U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Vehicle Technologies Program
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.
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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