2024 Facts for Drivers PDF

or local roads, depending on the type of service they provide. The roads are further subdrvided into rural and urban area classifications. Arterial roads generally provide the fastest method of travel, typically have minimal accessibility from neighboring roads and were envi- sioned for l...

or local roads, depending on the type of service they provide. The roads are further subdrvided into rural and urban area classifications. Arterial roads generally provide the fastest method of travel, typically have minimal accessibility from neighboring roads and were envi- sioned for long-distance travel. These thoroughfares are designed to the highest standards, are wider, and have multiple lanes and some degree of access control. Collectors are generally two-lane roads that serve short trips. They collect and distribute travel to and from arterial roads and local roads. Local roads are those not classified as either an arterial or collector. Of all the roadway systems, the National Highway System is one of the most essential to the nation’s economy, defense, and mobility, even though it only comprises 4.1% of the nation’s roads. This system carries more than 44% of all vehicle traffic, 75% of heavy truck traffic, and 90% of tourist traffic. It consists of: « Certain designated interstate highways; e Specific arterial roadways which provide access to major ports, airports, public transportation facilities, or other intermodal facilities; « A Strategic Highway Network, which provides defense access, as well as continuity and emergency capabilities for defense purpos- E55 « Major Strategic Highway Network Connectors, which provide access between major military installations and the Strategic Highway Network; and « Intermodal Connectors which provide access between major intermodal facilities and the other four subsystems making up the National Highway System. The growth rate in highway vehicle miles traveled (WMT) had exceed- ed 3% for every five-year period in the 1960s. In the 1970s, the growth of U.S. VMT was offset by sharp declines corresponding to the recession and fuel crisis in 1973-74 and 1979-80. VMT grew steadily in the 1980s by 37%, the 1990s by 26%, and the 2000s by 8%. From 2010-2015, VMT grew just under 5%, from 2.98 trillion to 3.10 Z4