FHWA Adjusted Urban Area Boundaries

Federal-Aid Urban Areas

“Many Federal transportation programs and policies rely upon a clear and well-documented distinction between urban and rural areas. Urban and rural areas are explicitly defined by the Census Bureau according to specific population, density and related criteria…For transportation purposes, States…may adjust the Census-defined boundaries to be more consistent with transportation needs.” – Highway Functional Classification Concepts, Criteria, and Procedures; Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)

Adjusted Urban Area Boundaries are established for locations with a population of 5,000 or more, as defined by the Census. Federal transportation legislation requires that all of the area within the Census-defined urban area boundary must also be included in the Adjusted Urban Area Boundary. The adjustment procedures are accessible from FHWA’s Highway Functional Classification Concepts, Criteria and Procedures.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) is the primary agency responsible for reviewing the Census-defined urban area boundaries in Kentucky. In addition, KYTC received proposed boundary adjustments from the Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) and elected officials of local governments. KYTC took these proposed adjustments into consideration when making its final recommendations.

The Federal transportation programs that rely upon the Adjusted Urban Area Boundaries include: highway functional classification, highway statistical reporting, control of outdoor advertising on protected routes, the distribution of Surface Transportation (STP) funds, and the STP apportionment formula.

In conformance with FHWA guidelines, Kentucky’s Adjusted Urban Area Boundaries were most recently reviewed, updated, and approved in September, 2014.

Submittal Letter Approval Letter