Proposed National Highway System

Proposed National Highway System - 1993
(Presently Open to Traffic)

A proposed National Highway System (NHS) was submitted to Congress in December 1993 as required by the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) of 1991. These data also include Puerto Rico.
The proposed NHS represents only about 4 percent of the Nation's total public road mileage but carries over 42 percent of the travel.
Although there is about three times as much NHS mileage in rural than there is in urban, the NHS percentages of the total U.S. mileage in rural and urban, respectively, are nearly equal.

A majority of the travel on the proposed NHS takes place in urban areas even though more mileage exists in the rural areas.

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Proposed National Highway System (NHS)

Of the proposed NHS (approximately 160,001 miles) 27.5 percent is made up of the Interstate System (IS) and non-Interstate routes. the NHS encompasses all of the Strategic Highway Network (STRAHNET) (about one fourth of which is on the IS), and other highways.

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Existing Traffic Lanes and Access Control for the NHS (Rural and Urban Miles)

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Intermodal Facility Connections
Ports
The 104 ports handle about 72 percent of total U.S. waterborne cargo tonnage.
Amtrak Stations
Of 321 Amtrak stations, each station handled at least a combined total of 20,000 entrainments and detrainments over the most recent 3-year reporting period.
Rail/Truck Facilities
Of 191 rail/truck facilities, each handles more than 5,000 annual origins and/or destinations of railroad cars and relies heavily on the rail/truck/ intermodal connection.
Public Transit Systems
Since the NHS connects to all urban areas with populations above 25,000, access is provided to the 319 public transit systems serving over 99 percent of all transit riders.
Airports
The 143 airports handle 96 percent of total annual domestic enplanments as well as similarly large amounts civilian airborne cargo.

Other Characteristics

The FHWA estimates that the proposed NHS contains the following number of bridges, railroad crossings, major border crossings with Canada and Mexico, and full access control mileage.

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