became the site of the first Army Aviation School in 1911. The Museum houses a collection of aircraft and artifacts documenting the many historical events for which the [College Park] airport is also known as the "Field of Firsts" and "Cradle of Aviation."
- Established in 1909 when Orville and Wilbur Wright set out to teach the first two Army officers to fly, it became the site of the first Army Aviation School in 1911. The Museum houses a collection of aircraft and artifacts documenting the many historical events for which the [College Park] airport is also known as the "Field of Firsts" and "Cradle of Aviation."
- Library of Congress American Memory Collection: Wilbur and Orville Wright Papers
- This online presentation includes approximately 49,084 digital images documenting the lives of Wilbur and Orville Wright, highlighting their pioneering work in flight. The collection includes correspondence, diaries and notebooks, scrapbooks, drawings, printed matter, and glass-plate photographic negatives.
- This online presentation includes approximately 49,084 digital images documenting the lives of Wilbur and Orville Wright, highlighting their pioneering work in flight. The collection includes correspondence, diaries and notebooks, scrapbooks, drawings, printed matter, and glass-plate photographic negatives.
- The Wright Brothers in Photographs
- This collection of digital images from Wright State University Libraries' Wright Brothers collection provides thorough coverage of the Wrights early inventive period documenting their expiramental
gliders and flight testing in both North Carolina and Ohio.
- This collection of digital images from Wright State University Libraries' Wright Brothers collection provides thorough coverage of the Wrights early inventive period documenting their expiramental
gliders and flight testing in both North Carolina and Ohio.
NARA Resources
- Guide to Railroad Records at the National Archives
- NARA's Reference Information Paper No. 91, by David Pfeiffer, is a comprehensive survey of railroad-related material. The publication is accessible on the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society website.
- NARA's Reference Information Paper No. 91, by David Pfeiffer, is a comprehensive survey of railroad-related material. The publication is accessible on the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society website.
- Riding the Rails Up Paper Mountain: Researching Railroad Records in the National Archives
- By David Pfeiffer, from the National Archives publication, Prologue, Spring 1997, vol. 29, no. 1. In three parts, this article discusses how to use the records at NARA to do research on historic railroads. The essays cover a wide range of topics, from patent application files to accident report reviews.
- By David Pfeiffer, from the National Archives publication, Prologue, Spring 1997, vol. 29, no. 1. In three parts, this article discusses how to use the records at NARA to do research on historic railroads. The essays cover a wide range of topics, from patent application files to accident report reviews.
Other Resources
- Historic Railroads: A Living Legacy. CRM, Volume 22, Number 10, 1999.
- From the magazine CRM published by the National Park Service, this issue focuses on historic railroads and their enormous contribution to American history. "As this special issue demonstrates, railroads are a thread woven throughout the fabric of American life, and their legacy - be it trains which are still operated, long-abandoned tracks, archaeological remains, works of art and architecture, or simply the stories of those who remember the ways they changed their lives - lives on all around us."
- From the magazine CRM published by the National Park Service, this issue focuses on historic railroads and their enormous contribution to American history. "As this special issue demonstrates, railroads are a thread woven throughout the fabric of American life, and their legacy - be it trains which are still operated, long-abandoned tracks, archaeological remains, works of art and architecture, or simply the stories of those who remember the ways they changed their lives - lives on all around us."
- Library of Congress American Memory Collection: Travels in America 1750-1920
- This site comprises 253 published narratives by Americans and foreign visitors recounting their travels in the colonies and the United States and their observations and opinions about American peoples, places, and society from about 1750 to 1920. The narratives range from the unjustly neglected to the justly famous, and from classics of the genre to undiscovered gems.
- This site comprises 253 published narratives by Americans and foreign visitors recounting their travels in the colonies and the United States and their observations and opinions about American peoples, places, and society from about 1750 to 1920. The narratives range from the unjustly neglected to the justly famous, and from classics of the genre to undiscovered gems.
- Manuscript Sources for Railroad History
- This site, maintained by Virginia Tech University libraries, is based on the records of the Norfolk and Western Railway, the Southern Railway, and the predecessors of these lines.
- This site, maintained by Virginia Tech University libraries, is based on the records of the Norfolk and Western Railway, the Southern Railway, and the predecessors of these lines.
- Railroads & the American West. Journal of the West, Volume 39, Number 2, Spring 2000.
