FHWA > Policy > Office of Highway Policy Information > HSS > Presentations

Public Road Inventory

Paul V. Svercl - Highway Engineer

email: Paul.Svercl@fhwa.dot.gov

Definition

Reference:

• Title 23, U.S.C.
• 23CFR460

Any road under the jurisdiction of and maintained by a public authority and open to public travel

Public Authority

• State and Local Governments
• Federal Agencies
• Indian Tribes
• Instrumentalities
• "Private"

Open to Public Travel

• Passable by 4-wheel standard pass cars
• Open to the general public
• No restrictive gates, prohibitive signs, or regulation other than restrictions based on size, weight, or class of registration
• Tolls, area use fees, limited hours, etc., are not considered as restrictive

Fed Agency Roads

• Primarily resource and recreational access
• Limit to maintenance levels III thru V
• Other Fed Agency public road "rights"
• "Special vehicle only" public roads
• Handout- Fed Agency mileage estimates
• Updates (FS, BIA, NPS, BLM, etc.)

Problem Isolation

• Inventory out-of-date
• New road, yet not accepted
• Wrong owner
• Duplicate reporting
• Road closure/vacation
• Low maintenance roads
• "No Road" initiatives

Resolution/Closure Examples

• FS determination - WV, MI
• GIS Studies underway - CO
• Private roads in gated communities - NJ
• Talking to the Judges - TX
• Handout -- National Truck Network