Massachusetts/Major roads Discussion View history


Introduction

Although Massachusetts follows the general road naming and road type guidelines of the USA, there are some road naming rules specific to the Commonwealth that all Massachusetts editors MUST follow.

They are included in this section.

Named Roadways

These are named highways in Massachusetts which also carry numbered designations. Some are simply names of streets which carry a numbered route(s). Roads named after people/organizations were generally done so ceremoniously, after the numeric designation(s) already existed. Others carry more general names, such as the Southeast Expressway and Central Artery in Boston (which both refer to the same continuous span of I-93).

Several named highways cover the entire length of a given route in Massachusetts; for example, all of Interstate 90 in Massachusetts is the Massachusetts Turnpike, and the entire length of Route 213 is the Loop Connector.(*) denotes that the named highway spans the entire length of the numbered route in the state.

Wikipedia table of Unnumbered, and Named State Routes


Functional Classification

Functional Classification Implementation has been partially completed within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In some areas, it is still ongoing.

PLEASE REFER TO THIS FORUM TOPIC ON THE MATTER Road Types (USA) – comprehensive overhaul of drivable roads

MassDOT currently maintains two completely separate Functional Classification systems. The state level system has been developed by the MassDOT Planning Division, and consists of 6 Road Types.

The Federal Functional Classification system is the Nationwide standard, and consists of 7 Road Types. The major difference between the two is that the Federal FC classifies limited access arterials (non-Interstates) separate from full-access arterials.

MA to Waze FC conversion

We are utilizing the Federal Functional Classification system, because it matches up with other states.

Resource Links
MassDOT GIS class and color description
GIS Legend
GIS Legend

The Massachusetts Classification and Color scheme come from the official Massachusetts D.O.T (MassDOT) Federal Functional Classification (FC) map that is published by MassDOT. The legend shows what classifications MassDOT uses and what color is assigned to each class.

Please refer to the GIS FC map found here, on the massDOT FC Maps webpage.

MassDOT to Waze conversion table

The numbers correspond to the Federal FC type indicated. (e.g. Federal Class 4 road is a Minor Arterial)

Highway Systems
Interstate US Hwy (incl. some special routes) US Hwy BUS, SPUR, LOOP State Hwy (incl. some special routes) State Hwy BUS, SPUR[a], LOOP Locally-maintained
example>>>>> I-95 N US-2 US-460 Business SR-27 (SR-27A) SR-400 Loop Robertson St
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  Interstate (1)    Fw  n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
  Principal Arterial OFE (2)  n/a  Fw   Fw   Fw   Fw   Fw 
  Principal Arterial - Other (3)  n/a  Major   Major   Major   Major   Major 
  Minor Arterial (4)  n/a  Major   Major   Minor   Minor   Minor 
  Major Collector (5)  n/a  Major   Major   Minor   PS   PS 
  Minor Collector (6)  n/a  Major   Major   Minor   PS   PS 
 Local/Not Mapped (7)  n/a  Major   Major   Minor   PS   Street 
Deviation From Functional Classification

Occasionally it makes sense to deviate from what FC should be.

Here are the segments that are approved to be different than what they should be.

Please contact State Management if you have questions.