| HISTORY/BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH: | Dates of founding and/or dissolution:
The Department of Transportation and Utilities was established as the Department of Transportation on June 25, 1975 by the Department of Transportation Act (S.A. 1975, c. 17). In 1994, the Government Organization Act repealed the Department of Transportation and Utilities Act. The Department of Transportation and Utilities was re-established at that time by Order in Council 785/1994 under the Government Organization Act. The department was dissolved in 1999.
Functional responsibility:
At the time of its founding, the department's principal responsibility was the administration of highways, airports, and railways. The department's duties included the construction, maintenance, policy development, planning, surveys, and property administration of highways, airports, and railways. The department was also responsible for the creation and administration of transportation safety programs, as outlined in the Act.
In 1986, the department's responsibilities were expanded to include administration of utilities. The Department of Transportation Amendment Act, 1986 (S.A. 1986, c. 15) changed the name of the Department of Transportation to the Department of Transportation and Utilities to reflect the acquisition of these responsibilities. The department became responsible for the implementation of programs and policies related to the capital construction of rural gas systems, municipal water supply and sewage-treatment facilities, and farm water-transmission systems.
Predecessor and successor bodies:
The immediate predecessor of the Department of Transportation and Utilities was the Department of Highways and Transport. In 1999, the department's functions became one of the principal components of the new Ministry of Infrastructure.
Administrative relationships:
The Department of Transportation and Utilities reported to the Legislative Assembly through the Minister of Transportation and Utilities. A number of semi-independent agencies reported to the minister or through him to the Legislative Assembly. These agencies included the Alberta Motor Transport Board (1975-1999), Alberta Resources Railway Corporation (1975-1998), and the Driver Control Board (1996-1999).
Administrative structure:
At its inception, the Department of Transportation had three divisions: Policy Development, Administration, and Construction.
In 1977, the department underwent decentralization and the province was divided into six regions. The new regional organization combined the staff of the Maintenance Branch and the project management staff of the Construction Branch. The division of Regional Transportation Services was created to coordinate province-wide services. Regional Transportation Services was responsible for the following programs: regional administration, construction of campsites and rest areas, construction of secondary roads, reconstruction of roads in improvement districts, grants to counties and municipal districts, grants to special areas, design and construction of provincially owned airport facilities, design and construction of community airport facilities, maintenance administration, maintenance of primary highways, maintenance of roads in improvement districts, maintenance and operation of ferries, maintenance and operation of forestry airports, maintenance and operation of provincial airports, and air transportation policy.
In 1978 the municipal bridge program, Property Services Branch, and the Town and Village Streets Assistance Program were decentralized and responsibility for these programs transferred to Regional Transportation Services. A regional safety program was established in 1980, making regional safety officers responsible for all occupational health and safety activities and construction zone safety in their regions.
The department underwent further reorganization in 1980. The Alberta Motor Transport Board became its own division while the Construction Division merged with the engineering function to form the Engineering Division. The planning function remaining in the Transportation Planning, and Services Division formed the Program Planning Division. The Program Planning Division took on new responsibilities in 1982 and was renamed the Urban Transportation and Planning Division. In 1982, the Transportation Safety Branch became independent of the Engineering Division. In 1983, the Public Communications Branch was added to the department.
In 1987, the department was reorganized to accommodate the addition of new functions related to utilities. The Department of Transportation and Utilities consisted of Administration Division, Engineering Division, Regional Transportation Division, Urban Transportation and Planning Division, Alberta Motor Transport Board, Motor Transport Services, Utilities Development Division, Utilities Planning and Support, and Public Communications. In 1988, the department was reorganized once more to consist of five divisions, the Alberta Motor Transport Board, and Public Communications. By 1997 the department maintained four divisions: Finance and Administration; Planning, Programming, and Technical Services; Regional Services; and Traffic Safety Services.
Names of the corporate bodies:
Department of Transportation 1975-1986
Department of Transportation and Utilities 1986-1999
Also referred as Alberta Transportation, and Alberta Transportation and Utilities
Names of chief officers:
Ministers of Transportation
Hugh Macarthur Horner 1975-1979
Henry Kroeger 1979-1982
Marvin Everard Moore 1982-1986
Ministers of Transportation and Utilities
James Allen Adair 1986-1992
Peter Trynchy 1992-1994
Stephen C. West 1994-1996
Robert A. Fischer 1996-1997
Walter Paszkowski 1997-1999
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