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2008 Mounds View Comprehensive Plan ________________________________________________________________________ Chapter 6: Transportation 6-9 Functional Classification Functional classification is a system to establish the hierarchy of streets that collect and distribute traffic from residential neighborhoods to the metropolitan roadway system. The Metropolitan Council has established a functional classification system for the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Classifications of streets in Mounds View include principal arterials, minor arterials, collector roadways, and local streets. The functional classification of roadways in Mounds View is shown in Figure 13 on page 6-12. Functional classification of a roadway system involves determining what function each roadway should be performing with regard to travel in and through the city. The intent of a functional classification system is the creation of a roadway hierarchy that collects and distributes traffic from local roadways and collectors to arterials in a safe and efficient manner. Such classification aids in determining: • appropriate roadway widths • speed limits • intersection control • design features • accessibility • maintenance priorities Functional classification helps to ensure that non-transportation factors, such as land use and development, are taken into account in planning and design of the roadway system. A balanced roadway system is desired, yet not always attainable due to existing conditions and characteristics. The City intends to use the criteria of the functional classification system as guidelines. Mounds View will apply these guidelines when preparing plans for the construction or reconstruction of a given classified route. It can and does occur that different roadways with very similar design characteristics may have different functional classifications. Some roadways, for a short segment, may carry higher volumes than a roadway with a higher classification. Spacing guidelines may not follow recommendations for a variety of reasons such as: • topography • land use type • land use density • environmental concerns The two major considerations in the classification of roadway networks are access and mobility. Mobility is of primary importance on arterials and thus limiting access is a necessity. However, the primary function of a local roadway is access. This in turn limits mobility. The extent and degree of access control is an important factor in the function of a roadway facility. The functional classification types are dependent upon one another in order to provide a complete system of streets and highways.