README for “Freight Analysis Framework (FAF) Network 2003-Present” dataset. U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) [distributor] 2025-05-29 ---------------------------------------------------------------- LINKS TO DATASET ---------------------------------------------------------------- A. Dataset archive link: https://doi.org/10.21949/1520829 B. NTAD catalog dataset link (Current Year): https://geodata.bts.gov/search?q=FAF C. Dataset Documentation Link: https://doi.org/10.21949/1519110 ---------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY OF DATASET ---------------------------------------------------------------- The Freight Analysis Framework (FAF) Network 2003-Present dataset is from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), and is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)/Bureau of Transportation Statistics's (BTS's) National Transportation Atlas Database (NTAD). It is produced through a partnership between Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) by integrating data from a variety of sources to create a comprehensive picture of freight movement among states and major metropolitan areas by all modes of transportation. The spatial component of the FAF network is derived from National Highway System Version 2016.09 and contains state primary and secondary roads, National Highway System (NHS), National Network (NN) and several intermodal connectors as appropriate for the freight network modeling. The network consists of over 440,000 miles of equivalent road mileage. The data set covers the 48 contiguous States plus the District of Columbia, Alaska, and Hawaii. ---------------------------------------------------------------- TABLE OF CONTENTS ---------------------------------------------------------------- A. General Information B. Sharing/Access & Policies Information C. Data and Related File Overview D. Methodological Information E. Data-Specific Information for: Freight Analysis Framework (FAF) 2003-Present [datasets] F. Update Log ---------------------------------------------------------------- A. GENERAL INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------------------------- 0. Title of Dataset: Freight Analysis Framework (FAF) Network 2003-Present [dataset] 1. Description of Dataset: The Freight Analysis Framework (FAF) Network 2003-Present dataset is from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), and is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)/Bureau of Transportation Statistics's (BTS's) National Transportation Atlas Database (NTAD). It is produced through a partnership between Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) by integrating data from a variety of sources to create a comprehensive picture of freight movement among states and major metropolitan areas by all modes of transportation. The spatial component of the FAF network is derived from National Highway System Version 2016.09 and contains state primary and secondary roads, National Highway System (NHS), National Network (NN) and several intermodal connectors as appropriate for the freight network modeling. The network consists of over 440,000 miles of equivalent road mileage. The data set covers the 48 contiguous States plus the District of Columbia, Alaska, and Hawaii. 2. Dataset archive link: https://doi.org/10.21949/1520829, https://doi.org/10.21949/1520849 3. Authorship Information: Principal Data Creator or Data Manager Contact Information Institution: U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) Address: 1200 New Jersey Ave SE, Washington D.C. 20590 Contact: bts@dot.gov Data Distributor Contact Information Name: National Transportation Atlas Database (NTAD) Institution: U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), Office of Spatial Analysis and Visualization (OSAV) Address: 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, Washington D.C. 20590 Email: ntad@dot.gov 4. Date of data collection and update interval: Updates occur every 5 years, years that end in 2 and 7 5. Geographic location of data collection: United States of America 6. Information about funding sources that supported the collection of the data: Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), Department of Transportation (DOT) ---------------------------------------------------------------- B. SHARING/ACCESS & POLICIES INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------------------------- 0. Recommended citation for the data: U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). Freight Analysis Framework (FAF) Network 2003-Present [datasets]. https://doi.org/10.21949/1520829, https://doi.org/10.21949/1520849 1. Licenses/restrictions placed on the data: These data are in the Public Domain. 2. Was data derived from another source?: Yes. Some data derived from the states. 