to preserve the effectiveness and efficiency of the system by preventing ribbon development with direct access and cross traffic, which will ultimately create excessive congestion, and to make possible the exercise of a high degree of control over its use for high priority civilian and/or military traffic in event of an emergency.
(7) The relative importance of correcting the various classes of major deficiencies of the “connected system of highways interstate in character” should be based on practical economic and defense considerations and should be made the subject of continued coordination.
C. Recommendations
(1) That necessary scheduled planning and action be taken to improve to the highest practical uniform design standards the designated National System of Interstate Highways and other officially designated highways of strategic importance as a matter of high priority in the Federal-aid highway construction program.
(2) That all highways of the defined ‘connected system of highways interstate in character” incorporate in the functional design the principle of controlled or limited access unless such construction is found to be not feasible.
(3) The relative importance of correcting the various classes of major deficiencies on the defined “connected system of highways interstate in character” be made the subject of continued study and coordination between the Public Roads Administration and the National Military Establishment.
3.—URBAN ARTERIAL HIGHWAYS
A. Definition
(1) “Circumferential highways” are highways circumferential in character with respect to the center of the metropolitan areas which are extensions of or connections with urban arterial highways of the National System of Interstate Highways and/or other principal rural highways and which serve as many as possible of the transportation terminals, industrial, metropolitan, and residential areas for the efficient flow of large volumes of traffic.
(2) “Radial highways” are those important urban extensions of the National System of Interstate Highways or other principal rural highways which approach the metropolitan and business areas along radial lines.
B. Discussion
(1) The National Military Establishment considers that urban arterial highways should be given equal consideration in their development to the highest practical standards with the National System of Interstate Highways and other strategic highways.
(2) Methods of modern warfare require the rapid movement of military forces through or around urban areas and may require movement of much of its civilian population and industry. Air attacks directing missiles of extreme reaction can render highways in areas with concentrations of tall buildings and structures of little use.
(3) Circumferential routes in large cities are potentially of greatest value to national defense from the standpoint of the movement of cargo and personnel by highway transportation when located in the
