U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced the formation of a new federal advisory body on Thursday, the Beautifying Transportation Infrastructure Council (BTIC). The initiative intends to improve the design and aesthetic appeal of highways, bridges and transit hubs while maintaining safety and efficiency as top priorities.
The council’s formation follows President Trump’s Executive Order (EO) 14344, Making Federal Architecture Beautiful Again, which directs that applicable federal public buildings be designed primarily in classical or traditional architectural styles that reflect dignity, enterprise, vigor and stability. The order calls on officials to uplift public spaces and honor regional building traditions, while treating alternative styles as exceptions.
The BTIC will have up to 11 members, serving two-year terms. Members can be reappointed. The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is seeking architects, landscape designers, urban planners, artists, transportation engineers and historic preservation advocates.
The group will meet twice a year with the following key objectives:
- Identifying best practices in aesthetic transportation infrastructure design.
- Developing metrics to guide project evaluation.
- Providing guidance for projects that enhance public spaces and reflect local character.
The BTIC will use their findings to advise Secretary Duffy on upcoming projects.
The establishment of the council signals a shift in how the USDOT will approach infrastructure projects—not just prioritizing function and cost but placing design and aesthetic character on more equal footing. As a result, federally funded projects may begin to incorporate “aesthetic performance metrics,” require additional design-review processes or adjust grant scoring to reflect visual qualities. Over time, this could influence how infrastructure dollars are allocated, potentially elevating projects in historically or visually significant communities that meet the new criteria.
Interested candidates for the council must submit their nomination materials by Nov. 21, according to the Federal Register notice.
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