“New Ideas for a Nation on the Move”
As President George W. Bush has clearly recognized, safe, efficient transportation systems are essential to America's continued economic vitality, our ability to compete in a global economy, and most importantly, to the quality of life of all Americans. The United States’ economy out-paced the economies of other major industrialized nations in 2005. During the latest quarter, the economy grew at an impressive 4.8 percent and no sector of the economy experienced more robust growth than the transportation sector. But that sustained growth requires some serious rethinking about the way that we build, finance, manage, and maintain the transportation systems that move our people and our economy. In celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Interstate Highway System, we recognize that the transportation networks that have served our Nation very well in the past must rise to even greater challenges in the future.
Today, our vital transportation infrastructure is showing signs of aging. We are experiencing increasing congestion on our highways, railways, airports and seaports. We are robbing our economy of productivity and our citizens of quality time with their families. In some cases, this is the result of systems and structures that are more suited to a bygone era than to the 21st century. Our mission can still be described by the words of President Dwight D. Eisenhower 50 years ago. He said that building the system would be “a journey, not a destination.” Now that journey is more complex. It takes us around the globe moving people and goods 24/7, and linking us to distant places in real time through the Internet. It is clearly time for "New Ideas for a Nation on the Move."
This Strategic Plan describes the Department of Transportation’s new ideas through goals, strategies and the results we will achieve to improve the United States transportation sector. We have set policy goals in five strategic areas: Safety, Reduced Congestion, Global Connectivity, Environmental Stewardship, and Security, Preparedness and Response. We describe our goals for making DOT a more effective Federal agency in our chapter on Organizational Excellence.
Improving safety throughout the transportation network remains DOT’s premier goal. We are making significant strides to reduce transportation-related fatalities and injuries, despite increasing exposure to safety risk from demographics, globalization and economic activity. This Strategic Plan outlines the steps we will take to raise safety levels throughout the Nation and internationally.
In May 2006, the Department announced an innovative National Strategy to Reduce Congestion on America’s Transportation Network. This initiative signals a new era of Federal leadership in the transportation sector and, for the first time in DOT’s history, makes congestion reduction a strategic goal. DOT’s National Strategy to Reduce Congestion provides a framework for dramatically improving the performance of America’s transportation system, and introduces new approaches to fund and manage the system in the years ahead.
The globalization of the American economy has put pressure on our ports, borders, and airports. Our Global Connectivity goal addresses international transportation issues with two synergistic strategies. One strategy is directed toward opening international transportation markets; the other is directed toward improving essential, intermodal transportation linkages. Both are needed to achieve outcomes that will yield better global connectivity and a more competitive and efficient global marketplace.
We will continue to work toward a balance between environmental challenges and the need for a safe and efficient transportation network. Current data reveal that transportation is exerting significant pressure on the environment world-wide. Commercial and personal transportation have grown substantially in recent years and are projected to increase in the future despite higher prices for petroleum and warnings about climate change. Our Environmental Stewardship goal describes how we will reduce pollution and other adverse effects from transportation to protect the environment.
This Strategic Plan introduces an area of strategic interest comprising transportation issues that have become more acute in the post-9/11, post-Hurricane Katrina era — Security, Preparedness and Response. We believe it is essential for all transportation service providers to consider their future roles and responsibilities in emergencies that affect the viability of the transportation sector. We recognize that the first element of facing a challenge is to prepare for it, and preparing involves many different activities: policymaking, reviewing and validating intelligence, planning, building capabilities, training, and exercising scenarios. Our Security, Preparedness and Response goal puts those elements in place to prepare us to deal with both expected and unexpected future emergencies.
Finally, we cannot achieve our strategic goals without vision, leadership and a culture of teamwork, collaboration and continuous improvement. We resolve to be leaders in pursuing best practices and achieving results that benefit taxpayers and the Nation. Our central management strategy for achieving organizational improvement will be delivering the results described in this Strategic Plan and full implementation of the President's Management Agenda (PMA).
The Department of Transportation looks forward to working with the Congress and with our public and private sector partners to facilitate a transportation system that is unparalleled in its safety and in its contributions to America's economic vitality and quality of life through “New Ideas for a Nation on the Move.”
As accountable public servants, we exemplify the highest standards of excellence, integrity, and respect in the work environment.
We support each other, respect differences in people and ideas and work together in ONE DOT fashion.
We strive to understand and meet the needs of our customers through service, innovation and creativity. We are dedicated to delivering results that matter to the American people.
“The national objectives of general welfare, economic growth and stability, and the security of the United States require the development of transportation policies and programs that contribute to providing fast, safe, efficient, and convenient transportation at the lowest cost consistent with those and other national objectives, including the efficient use and conservation of the resources of the United States.”[1]
DOT occupies a leadership role in global transportation. With 53,500 employees stationed in the U.S. and around the world, the Department is dedicated to improving transportation by making it safer, less congested, better connected, environmentally friendly and fully operational in all conditions. Since its first official day of operation in 1967, DOT’s transportation programs have evolved to meet the economic demands of the Nation.[2]
The Bush Administration has proposed $65.6 billion in budgetary resources for fiscal year 2007 to support major investments in transportation that are vital to the health of our economy and the American way of life. These resources will address the needs of our current system in a responsible way, while laying the groundwork for America's transportation in the future. As transportation needs grow and change, we will work with our partners to provide safe and reliable transportation services that are innovative, that work better and that cost less.
Today, DOT is comprised of the Office of the Secretary, the Surface Transportation Board,[3] the Office of the Inspector General and 10 operating administrations.
The national objectives of general welfare, economic growth and stability, and the security of the United States require the development of transportation policies and programs that contribute to providing fast, safe, efficient, and convenient transportation at the lowest cost consistent with those and other national objectives, including the efficient use and conservation of the resources of the United States.
Safety: Enhance public health and safety by working toward the elimination of transportation-related deaths and injuries.
Reduced Congestion: Reduce congestion and other impediments to using the Nation’s transportation system.
Global Connectivity: Facilitate an international transportation system that promotes economic growth and development.
Environmental Stewardship: Promote transportation solutions that enhance communities and protect the natural and built environment.
Security, Preparedness and Response: Balance transportation security requirements with the safety, mobility and economic needs of the Nation and be prepared to respond to emergencies that affect the viability of the transportation sector.
Organizational Excellence: Advance the Department's ability to manage for results and achieve the goals of the President's Management Agenda.
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Last updated October 12, 2006