The federal share would be 90 percent or $24.8 billion. At the same time, most of those roads were made not of asphalt or concrete but of packed dirt (on good days) or mud. By 1927, the year that Ford stopped making this Tin Lizzie, the company had sold nearly 15 million of them. These standards, approved Aug. 1, 1945, did not call for a uniform design for the entire system, but rather for uniformity where conditions such as traffic, population density, topography, and other factors were similar. He, therefore, drafted a new bill with the help of data supplied by Frank Turner. They were intended to serve several purposes: eliminate traffic congestion; replace what one highway advocate called undesirable slum areas with pristine ribbons of concrete; make coast-to-coast transportation more efficient; and make it easy to get out of big cities in case of an atomic attack. The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, also known as the National Interstate and Defense Highways Act, Pub. Additionally, the tremendous growth of suburbs, like Levittowns, drastically increased the number of commuters and clogged traditional highways. It had not previously applied to federal-aid projects, which were state, not federal, projects. Writing that contains many sentences of the same pattern bores both the writer and the reader. [citation needed] One of the stated purposes was to provide access in order to defend the United States during a conventional or nuclear war with the Soviet Union and its communist allies. Eisenhower's preferred bill, authored by a group of non-governmental officials led by Gen. Lucius Clay, was voted down overwhelmingly by the Congress in 1955. To construct the network, $25 billion was authorized for fiscal years 1957 through 1969. This provision avoided the costly alternative of constructing toll-free interstate routes in corridors already occupied by turnpikes. The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 brought about a greater emphasis on Federal-aid. Within the administration, the president placed primary responsibility for developing a financing mechanism for the grand plan on retired Gen. Lucius D. Clay, an engineer and a long-time associate and advisor to the president. Also, by July 1950, the United States was again at war, this time in Korea, and the focus of the highway program shifted from civilian to military needs. He wanted a cooperative alliance between state and federal officials to accomplish the federal part of the grand plan. The interregional highways would follow existing roads wherever possible (thereby preserving the investment in earlier stages of improvement). Instead, it was usually built and operated by private companies that made enormous infrastructural investments in exchange for long-term profits. The governors had concluded that, as a practical matter, they could not get the federal government out of the gas tax business. The Interstate Highway System - Definition, Purpose & Facts - History This was about to change. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. As more American moved outward from city centers, the cry for better roads increased. Richard F. Weingroff is an information liaison specialist in the Federal Highway Administration's Office of the Associate Administrator for Program Development. AP is a trademark registered by the College Board, which is not affliated with, and does not endorse, this website. It was important, therefore, for the network to be located so as to "promote a desirable urban development." was one of the principal organizations of the American Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. The state and local share would be about $2 billion. L.84627 was enacted on June 29, 1956, when President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the bill into law. Who would pay the bill? Thehorsewiththesllverymaneandwhitetallwaschosenbythephotographer. At the same time, Fords competitors had followed its lead and begun building cars for everyday people. Instead, the secretary was directed to study the issue and report to Congress. (1894-1971) led the Soviet Union during part of the Cold War (after Stalin died). Bridges cracked and were rebuilt, vehicles became stuck in mud and equipment broke, but the convoy was greeted warmly by communities across the country. But he knew it was not a big enough step, and he decided to do something about it. The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 that emerged from the House-Senate conference committee included features of the Gore and Fallon bills, as well as compromises on other provisions from both. Acting on a suggestion by Secretary of Treasury George Humphrey, Rep. Boggs included a provision that credited a revenue from highway user taxes to a Highway Trust Fund to be used for the highway program. The needs of World War I, even before direct U.S. involvement, led Congress to pass the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1916 to make it easier to move supplies to East coast ports. In most cities and towns, mass transitstreetcars, subways, elevated trainswas not truly public transportation. Find History on Facebook (Opens in a new window), Find History on Twitter (Opens in a new window), Find History on YouTube (Opens in a new window), Find History on Instagram (Opens in a new window), Find History on TikTok (Opens in a new window), The Birth of the Interstate Highway System, https://www.history.com/topics/us-states/interstate-highway-system. John A. Volpe, who had been the commissioner of public works in Massachusetts for four years, served as interim administrator from Oct. 22 until Tallamy could take office in February 1957. He has been a reader, a table leader, and, for the past eight years, the question leader on the DBQ at the AP U.S. History reading. 