Section 2: History of the National Highway System
Anchor: #i999315Initial Creation of the National Highway System
ISTEA Section 1006 called for the creation of the NHS. The National Highway System Designation Act of 1995 designates that the NHS be developed by the Secretary of Transportation in cooperation with states, local officials, and MPOs.
The NHS consists of highways designated as:
- Anchor: #CEBKMETI
- part of the Interstate System, Anchor: #PJOEGUML
- urban and rural principal arterials and highways (including toll facilities) which provide motor vehicle access to major ports, airports, and public and intermodal transportation facilities, Anchor: #REUOXWTR
- the strategic network of highways that provides defense access, continuity, and emergency capabilities for the movement of personnel, material, and equipment in both peacetime and wartime, and Anchor: #PPFKUTYM
- highway connectors which provide motor vehicle access between major military installations and highways that are part of the strategic highway network.
The first step by FHWA, State, and MPO officials was a nationwide reclassification of the Nation's roads based on their function. The target date for completion was early 1993. This allowed officials to identify all principal arterials. The State transportation departments then worked with local officials to develop recommendations on which principal arterials should be included in the NHS. The FHWA also worked with other elements of the DOT to identify major airport, maritime, port, rail, and transit facilities that were sufficiently important to justify connections to the NHS. A map of the system was created in 1993.
Anchor: #i999355Previous Updates to the National Highway System
MAP-21 (2012) added over 5,000 miles to the State network.
In the summer of 2021, TPP concluded a comprehensive assessment of the NHS network in Texas. All findings from the assessment were coordinated with the affected MPOs and FHWA, and recommendations for modifications to the NHS were submitted by TxDOT and approved by FHWA. Approximately 1,050 miles were added to and 660 miles were removed from the NHS. As of September 1, 2021 NHS mileage in Texas breaks down as shown in Table 3-1.
|
System |
Main NHS (miles) |
Intermodal Connectors (miles) |
TOTAL (miles) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
On-System |
16,925 |
75 |
17,000 |
|
Off-System |
1,330 |
120 |
1,450 |
|
TOTAL |
18,255 |
195 |
18,450 |
The NHS can be easily viewed on the Statewide Planning Map by clicking on the “National Highway System” overlay.