As used in this part, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) “Department” means the department of transportation;
(2) “Local agency” means any county or incorporated city or town in this state;
(3) “Local interstate or fully controlled access highway connecting route” or “connector” means a roadway, or segment of a roadway, that will provide, or facilitate, appropriate ingress and egress, between an interstate highway or fully controlled access highway facility and a roadway that is of important benefit to a populous locality;
(4) “Major thoroughfare system” means the system of arterial and collector streets serving an urban-like developed area; and
(5) “Project” includes all of the phases of work required to produce a completed connector, including location, design, acquisition of rights-of-way, relocation of utility facilities, the cost of which is not the legal obligation of the owners thereof, and the construction or reconstruction of the connector.