Urban Functional Class Maps

In every urban environment there exists a system of streets and highways which can be identified as unusually significant to its surrounding area in terms of the nature and composition of travel it serves.  These facilities in smaller urban areas (less than 50,000) may be limited in number and extent.  The importance may be primarily derived from the service provided to travel passing through the area.  Larger urban areas may have the importance of service from rural oriented traffic, but equally or more important from service of major travel within urbanized areas.  The following are the main characteristics for streets and highways of the urban principal arterial system.

(1) Serves the major traffic movements within urbanized areas connecting central business districts, outlying residential areas, major intercity communities, and major suburban centers.

(2) Serves a major portion of the trips entering and leaving the urban area, as well as the majority of the through traffic desiring to bypass the central city.

(3) Provides continuity for all rural arterials which intercept the urban area.

The principal arterial system is subclassified as follow:

(1) Interstate

(2) Freeways and expressways
    (A fully or partially controlled access facility)

(3) Other principal arterials
    (No controlled access)