C.M.R. 17, 229, ch. 304 - CRITERIA FOR FUNCTIONAL RECLASSIFICATION OF HIGHWAYS

SUMMARY: Public Law 1981, Chapter 492, Part C, Section 28-1 requires a reclassification of all public highways in the State by July 1, 1982, in accordance with the Revised Statutes, Title 23, Section 53. 23 M.R.S.A. Section53 (as amended) defines three classifications of highways. State Highways are comprised of a system of connected main highways throughout the State which primarily serve arterial or through traffic. State Aid Highways are highways which are not included in the system of State Highways which primarily serve as collector and feeder routes connecting local service roads to the arterial State Highway System. Town ways comprise all other highways not included in the State Highway or State Aid classifications which are maintained by Towns and primarily serve as local service roads providing access to adjacent land.

When the Local Road Assistance Program, (or Block Grant Program) was enacted by Public Law 1981, Chapter 492 the principal was recognized that roads which primarily serve regional or statewide needs should be the State's responsibility and roads which primarily serve local needs should be a local responsibility. The function of all public highways was reviewed in 1975, but the concept of a local Road Assistance Program was not in existence at that time.

It is appropriate that, owing to the passage of time since the last review, and the desirability of affording communities another opportunity to review and comment on both the criteria and the resulting classifications, a new reclassification study as directed by the legislation, be conducted. This study would focus on the function of roadways, particularly those classifications that are on the dividing line between State and local responsibility, namely collectors and local service roadways, both in rural and urban areas. The existing functional classification of roadways in each category will be individually reviewed in order to determine whether the classification is currently appropriate.

The major objective of this rule is to develop criteria which will help to define the line of demarcation between collector roads and local service roads, which will, by the same token, define the line of demarcation between State Aid Roads and Town Ways. A secondary benefit will be a more general review of other functional classes on an exception basis.