STATE ROADS COMMISSION

Chairman: Russell H. McCain
Avery W. Hall, David M. Nichols
Charles K. Pease, Secretary

Albert S. Gordon, Executive Assistant to the Chairman
William F. Childs, Jr., Chief Engineer
Carl L. Wannen, Comptroller
William A. Codd, Chief Auditor

Joseph D. Buscher, Special Assistant to the Attorney
General

108 E. Lexington Street, Baltimore 3 Telephone: Lexington 4370

The State Roads Commission was established in 1908 succeeding to
the highway survey functions of the Maryland Geological and Eco-
nomic Survey. The Commission consists of three members, appointed
by, and holding office at the pleasure of, the Governor. One of the
members must be a resident of the Eastern Shore, one a resident of
the Western Shore, and one a resident of Baltimore City, or a person
who, at the time of his appointment and for a period of at least two
years prior thereto, has continuously had his principal place of busi-
ness, or employment, or professional activity in Baltimore City. At least
one member must be affiliated with one of the two leading political
parties different from that to which the Governor belongs (Code 1947
Supp. Art. 89B, sec. 1).

The State Roads Commission has jurisdiction over the construction,
maintenance and administration of the State highway system; and
in addition, maintains, constructs, or reconstructs the road systems
of eleven of the twenty-three counties of the State. It is responsible
for the making of preliminary surveys and plans for the construction
of any proposed highway, making final reviews of those plans and
making necessary recommendations for the specifications and special
provisions which may become a part of the contract. Through the
Maintenance Division, the Commission provides the necessary resurfac-
ing, drainage, traffic service, and snow removal of the highways in-
cluded in the State's system. The agency, through its Materials
Division conducts and makes tests of all materials used in the construc-
tion and maintenance of the highways and bridges and in the main-
tenance of the Ferry System. A Traffic Division is also maintained by
the Commission for the purpose of making traffic counts, traffic origin
and destination surveys, and such other surveys as are necessary to
determine the need of highway improvement, the need for traffic
signals, warning signs, and other traffic service devices. The depart-
ment also prepares State and individual county road maps. The Con-
struction Division is responsible, through the Division of Road Design,
for the making of surveys, preparation of plans, the preparation of
quantities for bid proposals, final surveys, and final estimates; and
through the Division of Bridge Design for similar preparatory and
final quantities in connection with the design and construction of
bridges; and for the construction of highways and bridges in full con-
formity with the contract, specifications, and plans. The Right of
Way Division is responsible for acquiring of the rights of way essen-
tial to the modernization of the existing highways and bridges, as
well as, that required for new highways and bridges.