The Definition

Transportation facilities are classified by the relative importance of the movement and access functions assigned to them. The access function often detracts from the movement function and vice versa. In the hierarchy of highway facilities, ... freeways, expressways, and major arterials constitute the major highway system, while collector and local streets comprise the local street system. Some organizations prefer to include collector streets in the major street category, leaving only local streets in the minor street system. Minor streets may be further subdivided into residential, commercial, and industrial streets to accentuate their functional access characteristics. Further details concerning the concepts, criteria, and procedures used in highway functional classification can be found in the Highway Functional Classification: Concepts, Criteria, and Procedures, published by the U. S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration.                                                       

All streets and highways in the network encompassed by the study areas should be classified in the early stages of a transportation planning study.

The functional and jurisdictional classifications are done in conjunction with the geometric inventory of the streets. The results are usually displayed on maps of the study area.... The number of lanes is sometimes added to road segments that are more than two lanes wide” (Edwards 390-91).

Edwards, John D., Jr., P.E., Transportation Planning Handbook, Ed., Institute of Transportation Engineers, Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1992.

For additional information about the functional classification of the road system within K-TUTS, please try the staff at the address below.