Topic 1

CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM OF HIGHWAY

AND STREETS
1.1 Highway Functions and
Classification
Two primary categories of service are provided by roadways
and roadway systems:
Accessibility
Direct connection to abutting lands and land uses provided by
roadways in the form of curb parking, driveway access to off-
street parking, bus stops, taxi stands, loading zones, driveway
access to loading areas etc.
Mobility
Refers to the through movement of people, goods and vehicles
from Point A to Point B in the system.
1.2 Trip Functions
The American Associations of State Highway and Transportation Officials
(AASHTO) defines up to 6 distinct travel movements:
1. Main movement is the through portion of trip, making the primary
connection between the area of origin and the area of destination
2. Transition occurs when a vehicle transfers from the through portion
of the trip to the remaining functions that lead to access and
termination.
3. Distribution involves providing drivers and vehicles with the ability to
leave a major through facility and get to the general area of their
destination
4. Collection brings the driver and vehicle closer to the final destination
5. Access Providing the driver with a place to
6. Termination leave the vehicle and enter the
land parcel sought.
1.3 Highway Classification
Four major classes of highways:
1. Limited-access facilities provide for 100% through
movement or mobility
2. Arterials are surface facilities designed primarily for
through movement but permit some access to
abutting land
3. Local streets are designed to provide access to
abutting land uses with through movement only a
minor function, if provided at all.
4. Collector is an intermediate category between
Figure 1: Hierarchy of Roadway Classification
Table 1: Through Service Provided by Various Roadway
Categories
 Free way e.g. NorthSouth Expressway (NSE)

Arterial roads: Deliver traffic from collector roads to

freeways or expressways, and between urban centres at
the highest level of service possible.

Collector roads: a low-to-moderate-capacity road which

serves to move traffic from local streets to arterial
roads; access to residential properties
Local streets
Table 2: typical Rural and Urban Roadway Classification Systems
Table 2 (continued) Typical Rural and Urban Roadway Classification Systems
1.4 Preserving the Function of a
Facility
Highway classification systems enable traffic
engineers to stratify the highway system by
functional purpose. It is important that the
intended function of a facility be reinforced
through design and traffic control.
 The design and layout of streets within a suburban
residential subdivision can reinforce the intended
purpose of each facility. The character of local streets is
assured by incorporating sharp curvature into their
design and through the use of cul-de-sacs (streets). No
local street has direct access to an arterial; collectors
within the subdivision provide the only access to
arterials. The nature of collectors can be strengthened
by not having any residence front on the collector.

The arterials have their function strengthened by

limiting the number of points at which vehicles can
enter or leave the arterials.
Figure 2: Suburban Residential Subdivision Illustrated
ROAD CLASSIFICATIONS AND DESIGN STANDARDS
WITH ACCORDANCE TO ROAD ENGINEERING
ASSOCIATION OF MALAYSIA (REAM)

Source: A Guide on Geometric Design of Roads by REAM

 1.1 The Importance of Road
Classification
- Clarify policies concerning the highway aspects of
individual planning decisions on properties served by
the road concerned.
- Specific planning criteria could be developed and
applied according to a roads designation in the
hierarchy.

Therefore the planning objectives would be clear for each

level of road in the hierarchy and policies on
development control and traffic management would
Source: A Guide on Geometric Design of Roads by REAM
 1.2 Functions of Road
Transportation (Mobility & Accessibility)
Categories of road
Road Categories in rural Road Categories in urban
areas areas

1.Expressway 1.Expressway

2.Highway 2.Arterial
3.Primary road 3.Collector
4.Secondary road 4.Local street
5.Minor road

Source: A Guide on Geometric Design of Roads by REAM

 a) Expressway
A divide highway for through traffic with full control of access and always
with grade separation at all intersections.

- Expressway in rural area, they apply to the interstate highways for

through traffic and form the basic framework of National road
transportation for fast travelling; Long trips, high speed, full access
control, designed to the highest standards.

- Expressway in urban area, they form the basic framework of road

transportation system in urbanized area for through traffic; long trips ,
smooth flow ,full access control , compliments the Rural Expressway.

Source: A Guide on Geometric Design of Roads by REAM

 b) Highway
Constitute the interstate national for intermediate
traffic volumes and compliments the expressway
network.
Link up directly or indirectly the Federal Capital, State
capitals, large urban centres and points of entry/exit to
the country.
Long to intermediate trip lengths
High to medium speed
Partial access control

Source: A Guide on Geometric Design of Roads by REAM

 c) Primary Roads
Constitute the major roads forming the basic network of
the road transportation system within a state.
Intermediate trip lengths and medium travelling speeds
Partial access control
They usually link the State Capitals and district Capitals
or other Major Towns.

Source: A Guide on Geometric Design of Roads by REAM

 d) Secondary Roads
Constitute the major roads forming the basic network of
the road transportation system within a District or
Regional Development Areas.
Intermediate trip lengths
Partial access control
Link up the major towns within the District or Regional
Development Area.

Source: A Guide on Geometric Design of Roads by REAM

 e) Minor Roads
They apply to all roads other than those described
above in the rural areas.
Form the basic road network within a Land Scheme or
other sparsely populated rural area.
Eg. Holiday resort roads, security roads or access roads
to microwave stations

Source: A Guide on Geometric Design of Roads by REAM

 f) Arterials
Continuous road within partial access for through traffic
within urban areas.
Basically it conveys traffic from residential areas to the
vicinity of the central business district or from one part
of a city to another which does not intend to penetrate
the city centre.
Arterials do not penetrate identifiable neighborhoods.
Smooth traffic flow is essential since it carries large
traffic volumes.

