Lecture Highway Classifications

LECTURE 1
HIGHWAY CLASSIFICATION
INCI 4007 ROUTE LOCATION AND CURVE DESIGN
ALBERTO M. FIGUEROA MEDINA, PHD, PE
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING AND SURVEYING
After completing this lecture and the
LECTURE assigned readings, students will be able to:
OBJECTIVES 1. Identify different road classification

schemes.
2. Explain the highway functional
classification concept.
3. Point out the importance of
considering context for highway
geometric design.
4. Associate typical cross-section
elements with the highway
classification.
Assigned readings:
• Cárdenas, J. 2013. Diseño Geométrico de Carreteras. Chapter 1 and Section 5.2.
• FHWA. 2013. Highway Functional Classification Concepts, Criteria and Procedures, Sections 1, 2, 3 and 6.2.
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/processes/statewide/related/highway_functional_classifications/fcauab.pdf
INCI4007, ALBERTO M. FIGUEROA MEDINA, PHD, PE 8/07/2019 2

CIVIL
ENGINEERING
Deals with the planning, design, construction, operations,
maintenance, and management of fixed structures or
public works, as they are related to earth, water, or
civilization and their processes.
HIGHWAY NETWORK OF
THE COMMONWEALTH OF PUERTO RICO
 17,387 road miles  181.8 million vehicle-miles

 2.8 million registered vehicles  819 vehicle / 1,000 persons
 2.1 million authorized drivers  163 vehicle / paved road mile
HIGHWAY CLASSIFICATIONS
1. Administrative
classes
2. Operational
classes
3. Functional
classes
4. Context
classes

ADMINISTRATIVE CLASSIFICATION
1. National Highway System (NHS) - highway routes and

connections to transportation facilities that shall:
 serve major population centers, international border crossings, ports,
airports, public transportation facilities, and other intermodal
transportation facilities and other major travel destinations;
 meet national defense requirements; and
 serve interstate and interregional travel and commerce.
2. Non-NHS

223,668 road miles (~4% of the USA public road network)
NATIONAL HIGHWAY SYSTEM
The NHS carries:

 >40% of all highway traffic (Principal Arterials)
 >75% of heavy truck traffic

 >90% of tourist traffic
STRAHNET = Strategic Highway Network

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/index.cfm
PLANNING OF INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS
 The idea of linking USA’s cities by a

limited access high-speed highway
system emerged in the late 1930’s.
 Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956
signed by President Dwight D.
Eisenhower.
 Federal funding up to 90%, mostly
from gasoline taxes
 Initial system of 41,000 miles
 Design speeds up to 70 mph
 To be completed by 1972

PUERTO RICO NHS
STRAHNET = Strategic Highway Network

IMPORTANCE OF NHS IN NATURAL DISASTER
EVENTS
The National Highway System: A Commitment to

America's Future by Rodney E. Slater
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/publicroads
/96spring/p96sp2.cfm

IMPORTANCE OF NHS IN NATURAL DISASTER
EVENTS
Lessons Learned for Puerto Rico’s Transportation Infrastructure after Hurricane María
http://www.nxtbook.com/ygsreprints/ITE/G99495_ITE_October2018/index.php#/38
1. Administrative
classes
2. Operational
classes
3. Functional
classes
4. Context
classes

U.S. ROUTE CLASSIFICATION
To Chicago, IL
To Fort Wayne, IN
To Urbana, IL
To Columbus, OH
To St. Louis, MO
To Louisville, KY To Cincinnati, OH

U.S. ROUTE CLASSIFICATION
Interstate highway
City street
State road
County road
U.S. highway

P.R. ROUTE CLASSIFICATION
 PR road system
distribution
(DTOP, 2008)
 23.5% of
primary roads
 29.7% of
secondary
roads
 46.8% of
tertiary roads

Primaria
Secundaria
Primaria urbana
Terciaria

Red primaria urbana:

movilidad entre zonas y
generadores importantes dentro
de las áreas metropolitanas de
Red primaria: movimiento de San Juan, Ponce, Mayagüez,
pasajeros y carga entre las Arecibo, Aguadilla, Humacao,
regiones principales de la Isla. Caguas y Guayama. Compuesta
Compuesta de autopistas, de vías urbanas que sirven de
expresos y otras vías con altos complemento a la red primaria.
estándares de diseño y con
control completo o parcial de
sus accesos.
Red terciaria o local: acceso

al centro municipal desde las
comunidades periferales y otros
usos de terrenos importantes.
Red secundaria o
intermunicipal: acceso a
municipios desde la red primaria,
y aquellas vías que conectan los
municipios por medio de una
red interconectada. Compuesta
de vías con diferentes Ref: PR-DTOP, 2004, Guías para la Selección e
características de diseño. Mejor Instalación de Rótulos de Orientación.
ruta de acceso a los municipios
desde la red primaria.
1. Administrative
classes
2. Operational
classes
3. Functional
classes
4. Context
classes

FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION
 Process by which streets and highways Interstates

are grouped according to the character
of traffic service they are intended to
provide, or their role within the
transportation network.
 ARTERIALS
 COLLECTORS
 LOCALS
 New design policy considers design
flexibility and incorporate multi-modal
Cul-de-sac
mobility, accessibility, and is sensitive to
Source: AASHTO, 2011
road context.
MAJOR FUNCTIONS OF ROADS
Provides many opportunities for entry

and exit, which creates potentially higher
friction from vehicle access/egress.
Provides few opportunities

for entry and exit and
therefore low travel friction
from vehicle access/egress

INTERSTATES • High mobility, speed, and level of service
• No disruptions to through traffic
Freeways • Access to crossing roads only by ramps
ARTERIALS

ARTERIALS • High mobility, speed, and level of service
• Reduced access to crossing roads
Principal & Minor Arterials
ARTERIALS

COLLECTORS • Mixed levels of mobility and accessibility, speed,
and level of service
Major & Minor Collectors

LOCALS • Low mobility, speed, and level of service
• Increased access to crossing roads

FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION RELATIONSHIPS
Source: FHWA, 2013

FUNCTIONAL CLASSES ON A ROAD NETWORK

EXAMPLE OF TYPICAL PRIORITY MOVEMENTS
Autopista
Colectora
Local

MOVEMENT PRIORITIES
Main limitation of the concept is that it does

not directly consider other travel modes.
Source: AASHTO, 2018

1. Administrative
classes
2. Operational
classes
3. Functional
classes
4. Context
classes

FACTORS RELATED TO THE
ACCESS-MOBILITY DYNAMIC
 Efficiency of travel – travel

delay or trip time
 Speed limit
 Route spacing
 Usage – AADT or VMT
 Number of travel lanes
 Regional and Statewide
significance Source: FHWA, 2013
 Non-motorized traffic flows

HIGHWAY DESIGN FRAMEWORK
Horizontal &
Design Speed Vertical
Functional Alignments
Class
Cross-Section

CONTEXT CLASSIFICATIONS
 Context classification serves community needs and finds

balance among the transportation modes that use a facility.
 Based on:
 Development density – existence of structures and structure
types
 Land uses – residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural
 Building setbacks – distance of structures to adjacent roadways

AASHTO CONTEXT CLASSES
 Rural Context – roads in rural areas outside a developed

community.
 Rural Town Context – roads in rural areas located within a
developed community.
 Suburban Context – roads and streets within outlying portions
of urban areas.
 Urban Context – roads and streets inside urban areas with high
density development, mixed land uses, and prominent destinations.
 Urban Core Context – roads and streets in the central business
district and adjoining portions of metropolitan areas.

FACTORS OF AASHTO CONTEXT CLASSES
Context Development Land Uses Building Setback Comments
Classes Density
Rural Lowest, few Widely Large Farms, recreation

houses dispersed of no areas, undeveloped
/structures land uses land
Rural Low Diverse land Small, usually with Residential
Town uses on-street parking & neighborhoods,
sidewalks schools, industries
Suburban Low to Mixed land uses Varies, with mostly Big-box commercial
medium off-street parking stores, light industrial
Urban High Mixed land uses; Mixed, with on-street Multi-story and low-
prominent parking and sidewalks to-medium rise
destinations structures; transit
Urban Highest Mixed land uses Small, with limited Major transit
Core within high rise on-street parking and terminals,
buildings continuous sidewalk government services
CONTEXT CLASSES ON A ROAD NETWORK
Rural Context Rural Town Context
Urban Context Urban Core Context

CONTEXT CLASSES ON A ROAD NETWORK
Suburban Context

RURAL ROAD CROSS-SECTION ELEMENTS
Cardenas Figure 5.1

Source: ACT. 1979. Manual de Diseño de Carreteras. Chapters 1-2
http://www.dtop.gov.pr/carretera/det_content.asp?cn_id=129



URBAN ROAD CROSS-SECTION ELEMENTS
Major Urban Street Minor Urban Street
INCI4007, ALBERTO M. FIGUEROA MEDINA, PHD, PE Ref: The Urban Vision 8/07/2019 49




NEW CONTEXT-BASED ROAD DESIGN CLASSES
FOR PUERTO RICO
From: Puerto Rico Complete Streets Plan &

Design Guidelines (2018)
COMPLETE VISION FOR RURAL ROADS
From: Puerto Rico Complete Streets Plan & Design Guidelines (2018)

COMPLETE VISION FOR CITY STREETS
From: Puerto Rico Complete Streets Plan & Design

Guidelines (2018)
RELATIONSHIPS WITH FEDERAL AND PUERTO
RICO HIGHWAY CLASSIFICATIONS
From: Puerto Rico Complete Streets Plan & Design Guidelines (2018)

LECTURE
REVIEW
1. Explain the purpose of
highway classification
schemes.
2. Define what is mobility and

accessibility as road
functions.
3. Distinguish road
characteristics and elements
based on its functional and
context classifications.

