the us interstate highway system

Alex Harkins

Jake Taylor

THE US INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM

CONTENTS• History

• Planning

• Construction

• Engineering Standards

• Early standards

• Modern standards

• Engineering and Politics

• Lobbying http://public.csusm.edu/kovri001/1950s.html

The Road is long but never narrow

The interstate flying even faster

We travel forward, sometimes back, always fast

-Anonymous

HISTORY

http://www.history.com/shows/modern-marvels/videos/keep-it-moving

http://www.dot.ca.gov/interstate/

PLANNING• Thomas H. MacDonald

• Federal Highway Act of 1921

• General John J. Pershing

• “Pershing Map”

• President Roosevelt

<http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1e/Highways1955.gif>

PLANNING• President Dwight D. Eisenhower

<http://www.harisingh.com/Images/hsike3.jpg>

CONSTRUCTION• Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956

• Significant dates:

• 1986 – Completion of I-80

• 1990 – Completion of I-10

• 1991 – Completion of I-90

• 1992 - Completion of the original Interstate Highway System

ENGINEERING STANDARDS

EARLY HIGHWAY STANDARDS

Early 1900s

• AASHO

• Design criteria

• Design vehicle

• Design speed

• Alignment

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/publicroads/96summer/p96su10.cfm

EARLY HIGHWAY STANDARDS

1950s

• Design Criteria

• Control of Access

• Design vehicle (automobiles)

• Design speed (40-50 urban/mountainous, 60-70 rural)

• Alignment (high speed = low curvature)

• Superelevation

• Sight distance (stopping distance)

• Divided Highways (ADT of >800)

• Right of way (two lane, divided)

http://www.civilpeexam.com/books/books_transportation.php

MODERN DAY STANDARDS

Changes

• AASHTO

• “green book”

• Control of Access

• Design speed

• Lane width

NUMBERING SYSTEM• Primary Routes have one and two digits.

• Main Highways

• Odd numbers travel north to south (increasing west to east)

• Even numbers travel east to west (increasing south to north)

• No repetition

• Auxiliary Routes have three digits. These highways often form loops and are usually found in urban areas. These numbers can be repeated in different states.

http://www.123rf.com/stock-photo/interstate.html

LOBBYING

WHAT IS LOBBYING?• Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the

government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by many different types of people and organized groups, including individuals in the private sector, corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or advocacy groups.

THE NSPEAll NSPE members automatically qualify to join one of six practice-specific engineering interest groups. Each provides members with benefits unique to their field, including opportunities to:

• 1) Network within their communities of practice – across geographical lines

• 2) Build leadership skills and professional alliances

• 3) Give input on products and services designed to serve the whole engineering community

• 4) Help recognize leading and emerging engineers within your field with awards and scholarships

• 5)Join in mentoring young engineers within your practice community.

BENEFITS OF LOBBYING INVOLVING ENGINEERINGThe benefits that Engineers can experience from lobbying are many

• Increase pay

• Help design major projects and the use of funds that are accorded to them

• Involve them into the mainstream political forum

• Guarantee that they will receive that benefits from the jobs that they help create

WHAT WORKS BEST IN LOBBYING?• Delivering the straight facts to lawmakers;

• Having active allies in a Congressman's district;

• Mobilizing grassroots action, such as phone calls and letters;

• Getting along well with politicians and their staffs.(2)

The Road is long but never narrow

The interstate flying even faster

We travel forward, sometimes back, always fast

CONCLUSION

WORKS CITED