A statewide National Functional Classification (NFC) review with local agencies is tentively scheduled to begin after the Urban or ACUB statewide review ends, sometime in late summer or fall of 2013.

Local officials may also initiate individual changes to the NFC in their area anytime other than during a NFC statewide review. The type of area determines which local official makes the request. Please contact mdot-nfc@michigan.gov to initiate the process and receive the latest NFC revision form. Below is a table which tells which local officials request changes by area type:

TYPE OF AREA --------------------------------------APPROPRIATE LOCAL OFFICIALS

Rural:-----------------Outside a MAB ------------- Act 51 County Road Commission

Rural: ----------------Inside a MAB ---------------- MPO

Small Urban: ------Outside a MAB ------------- Act 51 City/Village/County Road Commission

Small Urban: ------Inside a MAB ---------------- MPO

Urbanized: ---------Outside a MAB ------------- Possible while a new MPO is being formed

Urbanized: ---------Inside a MAB ---------------- MPO

EXPLANATION OF TERMS IN TABLE: Urban/Rural areas are defined by Adjusted Census Urban Boundaries (ACUB).  "Small urban" enclose areas with a population of 5,000 - 49,999. "Urbanized" enclose areas with a population of 50,000 or more. The ACUB is an area which divides rural from urban land area. Rural land areas lie outside an ACUB while urban land areas (and urban roads) lie on the boundary and inside an ACUB. MPO stands for Metropolitan Planning Organization and MAB stands for Metropolitan Area Boundary. MPOs and MABs are established for places having a population of 50,000 or more. To see a list of and view the ACUB's, use the "Urban/Urbanized Area:" dropdown on the National Functional Classification Maps webpage.

To change a functional classification, the appropriate local official makes a written request to MDOT. This request must describe the road in question and give justification for the change based on how the road functions. MDOT's response to the request may require a field review, supporting traffic count data, status of local NFC mileage percentages compared to FHWA statewide guidelines, paved surface, open to commercial truck traffic and written concurrence from other Act 51 road agencies that are directly affected. MDOT will also verify compatibility of the requested NFC change with other road classification systems, such as Michigan's Act 51 "legal systems" (e.g., county primary, city major). Once MDOT concurs with the request, it will be submitted to the FHWA for final approval.

Proposed or unbuilt roads may be added to the NFC system in a similar manner. The proposed function for the new road should be described in the written request, as well as the planned timetable for constructing the road. Proposed roads with an expected function of collector or higher, and a construction timetable of six to eight years, are typically included in the NFC system.

All questions can be sent to: mdot-nfc@michigan.gov