[Talk-us] US Trunk road tagging

[Joseph Eisenberg]

I agree, this is a very good point.

The Trunk/Primary/Secondary/Tertiary system is based on the UK roads
classification, where Trunks are the most important "A" roads - often they
are dual carriageway (divided roads) but not always, and there is no
particular "expressway" meaning to them. Primary roads are mostly 1 lane in
each direction and mostly undivided - but in cities they can be divided,
and connect small towns. Secondary roads are quite minor.

In the Western USA, where distances between towns are high and traffic
volumes are low, it's sensible that many of the most important roads are
just one lane each way (except perhaps when going up steep hills or in
towns). But as long as they are maintained in winter and used by trucks and
as the main route between two large towns or small cities, they are
important enough to be highway=trunk.

Another issue with using highway=trunk to mean "expressway" is that there
is not a clear definition of what an expressway means which can be used
consistently across the USA, let alone in other countries. The meaning of
"motorway" (freeway) is well defined, but "expressway" is not.

- Joseph Eisenberg
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