- (Available in the library.) This issue also focuses on historic railroads and their impact on the American West. Articles include "The influence of railroads in the American West", "Financing the western railroads", "Pioneer rails across the Pacific Northwest", and more.
- (Available in the library.) This issue also focuses on historic railroads and their impact on the American West. Articles include "The influence of railroads in the American West", "Financing the western railroads", "Pioneer rails across the Pacific Northwest", and more.
- Railroad History Collections
- This University of Connecticut site features the largest single compilation of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford records, as well as several related collections.
- This University of Connecticut site features the largest single compilation of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford records, as well as several related collections.
- Railroad Surveys
- This website looks at the explorers and explorations that made possible the completion of the nation's transcontinental railroad in 1869.
- The Website for the railway industry
- This is a professional information site, including up-to-the-minute technology updates, an A-Z of railway terms, conferences and informations, and present-day projects involving rail.
- This is a professional information site, including up-to-the-minute technology updates, an A-Z of railway terms, conferences and informations, and present-day projects involving rail.
NARA Resources
- Basic Search Path for
Records Relating to Lighthouses
- This NARA site provides a basic guide for researching lighthouses.
- This NARA site provides a basic guide for researching lighthouses.
- "Congress Could Do Nothing Better": Promoting Steamboat Safety in Antebellum America
- Written by Peter Maust for Prologue, the National Archives publication, Summer 2000, Vol. 32, No. 2. This article is currently available in the ALIC libraries.
- Written by Peter Maust for Prologue, the National Archives publication, Summer 2000, Vol. 32, No. 2. This article is currently available in the ALIC libraries.
- Vessel Documents
- This NARA site contains information regarding vessel documents: laws, descriptions, and finding aids.
- This NARA site contains information regarding vessel documents: laws, descriptions, and finding aids.
Other Resources
- Panama Canal Treaty of 1977
- Information on the 1977 Panama Canal treaties and the 1999 transfer of the canal from American to
Panamanian control.
- Information on the 1977 Panama Canal treaties and the 1999 transfer of the canal from American to
Panamanian control.
- Erie Canal
- The Erie Canal was the most famous and successful of America's early towpath canals. The Erie Canal crossed the Appalachian Mountains and linked Lake Erie with the Hudson River, as well as being a part of the canal system which bound
together the Hudson River with Lake Champlain and the Canadian canals that flowed to the St.
Lawrence River.
- The Erie Canal was the most famous and successful of America's early towpath canals. The Erie Canal crossed the Appalachian Mountains and linked Lake Erie with the Hudson River, as well as being a part of the canal system which bound
together the Hudson River with Lake Champlain and the Canadian canals that flowed to the St.
Lawrence River.
- Great Lakes Vessel Enrollments Data Base
- Sponsored by the Wisconsin Marine Historical Society, this site lists vessel enrollments from 1815 to 1915.
- Sponsored by the Wisconsin Marine Historical Society, this site lists vessel enrollments from 1815 to 1915.
- Guide to Canal Records in the New York State Archives
- Subject guide for the records of the New York Canal System.
- Subject guide for the records of the New York Canal System.
- History of the Barge Canal of New York State
- Supplement to the Annual Report of the State Engineer and Surveyor for the Year Ended June 30 1921. Transcribed from the original text and html prepared by Bill Carr.
- Supplement to the Annual Report of the State Engineer and Surveyor for the Year Ended June 30 1921. Transcribed from the original text and html prepared by Bill Carr.
- Index to Ships Mentioned in Maritime History Books
- This page has collected references to the names of ships from indexes of various books, including the page numbers on which the ship is mentioned, full bibliographic information on the book, and a short-title description of the book.
- This page has collected references to the names of ships from indexes of various books, including the page numbers on which the ship is mentioned, full bibliographic information on the book, and a short-title description of the book.
- National Canal Museum
- The National Canal Museum commemorates the canals which contributed to the American
Industrial Revolution. Of special interest at this site are
the Canals and Canal Links which
link to most of the historic canals in the United States, and some in the UK.
- The National Canal Museum commemorates the canals which contributed to the American
Industrial Revolution. Of special interest at this site are
the Canals and Canal Links which
link to most of the historic canals in the United States, and some in the UK.
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The Website for the ship-building industry
- Another professional information site, with mirror information regarding ships,
ship-building, equipment catalogue, international projects, etc.
- Another professional information site, with mirror information regarding ships,
ship-building, equipment catalogue, international projects, etc.
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