Functional Classification – Routine Changes
Transportation Planning Division Approved: October 2022
Version 3
[Contents]
Purpose Resources and Tools
Background Contacts
Responsibility Glossary
Policy, Regulatory, and Legal Requirements User Access
Scheduling and Time Constraints Flowchart
Procedures Record of Revision
Warnings and Precautions
Purpose
This procedure outlines the steps necessary to revise the functional classification (FC) of a
roadway.
Background
Functional classification is a federally defined process by which streets and highways
(roadways) are grouped into classes, according to the character of service they are intended to
provide. All classifications and sub-categories exist in both urban and rural areas. The
classification categories are as follows:
• Principal Arterial – The principal arterial system should serve the major centers of activity
of a metropolitan area, the highest traffic volume corridors, and the longest trip desires; and
should carry a high proportion of the total urban area travel on a minimum of mileage.
Principal Arterials should be further divided into three subcategories: Interstates; Other
Freeways and Expressways; and Other Principal Arterials.
• Minor Arterial – The minor arterial street system should interconnect with and augment the
urban principal arterial system and provide service to trips of moderate length at a
somewhat lower level of travel mobility than principal arterials.
• Collector – The collector street system provides land access service and traffic circulation
within residential neighborhoods, commercial and industrial areas. It differs from the arterial
system in that facilities on the collector system may penetrate residential neighborhoods,
distributing trips from the arterials through the area to the ultimate destination. The
collectors are further divided into major and minor collectors.
• Local – The local street system consists of all roads not defined as arterials or collectors
and primarily provides access to land with little or no through movement.
Functional classification changes are required due to changes in transportation network and/or
land use patterns. These changes can involve:
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The information contained in this procedure is deemed accurate and complete when posted. Content may change at
any time without notice. We cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of printed copies. Please refer to the
online procedure for the most current version.
• Adding newly constructed or extended roadways to the network, which can in turn affect
the functional classification of connecting or nearby roadways.
• Upgrading the functional classification of an existing roadway due to land use changes
or an improvement made to the roadway.
• Downgrading the functional classification of an existing roadway due to land use
changes, traffic controls that discourage through traffic, or other controls that limit the
speed and capacity of a road.
Note: The Functional Classification Overhaul process is different from the Routine Change
process in that the overhaul results from changes in the urban area boundaries from the
Decennial Census. These boundary changes initiate the Boundary Revision procedure, which
results in changes in Functional Classification. (See “Administration of the Boundary Revision
Program”.)
Responsibility
The Functional Classification Project Manager (FC Project Manager), the staff in the Statewide
Initiatives Group of the Transportation Planning Division (TPD) who has the role of Functional
Classification Project Manager, is responsible for managing this process. The MPO/RPO
Planning Engineer in the Planning Groups will be responsible for coordinating with the
MPO/RPO in the process.
Policy, Regulatory, and Legal Requirements
FHWA Highway Functional Classification Concepts, Criteria and Procedures 2013 Edition
Scheduling and Time Constraints
Begin the process as soon as the NCDOT Functional Classification Change Request Form is
received from the Requestor.
Procedures
Follow the steps below to process the functional classification change request.
Step Action
1 Requestor shall contact the MPO/RPO Planning Engineer at NCDOT Transportation
Planning Division for their area to start the functional classification revision process.
(The Requestor may be from the Program Development Division, the CTP Project
Engineer, or an MPO/RPO.)
2 Upon the Planning Engineer receiving the request, the Planning Engineer will send
the requestor the NCDOT Functional Classification Change Request Form and
instruct that the form should be submitted to the FC Project Manager with the
Planning Engineer and Planning Group Supervisor CC’ed.
3 Once the request form is received, the FC Project Manager will store the request
form on S drive under Statewide Initiatives Group folder.
4 The FC Project Manager will review and evaluate the change request stated in the
NCDOT Functional Classification Change Request Form from the requestor.
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The information contained in this procedure is deemed accurate and complete when posted. Content may change at
any time without notice. We cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of printed copies. Please refer to the
online procedure for the most current version.
Items which should be considered include reasons for the proposed change, FHWA
guidelines for inclusion in a particular category, connectivity of the system, and the
functional classification network system consistency with surrounding counties,
urban areas, or MPO that will be affected by this proposal. The FC Project Manager
will be responsible for coordination of all additional jurisdictional changes
necessitated by the changes for the county, urban areas, MPO or RPO.
5 The FC Project Manager will create the change request map, provide suggestions
on the request to the TPD functional classification review team comprised of the
Planning Engineer and Planning Group Supervisor for the area, and the FC Project
Manager’s supervisor for TPD internal review, discussion and decision making.
The FC Project Manager will discuss/communicate with the local organization (i.e.
MPO/RPO, etc.) about TPD’s evaluation and analysis on the change request, before
any final decision.
The local organization (i.e. MPO/RPO, etc.), TPD Planning Group, and the FC
Project Manager will work together during this process.
6 Upon NCDOT TPD’s approval of the change request, the FC Project Manager will
generate the functional classification system revision request transmittal letter
including the maps for each change and send it to FHWA. The FC Project Manager
will coordinate/discuss the request with FHWA as needed.
The FC Project Manager will send the TPD’s final decision to the requestor if the
change request is not approved.
7 Upon FHWA’s approval of the change request, the FC Project Manager will generate
functional classification system revision distribution memorandum and send it out to
all parties involved.
8 The FC Project Manager will update the NCDOT Roads and Highways System with
the changes and close out the project. The updated functional classification data will
then be published with the quarterly NCDOT data publication.
Warnings and Precautions
The MPO needs to approve the changes before the change request can be submitted to
NCDOT TPD, if the area is within the MPO boundary.
Resources and Tools
FHWA Highway Functional Classification Concepts, Criteria and Procedures 2013 Edition
Contacts
• Requestor needs to contact the Planning Engineer at NCDOT Transportation Planning
Division for their area to start the functional classification revision process. (The Requestor
may be the Program Development Division, the CTP Project Engineer, an MPO or an RPO.)
Glossary
Functional Classification (FC)
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The information contained in this procedure is deemed accurate and complete when posted. Content may change at
any time without notice. We cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of printed copies. Please refer to the
online procedure for the most current version.
Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)
Rural Planning Organization (RPO)
Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)
Transportation Planning Division (TPD)
Urban Area Boundaries (UAB)
User Access
Restricted NCDOT, FHWA, MPO, RPO, Consultants, etc.
Flowchart
None
Record of Revision
Version Section Affected Description Effective Date
3 Most sections Updated most of the document 10/31/2022
to describe the current process
and clarify
2 Scheduling & Time Constraints Updated linked documents and 1/08/2009
Procedures added a new hyperlinked
document
Resources & Tools
1.1 Step 1 of Procedures & Contact changed from Elisabeth 7/21/2008
Contacts Reddic to Rockne Bryant
4
The information contained in this procedure is deemed accurate and complete when posted. Content may change at
any time without notice. We cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of printed copies. Please refer to the
online procedure for the most current version.