The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation's (PennDOT) history stretches back to 1903, when it was first established as the Department of Highways. In 1911, its then-title was properly put to use when 8,835 miles of Pennsylvania roads fell under its watch.

But it wasn't until 1931 that the Department of Highways became a major player in Pennsylvania government. Under the Penrose Rural Road Act, the agency was assigned the task of paving and maintaining 20,156 miles of rural roads that veined across the state. The department's intent was to connect rural communities with urban areas, prompting Governor Gifford Pinchot to dub it the (less-than-charming) "Get the Farmer Out of the Mud" program.

In the 1950s, the department began laying the foundation for Pennsylvania's current interstate highway system. This was a lengthy project that continued well into the 1980s.

During the interstate project, the Department of Highways experienced a change of its own when it was renamed the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) on May 6, 1970.

PennDOT Today

In addition to the Driver and Vehicle Services division, PennDOT oversees a number of other bureaus, including:

• Design and Construction

• Aviation and Rail Freight

• Public Transportation

• Welcome Centers

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