It is well known that the Russian Federation has the largest territorial extent on the entire planet. The successful development of the economy, the functioning of all sectors of the national economy and the very territorial integrity of such a large state cannot be ensured without reliably functioning communication routes between its regions.
Roads of Russia
The road network of modern Russia has been formed over several centuries. Its current state in the Russian Federation can be called good or at least satisfactory only by an incorrigible idealist. Nevertheless, systematic work to improve the road infrastructure in the Russian Federation is ongoing, at the planned state level. One of the manifestations of this is the unification of the entire road network in accordance with state standards. Federal roads are allocated in a separate category in this classification. These highways provide communication between the capital of the country and regional administrative centers or between large regional cities.
In addition, federal roads lead from the capital to the borders with neighboring states. Thisthe sections of international highways passing through the territory of the country from one border to another have the same status. The most important feature of federal roads is that their maintenance and construction are financed from the federal budget.
On the map of the country
In accordance with the current system of state standards, all federal roads have their own individual designation on maps and in directories. It consists of a letter index and a number with the track number. As a rule, the letter designation characterizes the distance of the route from the capital of the country, and the digital index after the letter indicates only the place in the general list of highways marked with this letter. Federal roads with the M index lead from Moscow to regional administrative centers or to the borders with neighboring countries. Highways with index P connect regional centers with each other. The prefixes AH and E before the letter indices indicate that these federal roads are part of international routes passing through the Asian or European part of the Russian Federation.
The disadvantage of the existing indexing system is the double designation on maps and in directories of the same highways according to different classification criteria. Federal roads with the P index are often part of international routes. To the designations of some of the most significant federal roads, the name of the geographical region where they can be reached is added. For example:federal highway M-7 "Volga".
Access roads
On maps and reference books, there are often routes marked with the letter A. The fact is that each federal highway includes not only a segment of the path between the start and end points of the route, but also access roads to the main highway. It is they who are designated by this letter. It is placed before the letter designation of the entire route. Access sections are fully covered by the status of the federal road.
List of roads
The full list of highways includes several dozen items. You can find it in any reference book. All federal roads are located in it in ascending numerical order following each letter index.
Currently, a new system of designation of federal highways is being developed. Its implementation is expected no earlier than 2018. So in a few years, the current list of highways will simply become obsolete.
Federal public roads
According to the legislation in force in the Russian Federation, all existing roads in the country are divided into two legal categories. These are public and non-public roads. Of course, most of the road network has always been and will always be in the first category. However, some roads or their individual sections may be assigned the status of non-public roads. These restrictions can be taken in favor ofpublic and private entities.
Access to such roads for ordinary citizens can be limited both temporarily and permanently. This must be formalized, depending on the legal affiliation, by the federal authorities or by the decision of the administrative bodies of the regional government. Non-public roads also include those built at the expense of individuals or industrial and commercial structures.
Toll highways
People in Russia have always used highways for free, limiting themselves to paying the state an annual transport tax. Therefore, any payment for federal roads always causes a sharp negative reaction from everyone who travels on them. And this is quite understandable. How can one understand the simple fact that roads in the vast Russian expanses will never improve if significant financial resources are not invested in their construction. World experience shows that the introduction of tolls provides a real opportunity to raise money for new autobahns.
With some delay, this practice is beginning to be used in Russia. Fees for federal roads are already being collected on the M4 Don highway and on some other sections of federal highways in the European part of the country. And there is every reason to believe that in the near future this practice will be increasingly used. The most important principle in the introduction of tolls on federal roads isMandatory availability of a free alternative route. This means that the only road to the settlement cannot be paid under any circumstances.
