Overview
The 2012 published Road Inventory File is available for download. The file is available in three formats, personal geodatabase format for ArcGIS 9.x users, file geodatabase format for ArcGIS 9.2 thru 10.1 users, and shapefile format for ArcGIS 3.x or other GIS or CAD software package users. This year's file includes the following files in each of the three formats, all zipped and in NAD83 MA Mainland, Meters:
Road Inventory File
Layer containing the spatial linework for all the public and a good portion of the private roadways in Massachusetts, along with roadway attributes covering the roadway classification, ownership, physical conditions, traffic volumes, pavement conditions, highway performance monitoring information, and more.
Two milepost-based linear referenced files are available with each containing the state numbered routes including all Interstates, US Highways, and State numbered routes. Also included are the non-numbered or "N" routes representing a network of roadways that are urban principal arterials without a number assigned such as Storrow Drive or Jamaicaway. These "N" routes are used for pavement management purposes and are not part of the state milepost system.
Road Inventory Routes
Layer containing the linear referenced spatial linework for the numbered routes plus "N" routes with the primary direction (north and east) beginning at zero and the opposing direction (south and west) also beginning at zero. This file is designed to match the numbered routes as one would drive them from beginning to end primarily for pavement management purposes. For example, I-91 north begins at zero at the Connecticut border and ends at just over 54 at the Vermont border, while I-91 south begins at zero at the Vermont border and ends just over 54 at the Connecticut border.
Road Inventory Equation Routes
Layer containing the linear referenced spatial linework for the numbered routes plus the "N" routes with the primary and opposing direction matched to the mileposts in the field. The primary direction begins at zero, while the opposing direction begins at the primary direction ending value. For example, I-91 north begins at zero at the Connecticut border and ends at just over 54 at the Vermont border, while I-91 south begins at just over 54 at the Vermont border and ends at zero at the Connecticut border, matching the milepost signs along the highway. In addition, if either the primary or opposing direction extends for a longer distance, than a milepost adjustment will adjust the shorter direction to match the longer direction using an equation.
ChangeLog_2012
This file contains the new arcs added to the file and arcs removed from the file, as well any updates that have taken place since the year-end 2011 file was created.
Road Inventory Layer Downloads
Supplemental Road Inventory Documents
The complete Road Inventory Data Dictionary contains all the attributes with their descriptions. Since the shapefile format only allows for ten characters, the longer Road Inventory File field names have been truncated when converted to a shapefile. The second file below contains a conversion chart between the geodatabase field names and the shapefile field names.
Updating the Road Inventory File
There are two ways for outside entities to help keep the Road Inventory file as up-to-date as possible. Please use one of the links below to help keep our file accurate.