Caltrans celebrates landmark anniversary
James A. Moe was the last director of Public Works and the first director of Caltrans.
Caltrans Library archives
It was 50 years ago – July 1, 1973 – that several transportation service agencies were brought together to form a unified Caltrans.
Our work to provide a safe, equitable and reliable transportation system has only just started.
By marking the Department of Transportation’s five decades of service that have helped California become the world’s fourth-largest economy, we are inspired to deliver even more positive results in the next 50 years.
Caltrans’ golden anniversary represents more than a look back. It honors our current culture and core values that, in turn, reflect a department more prepared than ever to meet today’s challenges.
Through the expertise and hard work of all its employees, Caltrans will continue to grow, innovate and succeed together through the California State Transportation Agency's (CalSTA's) “Core Four” principles of safety, equity, climate action and economic prosperity.
With these ideals as our guideposts, Caltrans’ decision-making processes and philosophies have evolved to address many pressing issues, including:
- A commitment to innovation in our response to climate change
- Our dedication to connecting people with special places and essential goods and services while protecting the state’s diverse, majestic ecology
- Our faithful desire for inclusivity and transparency in project planning and promoting cultural diversity throughout the department
The re-opening of a washed-out portion of State Route 1 at Rat Creek in 2021, a complex task accomplished in less than 100 days, some two months ahead of schedule, is among Caltrans' many dramatic accomplishments.
Caltrans Headquarters photo
Caltrans will address those and other vital issues while remaining steadfastly devoted to our top priority: continuing to build the safest transportation system possible.
These values will work in unison to drive our forward progress.
We’ve seen it all over the last half century, from earthquakes, severe wildfires, and extreme weather to civil unrest and a global pandemic. Caltrans and its 21,000 employees have met each challenge with a sense of duty and pride.
To aid our efforts, we will continue to seek feedback from you and all those we serve – along with, of course, your patience – as we help you continue to move safely across our great state, in any mode you prefer.
And in 2073, when a new generation of idea-makers celebrates Caltrans’ 100th anniversary, they will apply the lessons learned and dedication of those who came before – and understand their work is only beginning.
On behalf of the employees of Caltrans, past, present and future, who will never stop developing a safe, world class transportation network, thank you.
Safety has continued to be a major focus of the department, with this 2020-completed bike lane in Sebastopol representing not just a safety issue but also an example of how Caltrans is promoting alternative forms of transit.
Caltrans Headquarters photo