Source: A Guide on Geometric Design of Roads by REAM

 g) Collectors
A road with partial access control designed to serve as a
collector or distributor of traffic between the arterial and
the local road systems.
Collectors are the major roads which penetrate and
serve identifiable neighborhoods, commercial areas and
industrial areas.

Source: A Guide on Geometric Design of Roads by REAM

 h) Local Streets
Basic road network within a neighborhood and serves
primarily to offer direct access to abutting land.
Links to the collector road and thus serve short trip
lengths.
Through traffic should be discouraged.

Source: A Guide on Geometric Design of Roads by REAM

 Table 1: Characteristics of Road
Categories

Source: A Guide on Geometric Design of Roads by REAM

 2. DESIGN STANDARDS FOR ROADS
WITH ACCORDANCE TO REAM

Source: A Guide on Geometric Design of Roads by REAM

 2.1 The Importance of
Standardization
Standardized geometric design of all roads:
a) To provide uniformity in the design of roads according
to their performance requirements.
b) To provide consistent, safe and reliable road facilities
for movement of traffic.
c) To provide a guide for less subjective decision on road
design

Source: A Guide on Geometric Design of Roads by REAM

 2.2 Rural and Urban Area
Urban areas are defined as roads within a gazette
Municipality limits or township having a population of at
least 10,000 where buildings and houses are gathered
and business activity is prevalent.

Any roads outside the Municipality limits is considered

rural, including roads connecting Municipalities that are
more than 5 kilometers apart.
Source: A Guide on Geometric Design of Roads by REAM
 2.3 Application of Design Standards
for Roads
Design standards for rural (R) areas: R6, R5, R4, R3, R2
& R2
Design standards for urban (U) areas: U6, U5, U4, U3,
U2 & U1

Source: A Guide on Geometric Design of Roads by REAM

 Standard Applications
a) Standard Provides the highest geometric design standards for rural or urban areas.
Serve long trips with high travelling speed (90 km/h or higher)
R6/U6 Designed with divided carriageways and full access control.
The Rural and Urban Expressway falls under this standard.

b) Standard Provides high geometric standards and usually serve long to intermediate trip lengths with high
to medium travelling speeds (80 km/h or higher).
R5/U5 It is usually with partial access control.
The Highway, Primary Road and Arterial fall under this standard.
It is sometimes designed as divided carriageways with partial access control

c) Standard Provides medium geometric standards and serve intermediate trip lengths with medium travelling
speeds (70 km/h or higher)
R4/U4 It is usually with partial access control.
The Primary Road, Secondary Road, Minor Arterial and Major Collector fall under this standard

d) Standard Provides low geometric standard and serves mainly local traffic.
There is partial or no access control
R3/U3 The Secondary Road, Collector or Major Local Streets are within this standard.
The traveling speed is 50 km/h

e) Standard Provides low geometric standards for two way flow.

Applied only to local traffic with low volumes of commercial traffic.
R2/U2 The Major Roads and Local Streets fall under this standard.
The travelling speed is 50 km/h

f) Standard Provides the lowest geometric standards and is applied to road where the volumes of commercial
vehicles are very low in comparison to passenger traffic
R1/U1 The travelling speed is 40 km/h or less
Source: A Guide on Geometric Design of Roads by REAM
 3. ACCESS CONTROL
3.1 Degree of Control

- Access control is the condition where the right of owners

or occupants of abutting land or other persons to
access, in connection with a road is fully or partially
controlled by the public authority.

- Three types degree of control: full control, partial control

and non-control of access
Source: A Guide on Geometric Design of Roads by REAM
 Full Control of Access
- Preference is given to through traffic by providing
access connecting with selected public roads only and
by prohibiting crossings at grade or direct private
driveway connections.

- The access connections with public roads varies from 2

km in the highly developed central business area to 8
km or more in the sparsely developed urban fringes.
Source: A Guide on Geometric Design of Roads by REAM
 Partial Control of Access
Preference is given to through traffic to a degree that in addition to access
connection with selected public roads, there may be some crossings trafficked
roads.

At-grade intersections should be limited and only allowed at selected locations.

The spacing of at-grade intersections preferably signalized may vary from 0.4
km to 1.0 km.

To compensate for the limited access to fully or partially access controlled

roads, frontage or service roads are sometimes provided along side of the main
roads.

Source: A Guide on Geometric Design of Roads by REAM

 Non- Control Access
No limitation of access.

Source: A Guide on Geometric Design of Roads by REAM

 3.2 Selection of Access Control
It is important so as to preserve the as-built capacity of the road as well as improve
safety to all road users. Two aspects to be noted:

1. During the time of design in the consideration of accesses to existing developments.

2. After the completion of the road in the control of accesses to future developments.

The selection of degree of access control depends on traffic volumes, function of

the road and the road network around the areas (Table 2A & 2B).

Source: A Guide on Geometric Design of Roads by REAM

 Table 2A: Selection of Access Control
(Rural)

Source: A Guide on Geometric Design of Roads by REAM

 Table 2B: Selection of Access Control
(Urban)

Source: A Guide on Geometric Design of Roads by REAM

 4. SELECTION OF DESIGN
STANDARDS
4.1 Selection of Design Standard

Should begin with:

- Assessment of the function of the proposed road and the area it traverses

- Calculate the projected average daily traffic (ADT) at the end of the
design life (15 years after completion of the road)

- Obtained the design standard from Table 2.3.

- Calculate the required number of lanes from the capacity analysis.

Source: A Guide on Geometric Design of Roads by REAM

 Table 2.3 Selection of Design
Standard

Source: A Guide on Geometric Design of Roads by REAM

 Figure 2.1: Flow Chart for
Selection of Design
Standards

Source: A Guide on Geometric Design of Roads by REAM