The Department of Transportation (DOT) was established on which date?

The Department of Transportation (DOT) was established on October 15, 1966. This date marks the official beginning of the DOT as a federal Cabinet-level department dedicated to overseeing the transportation system in the United States. The establishment of the DOT was part of a broader effort to create a cohesive framework for transportation policies and regulations, addressing the growing complexity of transportation needs as the nation expanded.

The DOT's founding aimed to enhance coordination among various modes of transportation—highway, rail, air, and water—by consolidating various federal transportation functions that had previously been scattered among different agencies. This unification has allowed for a more strategic approach to transportation issues, safety standards, and infrastructure development, which continues to be essential to the nation's economy and mobility today.

The other dates listed do not represent the establishment of the DOT, as they either fall before the actual founding date or are anniversaries of other significant legislative or bureaucratic events related to transportation.