3.This document was created to meet the requirements enumerated in the U.S. Department of Transportation's 'Plan to Increase Public Access to the Results of Federally-Funded Scientific Research' Version 1.1 << https://doi.org/10.21949/1520559 >> and guidelines suggested by the DOT Public Access website << https://doi.org/10.21949/1503647 >>, in effect and current as of December 03, 2020. ---------------------------------------------------------------- C. DATA & RELATED FILE OVERVIEW ---------------------------------------------------------------- 1. File List for the Freight Analysis Framework (FAF) Network 2003-Present dataset. A. Filename: FAFX_Network_NTAD2003_Present.zip Short description: Compressed file folders containing the geospatial data for Freight Analysis Framework (FAF) 2003-Present dataset. File folders are classified by FAF version (e.g. 2). B. Filename: bts_NTAD_FAF_DMP_20250702.pdf Short description: A PDF file containing the Data Management Plan that was created for current and future management of the data and associated files. C. Filename: bts_NTAD_FAF_README_20250702.txt Short description: The README.txt file that includes human-readable information about the data, variable definitions, contact information, and other contextual information. The file you are reading now. 2. File List for the FAFX_NTAD2003_Present.zip. A. Filename: NTADXXXX_SHP_Final_FAFX_XXXX*.zip or NTADXXXX_GDB_Final_FAFX_XXXX_XX_XX.zip Short description: Compressed file folders containing the geospatial data for Freight Analysis Framework (FAF) 2003-Present dataset. File folders are classified by NTAD publication year, FAF version, and data vintage date respectively. Geodatabase (GDB) folders contain all the necessary components to view and otherwise interact with their data. 3a. File List for the NTADXXXX_SHP_Final_FAFX_XXXX*.zip collection. A. Filename: faf.shp, faf2_network.shp Short description: A shapefile containing the geospatial data for Freight Analysis Framework (FAF) 2003-Present dataset. This includes associated files with extensions .prj, .dbf, .sbn, .sbx, .shx. B. Filename: faf.txt, faf.htm, and faf.shp.xml, or faf2_network, faf2_network.htm, faf2_network.shp.xml Short description: Text files containing key metadata and documentation information such as methodology, procedures, data dictionary, etc. 3b. File List for the FAF3_NTAD2011_NTAD2016 collection A. Filename: FAF3_Network_NTAD2011_NTAD2016 Short description: File folder containing the geospatial data for Freight Analysis Framework (FAF) Version 3 Network. This includes associated files with extensions .prj, .dbf, .sbn, .sbx, .shx. 3c. File List for the NTADXXXX_GDB_Final_FAFX_XXXX_XX_XX.zip collection A. Filename: NTADXXXX_GDB_Final_FAFX_XXXX_XX_XX.gdb.zip Short description: A file geodatabase containing the geospatial data for Freight Analysis Framework (FAF) 2003-Present dataset. Geodatabase (GDB) folders contain all the necessary components to view and otherwise interact with their data. 4. File List for the FAF3_Network_NTAD2011_NTAD2016 collection. A. Filename: NTADXXXX_SHP_Final_FAF3_XXXX.zip Short description: Compressed file folders containing the geospatial data for Freight Analysis Framework (FAF) 2003-Present dataset. File folders are classified by NTAD publication year and data vintage year respectively. 5. File List for the NTADXXXX_SHP_Final_FAF3_XXXX.zip collection. A. Filename: faf_XXXX.shp Short description: A shapefile containing the geospatial data for Freight Analysis Framework (FAF) Version 3 Network. This includes associated files with extensions .prj, .dbf, .sbn, .sbx, .shx. B. Filename: faf_XXXX.txt and faf_XXXX.shp.xml Short description: Text files containing key metadata and documentation information such as methodology, procedures, data dictionary, etc. ---------------------------------------------------------------- D. METHODOLOGICAL INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Description of methods used for collection/generation of data: Update and integrate intermodal terminals. States geo-location matched and attributes verified. Update NHS and intermodal connector links. States edge matched and NHS attributes verified with HPMS 2012. Modified NHS codes as per direction of the FHWA to align with the MAP-21 changes as reported to HPMS 2012 database. Update National Network (NN) codes based on the information from FHWA Truck Size and Weight Regulation Study, 1998 as well as the HPMS “Truck” attribute. Update LCV codes based on FHWA Truck Size and Weight Regulations. Verified with state specific input from DOT website or direct contact. Modified NHS based on amendments. Update truck route restrictions code and include restrictions due to height and hazmat designation using the State data sources, and the Rand McNally truck road atlas. Verified Intermodal terminals. 2. Instrument- or software-specific information needed to interpret the data: The data and documentation files can be opened with Esri ArcMap and any GIS software package. ---------------------------------------------------------------- E. DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Freight Analysis Framework (FAF) Network data table Updates occur every 5 years, years that end in 2 and 7 Dataset Manager is contacted to verify changes to data resulting in NTAD update. The metadata is updated in the same manner. For the most recent data, please visit the NTAD catalog at https://geodata.bts.gov/search?q=FAF A. Number of variables (columns): The data dictionary found in (PDF documentation) provides definitions for the variables B. Data Dictionary/Variable List: Because of the large number of variables, please refer to the Data Dictionary found within the file FAF.txt for names, definitions, and formats of variables. C. Missing data codes: None ---------------------------------------------------------------- F. UPDATE LOG ---------------------------------------------------------------- This bts_FAF_Network_20250702_README.txt file was originally created on 2021-02-17 by Dominic Menegus, Geographer, dominic.menegus@dot.gov [Note changes or update to the readme.txt file, e.g.:] 2021-02-17: Original file created 2025-05-29: File revision, including dataset descriptions and file organization 2025-07-02: File revision, including dataset name and file organization.