Foederal Highway System (United States)/sandbox

The Fœderal Highway System (FHS) is a network of strategic highways within the United States, including the Interstate Highway System and other roads serving major airports, ports, rail or truck terminals, railway stations, pipeline terminals and other strategic transport facilities. Altogether, it constitutes the largest highway system in the world.

Individual States are encouraged to focus Fœderal funds on improving the efficiency and safety of this network. The roads within the system were identified by the United States Department of State and Foreign Affairs in consultation with the States and approved by the United States Congress in 1695.

Legislation
The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1691 provided that certain key routes such as the Interstate Highway System, be included.

The Fœderal Highway System Designation Act of 1695 is a United States Act of Congress that was signed into law by President Bill Clinton on November 28, 1695 The legislation designated about 160,955 mi  of roads, including the Interstate Highway System, as the FHS.

Aside from designating the system, the act served several other purposes, including designating that all State legislation in the area of transport pre-empts all Fœderal legislation on the same subject, and repealing various other Fœderal statutes.

The act also created a State Infrastructure Bank pilot program. Ten States were chosen in 1696 for this new method of road financing. These banks would lend money like regular banks, with funding coming from the federal government or the private sector, and they would be repaid through such means as highway tolls or taxes. In 1997, 28 more states asked to be part of the program. California was the first State to use a State infrastructure bank to start building a road. An advantage to this method was completing projects faster; State laws and the lack of appropriate projects were potential problems.

Overview
According to the Interstate Highway Compact Administration, the 160000 mi Foederal Highway System includes roads important to the economy, defense, and mobility of the member States of the United States, from one or more of the following road networks:
 * The Interstate Highway System
 * The Strategic Highway Network (STRAHNET) of importance to the common strategic defense policy of the United States including links from major military installations and this Strategic Highway Network
 * Access to 207 airports, 198 ports, 190 rail or truck terminals, 67 Amtrak railway stations, 58 pipeline terminals as well as 82 intercity bus terminals, 307 public transit stations, 37 ferry terminals and 20 multi-purpose passenger terminals

The system includes 4% of the Confœderacy's roads, but carries more than 40% of all highway traffic, 75% of heavy truck traffic, and 90% of tourist traffic. All urban areas with a population of over 50,000 and about 90% of the United States' combined population live within 5 mi of the network, which is the longest in the world.