HPMS Pilot Project

Background

The FHWA maintains the Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) to collect state level roadway information. Since its inception in 1978, the HPMS evolved to become a critical data source for system performance assessment and national infrastructure investment models. Following updates during the last decade, the HPMS now includes state level spatial road networks for all public roads.

HPMS spatial networks (referred to as ARNOLD) are now a critical source for several national applications. ARNOLD is updated annually, directly sourced from state departments of transportation, and includes all public roads. FHWA applications using ARNOLD:

• the National Highway Planning Network (NHPN),

• the National Highway System (NHS),
  

• the Freight Analysis Framework (FAF),

• the Fiscal Management Information System (FMIS), and

• the Fatality Analysis Reporting System  (FARS).
  

Although the networks created from HPMS are extensive, state to state connectivity, complete intersection models, and consistent roadway representation between states would increase their application. Recent attempts to use ARNOLD for natural disaster impact assessment have highlighted the need for these enhancements.

With dedicated funding from Congress, the FHWA embarked on a project to enhance ARNOLD. The project, called the National Road Network Pilot or NRNP, will produce a national route file with improved spatial network connectivity across jurisdiction lines, refined data to network relationships and improved spatial accuracy. It is expected that these enhancements will lead to improved usability of tARNOLD for applications including travel monitoring, safety analysis, freight modeling and emergency response.