The National Highway System (NHS) is a network of strategic highways within the United States, including the Interstate Highway System and other roads serving major airports, ports, military bases, rail or truck terminals, railway stations, pipeline terminals and other strategic transport facilities. Altogether, it constitutes the largest highway system in the world.
National Highway System
System map with Interstate Highways in blue and other components in red
The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) in 1991 established certain key routes such as the Interstate Highway System, be included.[1][2] The act provided a framework to develop a National Intermodal Transportation System which "consists of all forms of transportation in a unified, interconnected manner, including the transportation systems of the future, to reduce energy consumption and air pollution while promoting economic development and supporting the Nation's preeminent position in international commerce".[3]
The National Highway System Designation Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–59 (text) (PDF), 109 Stat. 568) is a United States Act of Congress that was signed into law by PresidentBill Clinton on November 28, 1995. The legislation designated about 160,955 miles (259,032 km) of roads, including the Interstate Highway System, as the NHS.
Aside from designating the system, the act served several other purposes, including restoring $5.4 billion in funding to state highway departments, giving Congress the power to prioritize highway system projects, repealing all federal speed limit controls, and prohibits the federal government from requiring states to use federal-aid highway funds to convert existing signs or purchase new signs with metric units.[4]
The act also created a State Infrastructure Bank pilot program. Ten states were chosen in 1996 for this new method of road financing. These banks would lend money like regular banks, with funding coming from the federal government or the private sector, and they would be repaid through such means as highway tolls or taxes. In 1997, 28 more states asked to be part of the program. Ohio was the first state to use a state infrastructure bank to start building a road. An advantage of this method was completing projects faster; state laws and the lack of appropriate projects were potential problems.[5]
Overview
A map of the Strategic Highway Network, one component of the NHS.
Map of average freight truck traffic on the NHS, 2015
According to the Federal Highway Administration, the 160,000-mile (260,000 km) National Highway System includes roads important to the United States' economy, defense, and mobility, from one or more of the following road networks (specific routes may be part of more than one sub-system):[6]
Interstate Highway System: The entire Interstate Highway System (which is also known as the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways) is included in the NHS, but retains its separate identity within the NHS.
Other Principal Arterials: 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. (Facilities accessed include 207 airports, 198 ports, 190 rail or truck terminals, 67 Amtrak railway stations, 58 pipeline terminals as well as 82 intercity bus terminals, 307 public transit stations, 37 ferry terminals, and 20 multi-purpose passenger terminals.)[2]
Strategic Highway Network (STRAHNET): The entire 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.[7]
Major Strategic Highway Network Connectors: Highways which provide access between major military installations and routes which are part of STRAHNET.
Intermodal Conectors: Routes which provide access between major intermodal facilities and the other four subsystems making up the NHS.[8]
The system includes 4% of the nation's roads, but carries more than 40% of all highway traffic, 75% of heavy truck traffic, and 90% of tourist traffic.[2] All urban areas with a population of over 50,000 and about 90% of America's population live within 5 miles (8.0 km) of the network,[2] which is the longest in the world.[9]
^ abcdSlater, Rodney E. (Spring 1996). "The National Highway System: A Commitment to America's Future". Public Roads. Washington, DC: Federal Highway Administration. 59 (4). ISSN 0033-3735. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
^Pub. L. 102–240: Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 §2. Declaration of policy: Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act
^Federal Highway Administration. "Interstate FAQ: Why don't you put metric speed and distance signs on the Interstate System?". Celebrating the Eisenhower Interstate Highway System. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved August 23, 2008.
^Schienberg, Phyllis (March 6, 1997). "Statement of Phyllis Schienberg, Prospects for Innovation Through Research, Intelligent Transportation Systems, State Infrastructure Banks, and Design-Build Contracting". US Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
^Natzke, Stefan; Neathery, Mike & Adderly, Kevin (September 29, 2017). "What is the National Highway System?". National Highway System. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
^Federal Highway Administration (November 7, 2014). "Chapter 18: Strategic Highway Network (STRAHNET)". Status of the Nation's Highways, Bridges, and Transit: 2004 Conditions and Performance. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
^Natzke, Stefan; Neathery, Mike & Adderly, Kevin (April 6, 2018). "Intermodal Connectors". National Highway System. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
^Cox, Wendell (January 22, 2011). "China Expressway System to Exceed US Interstates". New Geography. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to National Highway System.
