Froggie's Policy ideas for the U.S. and National Highway Systems

As I mention on my main page, one of the ways to maintain the importance of the U.S. highway system is to combine it with the National Highway System (NHS).  I feel this would be the best way to retain the strength of the U.S. highway system, give it a focus (which IMO it lacks right now), plus provide an easily-identifiable shield for marking the non-Interstate NHS routes.  In addition, I have also suggested route numbering and bannered route guidelines.

Route Numbering and Route Policy guidelines

• An Interstate route number and a U.S. highway route number should not be duplicated within the same state (example:  I-24 and US 24 in Illinois).  In the case of existing duplicated numbers, the U.S. route should be renumbered.
• An Interstate route number and a state route number should not be duplicated within the same state (example:  I-59 and LA 59 in Louisiana).  In the case of existing duplicated numbers, the state route should be renumbered.
• A U.S. highway route number and a state route number should not be duplicated within the same state (example:  US 360 and VA 360 in Virginia).  In the case of existing duplicated numbers, the state route should be renumbered.
• An acceptable exception to the above is in the case of a state route that serves as a logical extension of an existing Interstate or U.S. route.  An example would be NY 481 as an extension of I-481 north of Syracuse, NY.  Another example, prior to the U.S. route's truncation, is MN 65 as an extension of US 65.
• Suffixed route numbers should not be allowed.  Existing suffixed route numbers should be renumbered, if remaining on the U.S. highway system, or removed and given an appropriate state/county/local designation.
• 3-digit U.S. highway route numbers may be reused in different states in a manner similar to how 3-digit Interstate route numbers can be reused, as long as the reuse does not result in a confusing route number (such as having the same route number on parallel corridors).
• 4-digit U.S. highway route numbers may be used as hidden designations on shorter corridors and Intermodal Connectors, for planning and/or "bookkeeping" purposes.
• New/existing U.S. routes that are less than 300 miles long, or are in a single state, are allowed provided that the route follows a designated NHS corridor.
• Some states underlay state highway routes on their portions of the U.S. highway system, mainly Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.  To reduce driver confusion and excessive signage, these underlaid state routes should be hidden...i.e. not signposted, and would optimally be eliminated.  The above rules on route number duplication should still apply.  Mileposts along U.S. highways with an underlaid state route should follow the U.S. highway mileage and not the state highway mileage.
• Lengthy Interstate/U.S. or U.S./U.S. route multiplexes should be avoided.  In cases where a lengthy Interstate/U.S. route remains, the U.S. route should be "hidden" along the Interstate, in order to reduce sign clutter.  Signs denoting "US xx Follow I-xx" may be posted at the endpoints and at major junctions along the duplex as indicators that a given U.S. route may have a hidden duplex along the Interstate route, similar to what is done with US 12 and US 52 in Minnesota.
• Federal NHS funds shall be a dedicated source of funding for the combined NHS/U.S. route system, based on existing laws and policies.

Bannered Route guidelines

• Three types of bannered route shall be authorized:  BUSINESS, HISTORIC, and TRUCK.
• Existing bannered routes of other types shall be renumbered, if remaining on the U.S. highway system, or removed and given an appropriate state/county/local designation.
• BUSINESS or HISTORIC routes shall be appropriately signed and placed, but are separate from the U.S. highway system.  In terms of Federal NHS funding, they should only be eligible for funding for signage.  Federal STP and bridge program funding can still be used as appropriate.
• TRUCK routes shall also be appropriately signed and placed.  They are always eligible for NHS funding for signage.  However, they shall only be part of the U.S. highway system if approved and if adequate justification exists for not signing the mainline route along the proposed TRUCK route.
• Appropriate state/county/local designations can be co-signed with the BUSINESS or HISTORIC route.
•   BUSINESS routes may be used in locations where a U.S. highway passing through a city or town is relocated onto a new alignment or bypass of said city or town.  The BUSINESS route shield shall be in the same shape as the normal U.S. route shield, with a green border, green numerals and lettering, and the "BUSINESS" banner located within the shield, centered in the upper part above the route number.  Wider shields shall be used for 3-digit routes.
•   HISTORIC routes may be used to denote the historic routing of a U.S. highway, whether it be a decommissioned route or route segment or a case where a U.S. highway is duplexed with a nearby Interstate.  Along popular old routes and tourist routes, HISTORIC signs may also be used to denote multiple historic routings of a given route, with appropriate add-on signage denoting the years of the routing, as is done in New Mexico with HISTORIC US 66.  The HISTORIC route shield shall be in the same shape as the normal U.S. route shield, with a brown border, brown numerals and lettering, and the "HISTORIC" banner located within the shield, centered in the upper part above the route number.  Wider shields shall be used for 3-digit routes.
•   TRUCK routes may be used as needed to denote the preferred routing for trucks and other large vehicles, usually due to a low-clearance bridge or some sort of substandard geometry along the U.S. route.  The TRUCK route shield shall be in the same shape as the normal U.S. route shield, with the colors inversed (i.e. black shield, white border, white numerals and lettering), and the "TRUCK" banner located within the shield, centered in the upper part above the route number.  Wider shields shall be used for 3-digit routes.

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