Tennessee Department of Transportation - Major Responsibilities

Major Responsibilities

The major duties and responsibilities of TDOT are:

• to plan, build and maintain the state owned highway and Interstate system of over 14,000 miles (23,000 km);
• administer funding and provide technical assistance in the planning and construction of state and federal aid road programs for cities and counties;
• provide incident management on Tennessee’s Interstate system through TDOT SmartWay, an intelligent transportation network of cameras and dynamic message signs;
• staff transportation management centers in the four largest urban cities in Tennessee;
• provide motorist information;
• construct and maintain 19 rest area facilities;
• administer program for control of outdoor advertising adjacent to Interstate and state highways;
• issue and administer special permits for movement of overweight and over-dimensional vehicles;
• prepare and distribute city, county and state road maps, aeronautical charts, and airport directories;
• promote safe driving behaviors on highways;
• provide management, technical and financial assistance, and supervision to public, private, and nonprofit public transportation agencies in the state
• administer funding and assistance in location, design, construction, and maintenance of the state's 80 public airports;
• support improvements in Tennessee’s railroads and rail service;
• inspect over 19,000 bridges, 80 public airports, and all of the state's railroads;
• maintain state park roads;
• operate Reelfoot Airpark and ferry operations;
• respond to initiatives of the Tennessee Aeronautics Commission;
• provide aerial photography and mapping services to all state agencies;
• provide aircraft for state executive transportation and economic development recruiting;
• administer highway beautification programs;
• provide grants to all Tennessee counties for litter abatement and litter prevention education; and,
• provide cycling trails that connect or go through state parks and natural areas.