47 terms. From there, it followed the Lincoln Highway to San Francisco. Two lane segments, as well as at-grade intersections, were permitted on lightly traveled segments. Do not include forms showing decreasing comparisons. Highway construction began almost immediately, employing tens of thousands of workers and billions of tons of gravel and asphalt. a conference to find a way to unify Korea and to discuss the possibility of restoring peace in Indochina. Congress Approves the Federal-Aid Highway Act June 26, 1956 On June 26, 1956, the Senate and House both approved a conference report on the Federal-Aid Highway Act (also known as the National Interstate and Defense Highways Act). BPR also published General Location of National System of Interstate Highways, which became known as "The Yellow Book" because of the color of its cover. Most segments would have at least four lanes and full control of access would be provided where permitted by state law. During the first three years, the funds would be apportioned as provided for in the Gore bill (mileage, land area, and population). BPR officials in 1966 celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Federal Aid Road Act of 1916, which launched the federal-aid highway program. This figure, $27 billion, was accepted by all parties as the goal of any plan for financing the interstate highways. This new name remained in all future House versions and was adopted in 1956. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. Federal Highway Act of 1956: This act, an accomplishment of the Eisenhower administration, authorized $25 billion for a ten- year project that built over 40,000 miles of interstate highways. refers to a speech Eisenhower made in 1957 within a "special message to the Congress on the Situation in the Middle East." The Public Works Committee removed the program portion of the House bill and substituted the Gore bill with some changes. During World War II, Gen. Eisenhower saw the advantages Germany enjoyed because of the autobahn network. (1913-2005) an African American civil rights activist who started the Montgomery Bus Boycott when she refused to give up her seat. Access would be limited to interchanges approved as part of the original design or subsequently approved by the secretary of commerce. During the 1960s, activists in New York City, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., New Orleans and other cities managed to prevent roadbuilders from eviscerating their neighborhoods. Interstate Express Highway Politics 1941-1989, University of Tennessee Press, 1990 (Revised Edition). HISTORY.com works with a wide range of writers and editors to create accurate and informative content. However, it was a token amount, reflecting the continuing disagreements within the highway community rather than the national importance of the system. The convoy was memorable enough for a young Army officer, 28-year-old Lieutenant Colonel Dwight David Eisenhower, to include a chapter about the trip, titled "Through Darkest America With Truck and Tank", in his book At Ease: Stories I Tell to Friends (Doubleday and Company, Inc., 1967). National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). He was a member of the committee that spell who original Advanced Placement Social Studies Vertical Teams Guide and that Advanced 1-86-NARA-NARA or 1-866-272-6272. [6] That bill authorized paying for highway expansion by establishing the Highway Trust Fund, which in turn would be funded by increases in highway user taxes on gasoline, diesel, tires, and other materials. A key difference with the House bill was the method of apportioning interstate funds; the Gore bill would apportion two-thirds of the funds based on population, one-sixth on land area, and one-sixth on roadway distance. Following completion of the highways, the cross-country journey that took the convoy two months in 1919 was cut down to five days. Urban interests battled rural interests for priority. Some governors even argued that the federal government should get out of the highway business altogether. One suggested goal of the interstate system was to eliminate slum areas in many cities. Federal legislation signed by Dwight . At the end of the 19th century, by contrast, there was just one motorized vehicle on the road for every 18,000 Americans. The convoy left the Ellipse south of the White House in Washington, D.C., on July 7, 1919, and headed for Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Sign up now to learn about This Day in History straight from your inbox. The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, for the first time, authorized the construction of over 40,000 miles of interstate highways in the United States and ultimately became known as the Eisenhower Interstate Highway System. USA.gov, The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration