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Fact #384: August 8, 2005
The National Highway System, 2003

The National Highway System (NHS) Designation Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-59) was enacted to specify a network of nationally significant highways. It includes the Interstate system plus more than 100,000 miles of arterial and other roads.

The Interstate represents only 1% of the nation's total public road miles and 3% of its lane miles, but carries almost 24% of the travel. Most travel on interstate highways takes place in urban areas even though there are more interstate miles in rural areas.

Map of U.S. showing the national highway system which includes interstates and 100,000 miles of arterial and other roads.

Supporting Information

National Highway System, 2003
  Road
Miles		 Share
of Road
Miles		 Lane
Miles		 Share
of Lane
Miles		 Vehicle Miles
of Travel
(millions)		 Share
of VMT
All public roads 3,974,107 100% 8,315,109 100% 2,890,893 100%
National Highway System 161,393 4% 552,789 7% 1,291,759 45%
Interstate 46,508 1% 209,975 3% 702,578 24%

Source: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Highway Statistics 2003, Tables HM-41, HM-20, HM-48, and VM-3
Graphic from FHWA, Our Nation's Highways 1998

 

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