In 1904, the first State Highway Commission was created. The law provided that Iowa State College should act as the Commission and advise local authorities regarding highway improvements. In 1913, the General Assembly passed an act creating a new State Highway Commission, severing the ties to the college. Over time, the Commission added duties governing the state's road system (primary and secondary).
In 1974, the 65th General Assembly created the Department of Transportation responsible for coordinating and combining all facets of Iowa's transportation system. The records included in RG 96 Transportation are currently divided into three subgroups: Aeronautics Commission, Highway Commission and Transportation Commission. For records pertaining to railroad and motor transport, refer to Railroad Commissioners/Transportation Regulation (RG 105).
Some or all of these records are available to search in the Iowa History Collections Catalog
| Aeronautics Commission | Date Span |
|---|---|
| Aeronautics Commission Minutes | 1934-1975 |
| Highway Commission | Date Span |
|---|---|
| Highway Commission Agendas | 1968-1975 |
| Highway Commission Minute Books | 1913-1952 |
| Highway Commission Minutes | 1913-1964 |
| Highway Commission Minutes and Orders | 1967-1974 |
| Highway Commission Statewide Highway Planning Survey (1936-1937) | 1938 |
| Highway Commission Survey of the Volume of Traffic on the Primary Road System of Iowa (1934-1935) | 1938 |
| Transportation Commission | Date Span |
|---|---|
| Transportation Commission Minutes and Order Books | 1975-2000 |
| Maps (By County) | 1979 |