These maps cover all of Franklin County, Bloom and Violet townships in Fairfield County, and Etna Township and Pataskala in Licking County.  Draft maps for Delaware County will be available when the county's thoroughfare plan update process, a separate, county-administered effort, is complete.

In developing these functional classification system maps, we have tried to be consistent with existing functional classification maps from the local communities in the area.  Because some of these local maps conflict with each other, and for other reasons, we were not always able to be fully consistent with the local thoroughfare plans.

The regional thoroughfare plan is a planning tool and will not be binding on any community unless they choose to adopt all or parts of it.  We expect that the Franklin County Commissioners will adopt the Franklin County portion to replace the existing Franklin County thoroughfare plan.  This would make the plan binding in unincorporated parts of Franklin County.  MORPC also will adopt the regional thoroughfare plan when it is competed, and periodically update it to reflect thoroughfare system changes as needed.

For the full "PDF" map click here

Highway Functional Classification Definitions

INTERSTATE & OTHER FREEWAYS

Character
Interstates and freeways are similar to major arterials in their characteristics with one major exception.  Access to adjacent land is prohibited, and vehicle access is limited to specifically designated entrances and exits.  The focus of this system is to provide the maximum level of mobility.  

Level-of-Service
This system, ideally, should function at a minimum level-of-service (LOS) that provides a stable traffic flow and average running speeds of 55 m.p.h. in urban areas and 65 m.p.h. in rural areas.

Access
Access is allowed only at specifically designated points of entrance and exit.  These points of access will be major public streets.  Direct access to adjacent land is prohibited on the freeway system.

Right-of-Way
Right-of-Way (ROW) is proposed at a minimum of 230 feet without frontage roads.  A minimum of 320 feet of ROW with frontage roads.  

Lane Width & Number of LanesMinimum of four lanes with median or barrier.  Lanes shall be constructed to a 12 foot minimum lane width.  Additional lanes shall be built as volumes and LOS require. 

MAJOR ARTERIALS

The system of streets where traffic movement is the primary function.

Character
Major arterials serve the major centers of activity of the urbanized area, the highest traffic volume corridors, the longest trips and the highest proportion of vehicle miles of travel to the amount of centerline mileage.  Trips on this system may be either inter or intra-regional in nature.

Level-of-Service
This system, ideally, should function at a level-of-service that provides a stable traffic flow and average running speeds equaling 45 m.p.h. in urban areas and 55 m.p.h. in rural areas.  To attain this level-of-service, access must be closely monitored and controlled.  

AccessAccess should be allowed only at intersections with other public streets, or with major driveways carrying volumes approximating intersecting streets.

Right-of-Way
Minimum ROW is 120' for this system.  This width will allow for widenings, turn lanes and medians if future traffic volumes warrant such improvements.  Costs of maintaining this amount of ROW is much less than the cost of purchasing needed ROW after development has already occurred.

Lane Width & Number of Lanes
Minimum of two lanes.   Actual lane width should be dictated by LOS and associated costs. 

Ideally, travel lanes should have a width of 12 feet.  In urban areas, major arterials will often have four or more through lanes with appropriate turning lanes.

 MINOR ARTERIALS

The system of streets where traffic movement is the primary function, but land access is a secondary function and less controlled than for major arterials.

Character
Minor arterials interconnect with and enhance the major arterial system.  This system carries travel of moderate length at a lower level of service than major arterials.  Travel is strictly intra-regional in nature.  More emphasis is placed on land access with a corresponding drop in travel mobility.   

Level of Service
This system, ideally, should function at a minimum LOS characterized by stable traffic flow and average running speeds equaling 45 m.p.h. in urban areas and 55 m.p.h. in rural areas.

Access
Ideally, access will be confined to intersecting public streets, major driveways carrying volumes approximating volumes on intersecting streets, and some driveways carrying lower volumes on an individually evaluated basis.

Right-of-Way
The proposed minimum ROW for this system will be 100 feet.  This ROW is less than that proposed for major arterials because traffic volumes are expected to be lower on this system.  Thus, any anticipated improvements will be less extensive than those for major arterials.  

Lane Width & Number of LanesSimilar to the major arterial system with a minimum of two lanes, actual number of lanes and lane width should be dictated by LOS and associated costs.  Ideally, lanes should have a width of 12 feet.  The cross-section of a minor arterial will rarely exceed four through lanes with appropriate turning lanes.

COLLECTORS

The system of streets where traffic mobility and land access are of equal importance.

CharacterThis system provides a bridge between the arterial systems and local streets. Traffic from local streets is collected and transferred to the arterial system. 

Level of Service
Ideally, this system should function at an LOS providing a stable traffic flow at average running speeds equaling 35 m.p.h. in urban areas and 55 m.p.h. in rural areas.  This should be possible even with land access being of equal importance to mobility.  In addition, traffic flow may be affected by signals and stop signs at intersections with collectors and arterials. 

Access
Land access and travel mobility equally important.

Right-of-Way
Due to the lower demands for traffic service on collectors, they require lesser amounts of rights-of-way.  Major collectors will be assigned a right-of-way of 80'.                                                                

Lane Width & Number of LanesCollectors will most often have two through lanes, however, the actual number of lanes and lane width should be dictated by LOS and associated costs.  Ideally, lanes should have width of 12 feet. 

If you have any comments on this or questions, please contact Ethan Ortman at eortman@morpc.org or (614)233-4153.