49 U.S.C. § 101 - Purpose

• Cite as: 49 U.S.C. § 101

(a) The national objectives of general welfare, economic growth and stability, and 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.

(b) A Department of Transportation is necessary in the public interest and to-

(1) ensure the coordinated and effective administration of the transportation programs of the United States Government;

(2) make easier the development and improvement of coordinated transportation service to be provided by private enterprise to the greatest extent feasible;

(3) encourage cooperation of Federal, State, and local governments, carriers, labor, and other interested persons to achieve transportation objectives;

(4) stimulate technological advances in transportation, through research and development or otherwise;

(5) provide general leadership in identifying and solving transportation problems; and

(6) develop and recommend to the President and Congress transportation policies and programs to achieve transportation objectives considering the needs of the public, users, carriers, industry, labor, and national defense.

Cite as 49 U.S.C. § 101

Source: Pub. L. 97-449, §1(b), Jan. 12, 1983, 96 Stat. 2414; Pub. L. 102-240, title VI, §60186018,, 105 Stat. 2183.

current through 7/7/2021

In subsections (a) and (b), the introductory declaratory words are omitted as surplus.

In subsection (a), the words "national objectives of" are inserted for clarity. The words "United States" are substituted for "Nation" and "Nation's", respectively, for consistency. The word "contribute" is substituted for "conducive" because the substituted word is more commonly used. The word "those" is substituted for "utilization".

In subsection (b)(2), the word "greatest" is substituted for "maximum" for consistency.

In subsection (b)(3) and (6), the word "national" is omitted before "transportation" as unnecessary and for consistency.

In subsection (b)(3), the word "persons" is substituted for "parties" as being more precise.

In subsection (b)(6), the words "transportation objectives" are substituted for "these objectives" for clarity and consistency. The words "full and appropriate" and "for approval" are omitted as surplus.

AMENDMENTS

1991-Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 102-240 inserted ", through research and development or otherwise" after "advances in transportation".

SHORT TITLE OF 2018 AMENDMENT

Pub. L. 115-420, §1, Jan. 3, 2019, 132 Stat. 5444, provided that: "This Act [amending sections 310, 22901, 22902, 22904, 22905, 22907, 22908, 24102, 24103, 24319, 24711, 24905, 24910, 24911, and 26106 of this title, section 402 of Title 23, Highways, and section 51314 of Title 46, Shipping, renumbering sections 24401 to 24408 of this title as sections 22901 to 22908 of this title, enacting provisions set out as a note under section 24319 of this title, and amending provisions set out as notes under sections 22905, 22907, and 26106 of this title] may be cited as the 'Department of Transportation Reports Harmonization Act'."