1962
The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1962 creates the "3-C" planning process ("continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive") for urban areas.

1963
Federal-Aid Highway Amendments revise interstate highway standards to accommodate traffic forecasted 20 years ahead, rather than the fixed year, 1975, cited in previous legislation.

1964
Highway research facility named Herbert S. Fairbank Research Station.

1965
Highway Beautification Act of 1965, closely identified with Ladybird Johnson, is enacted.

1966
Highway Safety Act provides new support for federal-state safety programs.

1967
BPR renamed Federal Highway Administration and joins newly formed Department of Transportation.

1968
Federal-Aid Highway Act requires decent, safe, and sanitary housing for displacees and creates Traffic Operations Program to Improve Capacity and Safety, known as TOPICS. Environmental Development Division is added to the Office of Right-of-Way.

1969
Demonstration Projects Division established to promote application of new technology. Office of Civil Rights established.

1970
Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1970 establishes federal-aid urban system, increases federal share to 70 percent for non-interstate projects, and includes measures dealing with environmental considerations, noise standards, and air quality. National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 approved. National Highway Institute established.

1971
Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 approved.

1972
First annual report to Congress on Special Bridge Replacement Program (88,900 of nation's 563,500 bridges are considered critically deficient).

1973
Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1973 authorizes trade-in of controversial urban interstate highway segments to fund substitute transit projects (expanded to include highway projects in 1976). Act also called for functional realignment, establishes highway safety programs and the short-lived priority primary category, allows urban system funds to be used for mass transit, and enhances eligibility of bicycle and pedestrian facilities.

1974
Reacting to international oil embargo, maximum national speed limit established at 55 mi/h.

1975
Title "division engineer" changed to "division administrator."

1976
Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1976 established Interstate 3R Program (resurfacing, restoring, and rehabilitating). FHWA celebrates U.S. bicentennial by releasing 553-page America's Highways 1776-1976.

1977
U.S.-Saudi Arabian Highway Development Technical Assistance Agreement signed.

1979
Construction begins on Linn Cove Viaduct carrying Blue Ridge Parkway around Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina.

1980
Alinda C. Burke appointed Deputy Federal Highway Administrator, first woman in that position.

1981
Federal-Aid Highway Act redefines Interstate System "construction" to mean providing a minimum level of acceptable service and adds fourth R (for reconstruction) to I-3R Program.

1983
Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982 enacted, adding a nickel to the gas tax (first increase since 1961) as part of effort to restore highways and bridges. Sets a goal of 10 percent for participation of disadvantaged business enterprises in federal-aid projects.

1984
Motor Carrier Safety Act approved, setting procedures to determine safety fitness of carriers.

1985
Bureau of Motor Carrier Safety is replaced by Office of Motor Carriers under an associate administrator. Westway (I-476) in New York City withdrawn from Interstate System.

1986
Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act gives FHWA new tools to enhance commercial vehicle safety. First transcontinental interstate route, I-80, completed in Utah.

1987
Surface Transportation and Uniform Relocation Assistance Act approved, making important changes in highway, highway safety, public transit, and relocation assistance programs. Sunshine Skyway opens across Tampa Bay.

1989
In California, Loma Prieta earthquake, 7.1 on Richter scale, causes Nimitz Freeway in Oakland to collapse, killing 42, and damages Embarcadero Freeway, San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, and other roads in the Bay Area.

1990
Release of National Transportation Policy provides blueprint for future of surface transportation programs. FHWA Environmental Policy Statement released in April. Papago Freeway opens in Phoenix, completing transcontinental I-10. Interstate System renamed "Dwight D. Eisenhower System of Interstate and Defense Highways."

1991
The landmark International Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 restructures federal-aid highway and transit programs and calls for creation of a National Intermodal Transportation System.

1992
I-70 completed with opening of segment through Glenwood Canyon, Colo. "Don't Be April Fooled" is the motto as the single commercial driverƒs license requirement goes into effect.

1993
FHWA celebrates its 100th anniversary.

1995
National Highway System Designation Act designates almost 260,000 kilometers of interstate and other major highways as national highway system. It has provisions affecting funding and innovative financing of highway project and provisions affecting motor carrier regulations. It repeals national maximum speed limit. It repeals law that penalized states that did not enact motorcycle helmet requirements. It mandates enforcement of zero-tolerance standard regarding blood-alcohol content of drivers under 21 years of age.

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