Under the State Highway Administration are
the State Roads Commission, the District Engi
neers, and eight offices Administration, Chief En-
gineer, Equal Employment Opportunity, Finance
and Program Management, Highway Policy As-
sessment, Planning and Preliminary Engineering,
Public Affairs, and Real Estate

STATE ROADS COMMISSION
Chair ParkerF Williams, State Highway Administrator
Bonme V Ford, Acttng Secretary

P O Box 717
707 North Calvert St
Baltimore, MD 21203 (410) 545-5566

Origins of the State Roads Commission date to
1904 when highway survey functions were assigned
to the Maryland Geological and Economic Survey In
1908, the State Roads Commission assumed those
duties and additional responsibilities as well (Chapter
141, Acts of 1908) The Chair of the State Roads
Commission was the Director of Highways In 1970,
the State Roads Commission became part of the
Department of Transportation (Chapter 526, Acts of
1970) At that time, most Commission duties were
assumed by the State Highway Administration, and
the Director became State Highway Administrator
The State Roads Commission authorizes con-
demnation proceedings to acquire property needed
for highway purposes (Code Transportation Arti
cle, sees 8-210 through 8-339, Constitution, Art
III, sec 40B)
The Commission consists of eight members
Seven are appointed to five year terms by the Sec-
retary of Transportation with the Governor's ap
proval Serving part time, they are appointed from
seven geographic areas The chair is the State High-
way Administrator (Code Transportation Article,
sees 8 210 through 8 218)

DISTRICT ENGINEERS
District Engineers work to provide the traveling
public with safe roads Within their geographic areas,
District Engineers administer and implement pro
grams and policies of the State Highway Administra-
tion and Department of Transportation They oversee
bridge and road construction and maintenance, de-
velop and manage district budgets, and recommend
improvements for traffic
The State Highway Administration has divided
the State into seven engineering districts District
Engineers represent the State Highway Admimstra
tion in all public matters at the district level They
also make recommendations to and coordinate
their work with representatives of the Federal High
way Administration, the Department of Transpor-
tation, other State agencies, local government, and
the public

OFFICE OF CHIEF ENGINEER
Douglas R Rose, Chief Engineer

707 North Calvert St, Room 404
Baltimore, MD 21202 (410) 333 1200

The Office of Chief Engineer began in 1908
with the creation of the State Roads Commission
The Chief Engineer is responsible for the engineer
ing of highways and bridges under the jurisdiction
of the State Highway Administration The Chief
Engineer provides guidance to the District Engi
neers and monitors the overall program
Under the Chief Engineer are seven offices Bridge
Development, Construction, Environmental Design,
Highway Development, Maintenance, Materials and
Research, and Traffic and Safety

CHESAPEAKE HIGHWAY ADVISORIES
(ROUTING TRAFFIC) CENTER

Lee N McMichael, Manager

7491 Connelley Dnve
Hanover, MD 21076 (410) 582 5605

The Chesapeake Highway Advisories (Routing
Traffic) Center opened in August 1995 The Center
works with advanced technology to improve the flow
of vehicular traffic throughout Maryland To evaluate
traffic conditions, the Center monitors 375 miles of
interstate highways and 170 miles of State roads It is
a cooperative effort of the State Highway Admimstra
non, the Department of Transportation, the Depart
ment of State Police, and other State, local and federal
government agencies
The Center receives traffic data from technology
developed for this purpose and from State agencies
with vehicles on Maryland highways To determine
causes of traffic congestion, the Center uses closed
circuit television cameras mounted on poles above
roads To monitor traffic speed, it has radar and
detectors embedded in roadways This information
is transmitted to Center computers There, traffic
speeds are displayed graphically by color for quick
assessment, and selected film footage is reviewed
Once the Center pinpoints traffic snarls and their
causes, it informs motorists so they can choose
other routes Whenever possible. Center officials
post alternate routes by automatically adjusting
electronic traffic signs Traveler information also is
broadcasted via State travelers advisory radio sta
tions, other radio stations, and television

OFFICE OF HIGHWAY POLICY ASSESSMENT
Clyde E Pyers, Director
(410) 333 0327

Established in 1994, the Office of Highway
Policy Assessment seeks to ensure that Maryland
derives optimal benefits from the federal highway
program Representing the State on technical issues
and policy, the Office works with the Federal High