Lecture Highway Classifications

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Lecture Highway Classifications

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

LECTURE 1

OBJECTIVES 1. Identify different road classification

INCI4007, ALBERTO M. FIGUEROA MEDINA, PHD, PE 8/07/2019 2

 17,387 road miles  181.8 million vehicle-miles

INCI4007, ALBERTO M. FIGUEROA MEDINA, PHD, PE 8/07/2019 13

1. National Highway System (NHS) - highway routes and

INCI4007, ALBERTO M. FIGUEROA MEDINA, PHD, PE 8/07/2019 14

NATIONAL HIGHWAY SYSTEM

The NHS carries:

 >75% of heavy truck traffic

STRAHNET = Strategic Highway Network

 The idea of linking USA’s cities by a

INCI4007, ALBERTO M. FIGUEROA MEDINA, PHD, PE 8/07/2019 16

STRAHNET = Strategic Highway Network

The National Highway System: A Commitment to

INCI4007, ALBERTO M. FIGUEROA MEDINA, PHD, PE 8/07/2019 18

INCI4007, ALBERTO M. FIGUEROA MEDINA, PHD, PE 8/07/2019 20

INCI4007, ALBERTO M. FIGUEROA MEDINA, PHD, PE 8/07/2019 21

INCI4007, ALBERTO M. FIGUEROA MEDINA, PHD, PE 8/07/2019 22

INCI4007, ALBERTO M. FIGUEROA MEDINA, PHD, PE 8/07/2019 23

INCI4007, ALBERTO M. FIGUEROA MEDINA, PHD, PE 8/07/2019 24

Red primaria urbana:

Red terciaria o local: acceso

INCI4007, ALBERTO M. FIGUEROA MEDINA, PHD, PE 8/07/2019 26

 Process by which streets and highways Interstates

Provides many opportunities for entry

Provides few opportunities

INCI4007, ALBERTO M. FIGUEROA MEDINA, PHD, PE 8/07/2019 28

INCI4007, ALBERTO M. FIGUEROA MEDINA, PHD, PE 8/07/2019 29

INCI4007, ALBERTO M. FIGUEROA MEDINA, PHD, PE 8/07/2019 30

INCI4007, ALBERTO M. FIGUEROA MEDINA, PHD, PE 8/07/2019 31

INCI4007, ALBERTO M. FIGUEROA MEDINA, PHD, PE 8/07/2019 32

Source: FHWA, 2013

INCI4007, ALBERTO M. FIGUEROA MEDINA, PHD, PE 8/07/2019 33

INCI4007, ALBERTO M. FIGUEROA MEDINA, PHD, PE 8/07/2019 34

INCI4007, ALBERTO M. FIGUEROA MEDINA, PHD, PE 8/07/2019 35

Main limitation of the concept is that it does

Source: AASHTO, 2018

INCI4007, ALBERTO M. FIGUEROA MEDINA, PHD, PE 8/07/2019 37

 Efficiency of travel – travel

INCI4007, ALBERTO M. FIGUEROA MEDINA, PHD, PE 8/07/2019 38

INCI4007, ALBERTO M. FIGUEROA MEDINA, PHD, PE 8/07/2019 39

 Context classification serves community needs and finds

INCI4007, ALBERTO M. FIGUEROA MEDINA, PHD, PE 8/07/2019 40

 Rural Context – roads in rural areas outside a developed

INCI4007, ALBERTO M. FIGUEROA MEDINA, PHD, PE 8/07/2019 41

Rural Lowest, few Widely Large Farms, recreation

Urban Context Urban Core Context

INCI4007, ALBERTO M. FIGUEROA MEDINA, PHD, PE 8/07/2019 44

Cardenas Figure 5.1

INCI4007, ALBERTO M. FIGUEROA MEDINA, PHD, PE 8/07/2019 45

INCI4007, ALBERTO M. FIGUEROA MEDINA, PHD, PE 8/07/2019 46

INCI4007, ALBERTO M. FIGUEROA MEDINA, PHD, PE 8/07/2019 47

INCI4007, ALBERTO M. FIGUEROA MEDINA, PHD, PE 8/07/2019 48

INCI4007, ALBERTO M. FIGUEROA MEDINA, PHD, PE 8/07/2019 50

INCI4007, ALBERTO M. FIGUEROA MEDINA, PHD, PE 8/07/2019 51

INCI4007, ALBERTO M. FIGUEROA MEDINA, PHD, PE 8/07/2019 52

INCI4007, ALBERTO M. FIGUEROA MEDINA, PHD, PE 8/07/2019 53

From: Puerto Rico Complete Streets Plan &

INCI4007, ALBERTO M. FIGUEROA MEDINA, PHD, PE 8/07/2019 55

From: Puerto Rico Complete Streets Plan & Design

INCI4007, ALBERTO M. FIGUEROA MEDINA, PHD, PE 8/07/2019 57

2. Define what is mobility and

You might also like