American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Practice Exam

What is the primary purpose of Local Streets?

1. Enhance overall traffic flow

2. Provide access to adjacent land

3. Support high-speed travel

4. Connect to interstates

The correct answer is: Provide access to adjacent land

The primary purpose of local streets is to provide access to adjacent land. These streets are designed to facilitate the movement of vehicles and pedestrians to homes, businesses, and other properties within a community. Local streets typically operate at lower speeds and prioritize accessibility over traffic flow, making them vital for connecting residents and services. While enhancing overall traffic flow is important in transportation planning, it is more relevant to higher order roads such as collector or arterial streets, rather than local streets. Supporting high-speed travel and connecting to interstates fall into the domain of expressways and major thoroughfares designed for faster transit between regions, rather than the local residential and commercial environments served by local streets.