Division of Planning

Functional Classification Manual (Revised March 1989)

Rural Functional System read more

Rural Principal Arterial System (Rural Inst, Rural PA) read more

Carries substantial statewide or interstate travel. Its routes provide service to most areas with a population of at least 25,000 and all urban areas with a population of 50,000 or more. The rural principal arterial system is stratified into two sub-classes.

Rural Interstates are roads designated as interstate routes located outside urban areas

Other Principal Arterials are non-interstate principal arterials outside urban areas

Rural Minor Arterial System (Rural MnA) read more

Supplements the rural principal arterial system by providing inter-state and inter-county service, linking cities, large towns, major resort areas and other major traffic generators. This system is spatially distributed according to population density so all developed areas are within reasonable distance of an arterial highway.

Rural Collector Road System (Rural MJ C, Rural Mn C) read more

Serves primarily inter-county rather than statewide travel, with travel distances shorter than on arterial routes. The rural collector system is stratified into two classes.

Major Collector Roads link county seats, large towns and other traffic generators of inter-county importance. They also link these areas to nearby larger cities.

Minor Collector Roads provide service to the remaining smaller communities and link locally important traffic generators to the rural hinterland. This system is spatially distributed according to population density to collect traffic from local roads.

Rural Local Road System (Rural Loc) read more

Primarily provides access to adjacent land and carries travel of distances shorter than collectors or arterials. Local roads are comprised of all rural mileage not included in one of the higher classifications.

Urban Functional System read more

Urban Principal Arterial System (Urban Inst, Urban F&E, Urban PA) read more

Carries the majority of traffic entering, leaving, and bypassing the urban area as well as intra-city travel between the central city, outlying areas and suburban centers. These routes carry a majority of the total urban area travel on a minimum of mileage and are connected both internally and with major rural systems. This system is stratified into three sub-classes:

Urban Interstates are roads designated as interstate routes within urban areas.
Other Urban Freeways and Expressways are non-interstate fully controlled-access principal arterials within urban areas.
Urban Principal Arterials are urban non-interstate principal arterials with no control of access.

Urban Minor Arterial System (Urban Mn A) read more

Augments the urban principal arterial system and provides trips of moderate length. These streets place more emphasis on land access than principal arterials, make urban connections to rural collector roads, and have a somewhat lower level of travel mobility. Ideally, they do not penetrate identifiable neighborhoods but provide intra-community connections between various neighborhoods and may carry local bus routes.

Urban Collector Street System (Urban C St) read more

Accumulates traffic from local streets and channels it into the arterial system. It also provides land access and traffic circulation within identifiable neighborhoods of inter-community importance, such as residential neighborhoods, commercial areas, and industrial areas.

Urban Local Street System (Urban Loc) read more

Primarily provides access to abutting land and access to higher order systems. These streets offer the lowest level of mobility. Local streets are comprised of all urban mileage not included in one of the higher classifications.