Connectivity is a measure that describes the level to which a route links together urban centers or other modes of transportation such as ports, railways, or airports. Lineage describes the documented history of a route. It refers to the historical presence of a transportation route in literature or historical events. An example of an enduring route would be the Old National Road in Maryland which became Interstate 70 and is now known as US 40. Mobility is a measure of the inherent road quality or design, which implies the level of service or accessibility for a particular route.
Alignment is a measure of the rectilinear characteristics of a transportation route.
One of the primary evolutionary features of roads has been based on the ability to straighten roads by overcoming geographic features that once were barriers to travel. The depiction of features that further the effectiveness of a transportation route reveals the significance of that route. For example, in order for an investment to be made in the construction of a bridge, the road over the bridge is probably an important one. The presence of ancillary transportation features, such as bridges, tunnels, and ferries, is one of the factors that support the application of implicit compilation criteria. The presence and nature of the names applied to these routes also helps determine principal transportation courses.