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DRAFT November 21, 1995 were often limited by geographical features and existing development patterns, • particularly residential development. Additional ultimate assignments were made with various roadway additions to determine the impact of their presence on the functioning of the remainder of the roadway system. Further discussion of system deficiencies and roadway additions can be found in the next sections of this report. D. Development of Transportation Plan The objective of a transportation plan is no different from that of other long-range plans: to anticipate problems, find solutions, and develop an implementation process. Anticipation of problems comes in the form of identifying system deficiencies on the planning horizon. Solutions are the actions taken to remedy the deficiencies, whether in the context of the existing roadway system or by adding new segments to the network. Implementation answers the question of how to go about taking these actions; when they should be taken, in what order, and how to fund them. It is important to recognize that travel demadn forecasting is not an exact science. Every attempt is made to follow standard practices and incorporate information unique to the study area into the forecasting process. However, many factors out • of the planner's control can affect automobile travel. Some of these are cost and availability of fuel, transit use, average household size and perceived desirability of making a trip of a certain length. Awareness of these factors is particularly necessary when the forecasting horizon is distant, as is generally the case with a forecast of ultimate development. The number of years it takes the City to reach the point of ultimate development has a significant bearing on what the external traffic volumes entering and departing the network will be. 1. Functional Classification Before specific deficiencies and remedies are examined, it is appropriate to define the term "functional classification" and describe how the ultimate transportation system in the City of Elk River must take the shape of a working functional classification system. A functional classification system is a hierarchy of streets serving various movement and access functions. The National committee on Urban Transportation has designated four basic classes of streets: freeways, arterials, collectors and local streets. Freeways serve to expedite the movement of traffic over relatively long distances within or through a metropolitan area. Since their main function is to move traffic, they are limited controlled access facilities. Currently • there are no freeways within the elk River city limits. CTP-230.156 -9- 230-156-80