Federal-Aid Highway/Functional Classification System
All highways in the United States are functionally classified using a common nomenclature, to provide a consistently-defined roadway network across the country. These classifications are determined by the individual state's department of transportation (in conjunction with metropolitan planning organizations such as MORPC, and local officials) based on criteria established by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). FHWA must ultimately approve the classifications.
The functional classification is directly tied to the Federal-aid Highway System and to eligibility for Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds and for other federal highway funding. Roads functionally classified as local streets or minor collectors are not part of the Federal-aid Highway System and are not normally eligible for STP funds.
Per U.S. Code Title 23, Chapter 1, Section 133(c), roads that were part of the Federal-aid Highway System on January 1, 1991, are also eligible for STP funds. The maps below identify many of these segments.
Another aspect of the federal system is the rural and urban distinction. Areas are classified as rural or urban largely based on how the U.S. Census Bureau defines these areas. The Bureau classifies all areas of the country into urban or rural following each decennial census. FHWA typically allows some adjustments to the Census-defined urban and rural areas in defining these areas for FHWA purposes. Whether an area is classified as rural or urban can have highway funding and policy implications.
The functional classification/federal-aid system maps included here show these systems (and the urban boundaries) for the Columbus, Newark, Lancaster, Marysville, Delaware, London, Circleville, and Ashville-South Bloomfield urban areas, and for most of the surrounding rural areas in Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Licking, Madison, Pickaway and Union counties. Please note that all information on these maps is subject to verification with the Ohio Department of Transportation and FHWA.
Typically, following the decennial census, urban boundaries are modified based on Census results, and sometimes significant changes are made to the highway system classifications due to growth, new roads, and for other reasons. The adjusted federal-aid urban boundary for the central Ohio urban areas was revised based on the 2000 Census and was approved by FHWA on April 29, 2003. Subsequent adjustments to the Federal-aid Highway System were approved by the FHWA on June 25, 2004. Further system adjustments were made in 2005 and 2008 and are reflected in the system maps.
Federal-Aid Highway System Maps
See also: Ohio Roadway Functional Class (ODOT)
Contact
Should you have any questions about the federal-aid highway/functional classification system or need paper copies of the maps above, please contact:
Ethan Ortman, AICP - Principal Planner - 614.233.4153
