Federal‐Aid Functional Classification Update: PPoolliiccyy aanndd PPrroocceedduurreess December 2012 Prepared for: State of Hawaii Department of Transportation Highways Division Planning Branch TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Page Background .................................................................................................................................... 1 Functional Classifications in Hawaii ........................................................................................ 2 Functional Classification Update Process ................................................................................ 3 STEP 1. Review urban boundary analysis results .......................................... 4 STEP 2. Map current functional classifications over adjusted urban boundary maps ........................................................................................ 4 STEP 3. Review current Functional Classification data based on criteria ... 4 STEP 4. Map Traffic generators ......................................................................... 5 STEP 5. Review areas where land use or travel patterns have changed ..... 6 STEP 6. Apply criteria from step 3 .................................................................... 6 STEP 7. Develop functional classification justification report ...................... 6 STEP 8. Concurrence of local governments ..................................................... 6 STEP 9. Concurrence and acceptance of HDOT .............................................. 6 STEP 10. Submittal to FHWA Division Office for approval .......................... 6 Appendices A Guidance for the Functional Classification of Roadways (Updated) B Urban vs. Rural Decision Process C Detailed Functional Classification Criteria D Functional Classification Revision Application E Sample Functional Classification Application (with concurrency letters) F Functional Classification Revision Process G Route Numbering Guidelines H Justification of Changes to the Federal-Aid System J Updated System Analysis K Federal-Aid System L Federal-Aid System Maps This report was funded in part through grants from the Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. The views and opinions of the agency expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the U.S. Department of Transportation. PAGE i Background The State of Hawaii is updating the urban boundary and functional classifications of statewide highways to reflect changes in population and employment growth and travel patterns that have occurred since the last update in 1993. Since 1993 each county in Hawaii has experienced substantial changes in population, density, land use boundary amendments, subdivisions, and development. All of these aspects can affect urban boundaries and the functional classification of the highway network, and the Hawaii Department of Transportation has started a process to re-evaluate and update those designations. This Functional Classification Update Policy and Procedures memo outlines the procedures for the functional classification update process. A separate memo documenting the procedures for the Urban Boundary update has already been created. The procedures described below are consistent with federal guidance, however, it should be noted that much of the guidance is general, and states have flexibility when determining the criteria for functional classifications changes and updates. CHANNELIZATION OF TRIPS Functional classification is the grouping of streets and highways into classes, or systems, according to the character of service they are intended to provide. All highways in the United States are functionally classified using a common nomenclature, to provide a consistently-defined roadway network across the country. Federal functional classifications are determined by State Departments of Transportation (in conjunction with local agencies) based on criteria established by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Functional classification defines the nature of how travel can be channelized within a network in a logical and efficient manner by defining the part that any particular road or street should play in serving the flow of trips through a highway network. FHWA must ultimately approve the classifications. Functional classification is used for planning, design, budgeting, programming and fiscal management. PAGE 1 The federal functional classifications1 include: Principal arterials: Interstate Other Freeways and Expressways Other Principal Arterials Other types of roadways: Minor Arterial Major Collector Minor Collector Local Federal-aid highway systems are the National Highway System and the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways (the “Interstate System”); the Interstate System is a subset of the National Highway System. Federal-aid highways include highways on the Federal-aid highway systems and all other public roads not federally classified as local roads or rural minor collectors. Federal functional classification determines the eligibility for some FHWA funding categories. Roads functionally classified as local streets or minor collectors (not part of the Federal-aid Highway System) are not normally eligible for STP funds. Federal policy directs state DOTs to establish a classification of roads, based on function, so that roadways can be improved appropriately as funding opportunities arise. Therefore, functional classification is used in determining federal, state, regional and local priorities for roadway resurfacing or reconstruction. Although FHWA does not provide specific policy that designates or mandates particular functional service characteristics, examples of characteristics that states commonly use as criteria to distinguish functional classifications can include but are not limited to: traffic volume, mobility & access standards, corridor length, land use, activity centers, through traffic, vehicle speed, and non-motorized access. This Policy and Procedures memo will document the specific criteria that would be applied during the functional classification update process. Functional Classifications in Hawaii Currently the functional classification system in Hawaii is divided into rural and urban designations, and includes interstates (on Oahu), other freeways and expressways, principal 1 Per FHWA’s memorandum titled Guidance for the Functional Classification of Roadways (Updated), dated October 14, 2008, rural and urban designations were consolidated to ensure that roadways are classified based on their functionality rather than their location within an urban or rural area. PAGE 2 and minor arterials, and major and minor collectors. Hawaii’s existing functional classification system is fairly similar to that of the rest of the United States; however, due to island geography and topography, Hawaii relies on belt roads around the islands much more than the mainland. This reliance and constrained geography may increase traffic on roadways designated as arterials. Being the primary road, the arterials also serve as collectors and local roads with small roads and driveways connecting directly to the principal arterial. Conversely there may be roads on small islands or in other areas that are isolated from the remaining parts of the state. These roads may not meet the specific criteria for a given classification, but still operate as an arterial or collector. Hawaii currently has a functional classification system with the following designations: Principal Arterials: Urban Interstate Rural Interstate Urban Other Freeway/Expressway Urban Other Principal Arterial Rural Other Principal Arterial Other Roadways: Urban Minor Arterial Rural Minor Arterial Rural Major Collector Rural Minor Collector Urban Collector Local Urban Local Rural With this Functional Classification Update, the federal functional classifications will be used with the designation of urban and rural. The process in Appendix B shall be used to determine whether the roadway falls under the urban or rural functional classification. Functional Classification Update Process The proposed Functional Classification Update process included here is consistent with FHWA’s Functional Classification Guidelines, including the 2008 Guidance for the Functional Classification of Highways (Updated), which is included as Appendix A. This process will be used for this Functional Classification update, but it is developed in a way that it could also be used for future revisions, or revision submittals from local jurisdictions such as counties and cities. An application and process for future revisions is described later in this section. PAGE 3 The functional classification update will include the following steps, which are described in greater detail below: (1) Review urban boundary analysis results (2) Map current functional classifications over adjusted urban boundary maps (3) Review current Functional Classification data based on criteria (4) Map traffic generators (5) Review areas where land use or travel patterns have changed since 1993 (6) Apply criteria from Step 3 for classification of Arterials, Collectors or Local Roads per Highway Functional Classification Guidelines; and classify network (7) Develop functional classification justification report (8) Concurrence of local governments where applicable (9) Concurrence and acceptance of HDOT (10) Submittal to FHWA Division Office for approval STEP 1. Review urban boundary analysis results The urban boundary update will be completed