BOX 2-A - Highway Functional Classification System

The Federal Highway Administration classifies roads according to the type of service provided and the type of area (urban or rural). There are three main types of roads: 1) arterials that provide the highest level of mobility for longer, uninterrupted trips; 2) collectors that collect and distribute traffic from the arterial network and connect with local roads; and 3) local roads that provide direct access to residences and businesses.

SOURCES: U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration, 1999 Status of the Nation's Highways, Bridges, and Transit: Conditions and Performance (Washington, DC: 2000). USDOT, FHWA, Our Nation's Highways: Selected Facts and Figures 1998 (Washington, DC: 1998).