Rural roads are defined as low traffic volume roads located in forested and rangeland settings that serve residential, recreational and resource management uses. They may have been constructed to relatively low standards with a limited budget. They may be “legacy” roads that evolved over time to serve present uses from their original uses as railroad grades, wagon trails or historic logging roads. They are commonly one to two lanes wide with natural, gravel or other surfacing. Rural roads may be owned and/or managed by governmental or private parties.
Why Are Rural Roads Important?
Rural roads are the backbone of the transportation system in rural California. Rural areas commonly lack public transportation and residents depend on their private vehicles to get them to work, school and shopping sites. Rural roads also serve millions of recreational users every year. In emergencies such as wild fire and flooding events, rural roads provide the means for emergency response and evacuation.
Rural roads in California are associated with several environmental impacts. They have been identified as a major source of sediment production in watersheds supporting beneficial uses. They can provide the means by which exotic plants and animals and pathogens are spread into wild lands. Roads fragment the landscape and adversely affect wildlife habitat. Vehicles traveling on rural roads are responsible for thousands of road-killed wildlife every year.
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