Impacting Local Government - Updating Functional Classification Using GIS by Greg Nation

After every decennial census, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) requires the State to update the functional classification of their roadways. Functional class determines a roadway’s federal aid eligibility (aka funding). This will be the first time that functional class will be updated and reported geospatially. Most cities, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) and counties are unaware or only vaguely familiar with the importance of functional class, let alone the update process utilizing GIS. This presentation will summarize the importance of functional class and outline the update process. Also, it will give AHTD a chance to directly interact with city and county GIS personnel that will be responsible for updating functional class. As a note, the submitted datasets from the counties and cities will become part of a national geospatial network that spans the entire United States.

Transcript

1. Impacting Local Government Updating Functional Classification Using GIS September 12, 2013 Bentonville, Arkansas
2. Presentation Overview  Introduction  Federal-Aid System  Functional Class  Adjusted Urban Area Boundary  Purpose of Project  Methodology – GIS  Proposed Process  Good Practice Steps & Schedule  Questions and Answers
3. “Federal-Aid highway funds are authorized by Congress to assist the States in providing for construction, reconstruction, and improvement of highways and bridges on eligible Federal-Aid highway routes and for other special purpose programs and projects.” The Federal-Aid System
4. The Federal-Aid System Arkansas 22,360 miles  State Highways 16,220 miles  County Roads 3,780 miles  City Streets 2,360 miles
5. Functional Classification Importance • Federal-Aid highway funding • Impacts to Roadway Design • Project Prioritization Remember Funding is directly related to the functional classification of a road
6. Functional Classification
7. Functional Classification
8. Functional Classification  Interstate  Other Freeway & Expressway  Other Principal Arterial  Minor Arterial  Major Collector  Minor Collector • Urban Minor Collectors – Yes • Rural Minor Collectors - No
9. Functional Classification Mileage Extent (Rural) Mileage Extent (Urban) Interstate 0% - 3% 1% -3% Other Freeway & Expressway 1% - 14% 6% - 19% Other Principal Arterial 19% - 38% 14% - 27% Minor Arterial 3% - 5% 8% - 13% Major Collector 11% - 18% All Collectors Combined Minor Collectors 4% - 15% 8% - 15% Functional Classification
10. Classification Population Rural < 5,000 Small Urban 5,000 to 49,999 Urbanized >= 50,000 Adjusted Urban Area Boundary
11. Adjusted Urban Area Boundary City (Urban) Responsibility TEST
12. Adjusted Urban Area Boundary County (Rural) Responsibility
13.  FHWA requirement to update the urban boundary and functional class of roadways every 10 years.  Update functional classifications due to changes in the urban boundary as a result of the 2010 U.S. Census data.  Re-assess the existing functional classifications and make changes and additions where necessary to the system since 2000. Purpose of Project
14. Methodology  Updating using GIS is a new process  Utilize  ESRI Shapefiles  Geo-Database Files  Learn as we go  Utilize stakeholder Input  Inter-Agency Cooperation
15. ESRI Shapefiles sent to requesting Agency Agency utilizes Shapefiles and makes updates Return to AHTD for evaluation Evaluated files returned to Agency Agency reviews and officially approves Return to ATHD for FHWA approval Methodology Proposed Process
16.  Assess Need for Additional Functional Classification Changes  Make updates  Meet FHWA mileage % ranges  Prepare Maps or GIS Files for AHTD Evaluation  Work with AHTD during evaluation process  Evaluation process will take some time  Seek FHWA Approval  FHWA is a concerned stakeholder Methodology Proposed Process
17.  Functional Classification - Triggers  Changes in roadway characteristics or use  New significant roadways  Significant growth (population/traffic)  Extension of existing roadways  Changes in traffic patterns  New schools, industry, or other economic assets Methodology Proposed Process
18.  Minimize functional class changes along the roadway  A roadway of higher classification should not terminate at a single roadway of a lower classification  There will be exceptions  Maintain Topological Connectivity  Be consistent  Use common sense Methodology Proposed Process
19. Methodology Proposed Process Think Continuity
20. Good Practice Steps & Schedule Arterial Collector ors Local Areas of Uncertainty Determining level of functional classification of a roadway can be difficult at times and create uncertainty.  FHWA Functional Classification Manual  FHWA Functional Classification Website (under construction)  AHTD as a resource  Share understanding of the game plan  Encourage & work towards timely delivery of functional classification revisions
21. Event Schedule of Dates AHTD launches functional class update process September 2013 AHTD works with partners to review and purpose changes to the functional classification of it’s roadways September 2014  Approved by Local Agency  Approved by AHTD AHTD processes all proposed functional classification changes and submits for FHWA review and approval December 2014  Approved by FHWA AHTD submits FHWA approved functional class changes through HPMS June 2015 Good Practice Steps & Schedule
22. What If: If we do not complete the functional class update, what happens? Answer: AHTD will update the State Highways in your area and leave the existing functional classification at the 2000 level with only minor adjustments. What If: Can functional classification be updated at a later date? Answer: Yes, but only on a case-by-case basis. System-wide update is a one shot deal. What If: Future or proposed un-built roads are included? Answer: There is a 4-year must be built clause and it should already be in the STIP before being added to the functional class file. (see above) What If
23. If you have any questions please contact me by e-mail at: greg.nation@ahtd.ar.gov or (501) 569-2406