Who Is Responsible for Road Repair in the US? (City vs State vs Federal)

The United States has 4.1 million miles of roads — and they're managed by a patchwork of thousands of different government agencies at the federal, state, county, and municipal level. When a road is damaged, knowing who's responsible is the first step to getting it fixed.

This guide breaks down road maintenance responsibility in the US, so you know exactly who to contact — and who to hold accountable.

The Four Levels of Road Ownership in the US

1. Federal Roads (FHWA)

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) oversees the National Highway System, which includes Interstate highways and other major routes. However, the FHWA doesn't directly maintain roads — it funds and oversees state DOTs, which do the actual work.

• What they manage: Interstate highways (I-95, I-10, etc.), National Highway System routes
• Who does the work: State DOTs, under federal oversight
• How to report: Contact your state DOT — they handle federal highway maintenance
• Funding: Federal gas tax + Highway Trust Fund

2. State Roads (State DOT)

Each state has a Department of Transportation (DOT) responsible for state-numbered highways and routes. These are typically the larger arterial roads connecting cities and regions.

• What they manage: State routes (Route 1, Highway 101, etc.), state bridges, state-owned tunnels
• Examples: CalTrans (California), TxDOT (Texas), NYSDOT (New York)
• How to report: Call your state DOT's pothole hotline or use their online form
• Funding: State gas taxes, federal grants, state bonds

3. County Roads (County Public Works)

County governments manage roads in unincorporated areas — typically rural roads between cities and towns. If you're outside city limits, your road is likely a county road.

• What they manage: Rural roads, county routes, roads in unincorporated areas
• How to report: Contact your county's Public Works or Road Department
• Funding: County property taxes, state allocations, federal grants

4. City/Municipal Streets (Local DOT or Public Works)

Most roads you drive on daily — residential streets, downtown roads, local arterials — are managed by your city or municipality. This is where the vast majority of pothole reports should go.

• What they manage: City streets, residential roads, local arterials, city bridges
• Examples: NYC DOT, Chicago CDOT, LA Bureau of Street Services
• How to report: Call 311, use the city's online form, or use FixMyRoad for instant routing
• Funding: Local property taxes, state allocations, federal grants

How to Identify Who Owns a Road

Here's a quick guide to identifying road ownership:

• Interstate highways (I-95, I-10) → State DOT
• US Routes (US-1, US-66) → State DOT
• State Routes (CA-1, TX-183) → State DOT
• City streets with names (Main St, Broadway) → City/Municipal
• Rural roads with county route numbers → County
• Roads in subdivisions → Often private (HOA responsibility)

Road Maintenance Budgets: The Funding Crisis

The US has a massive road maintenance backlog. According to ASCE's 2025 Infrastructure Report Card, the US needs $786 billion in road and bridge investment over the next decade.

What Happens When You Report a Pothole?

When you submit a pothole report through FixMyRoad, here's what happens behind the scenes:

1. 1Automatic routing — Our system identifies the road owner based on the address
2. 2Report submission — Your report is formatted and sent to the correct agency's intake system
3. 3Priority scoring — AI assigns a priority score based on severity, traffic volume, and location
4. 4Crew dispatch — The agency schedules a crew based on priority and available resources
5. 5Status updates — You receive email notifications as the repair progresses
6. 6Completion verification — Once marked fixed, the repair is logged in our database

Your Rights as a Citizen

As a taxpayer, you have the right to:

• Report road hazards to the responsible agency at no cost
• Track the status of your report and receive updates
• File a claim for vehicle damage caused by known road hazards
• Request public records about road maintenance schedules and budgets
• Attend public meetings where road maintenance priorities are discussed