One provision of the new federal transportation bill, MAP-21, that many people are just learning is that it will require all major arterial roads to be included in the national highway system. That will nearly double the number of roads that will be part of the highway system.
Big deal or not? Could be, as it could mean pressure on local jurisdictions to comply with national highway standards, like wide lanes and shoulders.
While added cost is definitely a factor, some people are more worried this move will encourage car capacity at the expense of pedestrian safety. StreetsBlog has both sides to this story.