The history of the New York State Department of Transportation and its predecessors spans over two centuries: • In 1781, the
Office of Surveyor General was reorganized from its colonial Dutch and English beginnings to survey lands that had been vested in the state during and following the Revolutionary War. • In 1810, the
Erie Canal Commission was established to build the
Erie Canal, and afterwards the canal commissioners oversaw maintenance and enlargement of the canals • In 1848, the
Office of State Engineer and Surveyor succeeded the Surveyor General's Office. • In 1878, the
Superintendent of Public Works took over the duties of the canal commissioners. • In 1907, the
Public Service Commission assumed responsibility for the economic and safety regulation of privately operated transportation; railroad and bus safety inspection; and, approval for the installation of protection for or elimination of at-grade rail highway crossings. • In 1908, the
New York State Department of Highways was established by the Highway Act. It was headed by a three-member Highway Commission, appointed in 1909. • In 1911, the Highway Commission was abolished, and was succeeded by a
State Superintendent of Highways. • In 1927, the
Department of Public Works took over the duties of the State Engineer and Surveyor, unifying responsibility for highways, canals and public buildings, • In 1967, the
Department of Transportation was formed to deal with the state's complex transportation system, and absorbed among others the Department of Public Works. The first head of the New York State Department of Transportation (effective from 1 September 1967) was the former head of the
New York State Department of Public Works John Burch McMorran (1899–1991). The first Executive Deputy Commissioner of the New York State Department of Transportation was
Edward Burton Hughes, who had formerly been Deputy Superintendent of the
New York State Department of Public Works, a role he had worked in continuously since 1952. Both appointments were engaged by Governor
Nelson Rockefeller. ==See also==