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The National Highway System of the United States comprises approximately 160,000 Mile s (256,000 Kilometer s) of roadway important to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility. The National Highway System (NHS) includes the Interstate Highway System as well as other roads important to the nation's economy, defense, and mobility. The NHS was developed by the United States Department Of Transportation (DOT) in cooperation with the states, local officials, and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs). COMPONENTS The National Highway System (NHS) includes the following subsystems of roadways (note that a specific highway route may be on more than one subsystem): Interstate - The Eisenhower Interstate System of highways retains its separate identity within the NHS. Other Principal Arterials - These are highways in rural and urban areas which provide access between an arterial and a major Port , Airport , Public Transportation facility, or other Intermodal Transportation facility. Strategic Highway Network (STRAHNET) - This is a network of highways which are important to the United States' strategic defense policy and which provide defense access, continuity and emergency capabilities for defense purposes. Major Strategic Highway Network Connectors - These are highways which provide access between major Military Installation s and highways which are part of the Strategic Highway Network. Intermodal Connectors - These highways provide access between major intermodal facilities and the other four subsystems making up the National Highway System . PURPOSE The purpose of the National Highway System is to extend the benefits of the Interstate Highway System to areas that are not served directly by it STATUS About 98% of all roads in NHS have been built. The 160,000 miles of NHS include only 4% of the nation's roads, but they carry more than 40% of all highway traffic, 75% of heavy truck traffic, and 90% of tourist traffic. HISTORY AND JUSTIFICATION In 1995, Congress approved NHS. Although the landmark Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) provided that certain key routes, such as the Interstate Highway System, be included in NHS, most of NHS was not specified. The Federal Highway Administration worked closely with our state and local partners, such as transportation departments and metropolitan planning organizations, to identify key routes. They, after all, know best how their roads function and how these roads fit into their overall Transport ation plans. The NHS is not another system of interstate highways. In fact, beyond the interstate segment, NHS consists mostly of existing two-lane roads, and about 98% of all roads in NHS have already been built. Yet these roads are vital. The 160,000 miles of NHS include only 4% of the nation's roads, but they carry more than 40% of all highway traffic, 75% of heavy truck traffic, and 90% of tourist traffic. The advantage of NHS is that it encourages states to focus on a limited number of high-priority routes and to concentrate on improving them with federal-aid funds. At the same time, the states can incorporate design and construction improvements that address their traffic needs safely and efficiently. With NHS, states can choose from a range of improvements. They can make operational changes, such as a program to locate and remove stalled vehicles that are impeding smooth traffic flow. States can employ available technological improvements, such as Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), which will help reduce congestion and keep traffic moving without major, roadway expansion. NHS also will help us meet the challenges of global economic competititon by enhancing our different modes of transportation, increasing America's productivity, and bolstering its economy. It is a unified system with each mode complementing the others. Increasingly, intermodal carriers rely on all forms of transportation to deliver goods and services to consumers in the most efficient manner possible. NHS fulfills that goal by serving 198 ports, 207 airports, 67 Amtrak stations, 190 rail/truck terminals, 82 intercity Bus terminals, 307 public transit stations, 37 Ferry terminals, 58 Pipeline terminals, and 20 multipurpose passenger terminals. By providing these essential linkages to other modes, NHS creates a seamless transportation system for the rapid movement of people and products. NHS reaches virtually every part of the country. About 90% of America's population lives within 5 miles of an NHS road. All urban areas with a population of more than 50,000 and 93% with a population of between 5,000 and 50,000 are within 5 miles of an NHS road. Counties that contain NHS highways also host 99% of all jobs in the nation, including 99% of manufacturing jobs, 97% of mining jobs, and 93% of agricultural jobs. SEE ALSO
REFERENCES Note: This article was adapted from public domain Federal Highway Administration web sites.
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