STRAHNET description at US military's Transportation Engineering Agency
STRAHNET article at the GlobalSecurity.org
Weingroff, Richard F. ""
National Highways System Proposed in 1913
State-by-state maps of the National Highway System of the Federal Highway Administration
March 20, 2023
national, highway, system, united, states, confused, with, united, states, numbered, highways, interstate, highway, system, national, highway, system, network, strategic, highways, within, united, states, including, interstate, highway, system, other, roads, s. Not to be confused with United States Numbered Highways or Interstate Highway System The National Highway System NHS is a network of strategic highways within the United States including the Interstate Highway System and other roads serving major airports ports military bases rail or truck terminals railway stations pipeline terminals and other strategic transport facilities Altogether it constitutes the largest highway system in the world National Highway SystemSystem map with Interstate Highways in blue and other components in redSystem informationLength160 955 mi 259 032 km FormedNovember 28 1995 1995 11 28 Highway namesInterstatesInterstate nn I nn US HighwaysU S Highway nn U S Route nn US nn US nn StateVaries by stateCounty roadsCounty Road nn County Route nn CR nn Co Rd nn Other local roadsVaries by localitySystem linksNational Highway SystemInterstate STRAHNETIndividual states are encouraged to focus federal funds on improving the efficiency and safety of this network The roads within the system were identified by the United States Department of Transportation USDOT in cooperation with the states local officials and metropolitan planning organizations MPOs and approved by the United States Congress in 1995 Contents 1 Legislation 2 Overview 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksLegislation EditThe Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act ISTEA in 1991 established certain key routes such as the Interstate Highway System be included 1 2 The act provided a framework to develop a National Intermodal Transportation System which consists of all forms of transportation in a unified interconnected manner including the transportation systems of the future to reduce energy consumption and air pollution while promoting economic development and supporting the Nation s preeminent position in international commerce 3 The National Highway System Designation Act of 1995 Pub L 104 59 text PDF 109 Stat 568 is a United States Act of Congress that was signed into law by President Bill Clinton on November 28 1995 The legislation designated about 160 955 miles 259 032 km of roads including the Interstate Highway System as the NHS Aside from designating the system the act served several other purposes including restoring 5 4 billion in funding to state highway departments giving Congress the power to prioritize highway system projects repealing all federal speed limit controls and prohibits the federal government from requiring states to use federal aid highway funds to convert existing signs or purchase new signs with metric units 4 The act also created a State Infrastructure Bank pilot program Ten states were chosen in 1996 for this new method of road financing These banks would lend money like regular banks with funding coming from the federal government or the private sector and they would be repaid through such means as highway tolls or taxes In 1997 28 more states asked to be part of the program Ohio was the first state to use a state infrastructure bank to start building a road An advantage of this method was completing projects faster state laws and the lack of appropriate projects were potential problems 5 Overview Edit A map of the Strategic Highway Network one component of the NHS Map of average freight truck traffic on the NHS 2015 According to the Federal Highway Administration the 160 000 mile 260 000 km National Highway System includes roads important to the United States economy defense and mobility from one or more of the following road networks specific routes may be part of more than one sub system 6 Interstate Highway System The entire Interstate Highway System which is also known as the Dwight D Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways is included in the NHS but retains its separate identity within the NHS Other Principal Arterials 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 Facilities accessed include 207 airports 198 ports 190 rail or truck terminals 67 Amtrak railway stations 58 pipeline terminals as well as 82 intercity bus terminals 307 public transit stations 37 ferry terminals and 20 multi purpose passenger terminals 2 Strategic Highway Network STRAHNET The entire 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 7 Major Strategic Highway Network Connectors Highways which provide access between major military installations and routes which are part of STRAHNET Intermodal Conectors Routes which provide access between major intermodal facilities and the other four subsystems making up the NHS 8 The system includes 4 of the nation s roads but carries more than 40 of all highway traffic 75 of heavy truck traffic and 90 of tourist traffic 2 All urban areas with a population of over 50 000 and about 90 of America s population live within 5 miles 8 0 km of the network 2 which is the longest in the world 9 See also Edit U S Roads portalReferences Edit Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 Retrieved October 20 2021 via National Transportation Library a b c d Slater Rodney E Spring 1996 The National Highway System A Commitment to America s Future Public Roads Washington DC Federal Highway Administration 59 4 ISSN 0033 3735 Retrieved July 9 2012 Pub L 102 240 Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 2 Declaration of policy Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act Federal Highway Administration Interstate FAQ Why don t you put metric speed and distance signs on the Interstate System Celebrating the Eisenhower Interstate Highway System Federal Highway Administration Retrieved August 23 2008 Schienberg Phyllis March 6 1997 Statement of Phyllis Schienberg Prospects for Innovation Through Research Intelligent Transportation Systems State Infrastructure Banks and Design Build Contracting US Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Retrieved July 9 2012 Natzke Stefan Neathery Mike amp Adderly Kevin September 29 2017 What is the National Highway System National Highway System Federal Highway Administration Retrieved January 29 2019 Federal Highway Administration November 7 2014 Chapter 18 Strategic Highway Network STRAHNET Status of the Nation s Highways Bridges and Transit 2004 Conditions and Performance Federal Highway Administration Retrieved August 27 2015 Natzke Stefan Neathery Mike amp Adderly Kevin April 6 2018 Intermodal Connectors National Highway System Federal Highway Administration Retrieved January 29 2019 Cox Wendell January 22 2011 China Expressway System to Exceed US Interstates New Geography Retrieved July 9 2012 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Department of Transportation External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to National Highway System STRAHNET description at US military s Transportation Engineering Agency STRAHNET article at the GlobalSecurity org Weingroff Richard F Backbone Creation Of The National Highway System National Highways System Proposed in 1913 State by state maps of the National Highway System of the Federal Highway Administration Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title National Highway System United States amp oldid 1103554773, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
