In Wyoming, the Wyoming Department of transportation (“WYDOT”) is the state agency that provides a safe, high quality, and efficient transportation system.  It is established pursuant to Wyo. Stat. § 9-2-2004.  The WYDOT Works closely with private sector partners.  It also makes WYDOT employees plan, design, construct, and maintain roads and bridges, while promoting safety and protecting the environment.  Other WYDOT responsibilities include law enforcement, drivers licensing, motor vehicle regulation, airport improvement assistance, and coordination with local jurisdictions on planning, project supervision, and public transit.

The WYDOT is committed to keeping the public informed about the agency’s many activities and promoting understanding of why and how department personnel accomplish their responsibilities.  Another goal of the WYDOT is to provide  good communication with constituents to ensure that citizens have the opportunity to provide input into the decision-making process.  The WYDOT provides the driver services program that administers and maintains Wyoming’s driving records system, tests, and issues.  It also helps in processesing all:

• classes of driver licenses;
• commercial driver licenses;
• learner permits;
• graduated drive licensing; and
• identification cards.

The driver services program maintains driver history records, including convictions for motor vehicle offenses and crashes, and administers the process of withdrawing and reinstating driving privileges.  The WYDOT adopts rules and regulations in accordance with the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act prescribing standards for fireguards, fences, and cattle guards erected and maintained by railroad corporations.  The WYDOT also provides private property owners with information on where to file a claim in the case where damage to private property was caused by railroads[i].

The WYDOT consists of a Transportation Commission (“Commission”) and a director of the department of transportation.  The Commission consists of seven commissioners, not all of whom will be registered in the same political party.  The commissioners will be appointed by the governor, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, and each serves for a term of six years.  The terms of all commissioners appointed after the effective date of this section will terminate on the last day of February of the sixth year of the term regardless of the date of the beginning of the term[ii].

The Commission maintains offices at the state capital.  The Commission is empowered to sue in the name of the “Transportation Commission of Wyoming” and may be sued by that name in the courts of this state and in no other jurisdiction upon any contract executed by it.  The attorney general is the legal advisor of the Commission and s/he can prosecute and defend all actions that appears in any federal department in which the Commission is a party.[iii].  The Commission consists of a seal bearing the words “Transportation Commission of Wyoming, Official Seal” and it may be received in any court as prima facie evidence of the original record or instrument[iv].

The following are some of the duties of the WYDOT:

• To construct, maintain and supervise the public highways of this state;
• To acquire, hold and manage real property in the name of the transportation commission; and
•  To develop, improve, operate and maintain the same for any necessary public purpose.

Wyoming Department of Transportation

[i] Wyo. Stat. § 37-9-310.

[ii] Wyo. Stat. § 24-2-101.

[iii] Id.

[iv] Id.