California Highways: Route by Route

In this episode, we start our exploration of I-5, the central spine of California. We're splitting the discussion over 6 episodes, some of which are two-parters. This first episode (a two-parter) looks at the former US 101 segment, from the Mexico Border to Downtown Los Angeles. Part 1, this part, starts with a discussion of all things 5: Maritime Highway M-5, the 5th state highway, Legislative Ro...

In this episode, we complete our exploration of Route 4, covering the segments from Stockton and Route 99 through Angels Camp, and then on over the Sierras to Route 89 near Markleville. This includes segments that go through Gold Country, as well as the Ebbetts Pass segment that includes some very steep grades. Along the way, we look at the history of the route in these areas, projects along the w...

In this episode, we continue our a 3-part exploration of Route 4. This episode focused on the Stockton Crosstown Freeway: A short freeway segment of Route 4 that bisects the city of Stockton, essentially running from I-5 to Route 99. We talk about the LRNs that made up this segment: LRN 75, and LRN 24. We spend much of the episode talking about the impact the construction of the route had on Stock...

In this episode, we commence a 3-part exploration of Route 4. This episode starts with all things Route 4: The 4th state route, DOH and Legislative Route 4, and pre-1964 Route 4, finally setting on today’s Route 4. We talk about the LRNs that make up today’s Route 4: LRN 106, LRN 75, and LRN 24. We focus on the first segment of the route, from I-80 in Hercules to I-5 in Stockton. We talk about Rou...

Welcome to Season 3 of California Highways: Route by Route. We promised that the season would start in September, and we're making it by the wire. Season 3 covers Routes 3 through 7; this is the first episode covering Route 3, which is in Northwest California near Weaverville and Route 299. In this episode, we talk about all things "three": The third state route, Legislative Route 3, Sign Route 3,...

As promised, we had one more bonus episode to tide you over during the break between Season 2 and Season 3. In this episode, we explore the auto trails that were in California before we started having signed numbered highways. Auto Trails discussed include (a) trails that are maintained today—El Camino Real, De Anza Trail, Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway, and the Pony Express National Historic Trail....

As promised, here are a few bonus episodes to tide you over during the break between Season 2 and Season 3. In this episode, we have the second half of an interview with Joe Rouse of Caltrans, talking about HOV Lanes, Express/Toll Lanes and Bridges, and Fastrak. The first part was in Episode 2.13. There is one more bonus episodes in the pipeline: Episode 2.15 will explore auto trails. Regular epis...

As promised, here are a few bonus episodes to tide you over during the break between Season 2 and Season 3. In this episode, we have the first half of an interview with Joe Rouse of Caltrans, talking about HOV Lanes, Express/Toll Lanes and Bridges, and Fastrak. There are two more bonus episodes in the pipeline. Episode 2.14 will be the second part of this interview, and Episode 2.15 will explore a...

Episode 2.12 of California Highways: Route by Route is the second of two episodes on Route 2. In this episode, we complete our exploration of Route 2. This time, we focus on the segments in Glendale and through the Angeles National Forest, roughly from US 101 to Route 138. We talk about the pre-freeway routing, the history of the Glendale Freeway, the proposals for an Angeles Forest Freeway, and t...

Episode 2.11 of California Highways: Route by Route is the first of two episodes on Route 2. In this episode we explore the general history of all things Route 2: What was the second state route defined; what was legislative route (LRN) 2, what was Sign Route 2, and what is today's Route 2. We focus on the flatland segment: From Santa Monica to the Glendale Freeway. We do a detailed exploratio...

Episode 2.10 of California Highways: Route by Route completes our exploration of Route 1, as we discuss the "Lost Coast". This area was originally part of the last segment of LRN 56, and was to be Route 1, but some reworking of the state system made the former lateral between Usal Road and US 101 (which in 1964 became Route 208) officially Route 1, and made the "Lost Coast" por...

Episode 2.09 of California Highways: Route by Route continues our exploration of Route 1, as we complete discussing present-day Route 1 in Medocino County from Gualala to Leggett and current Route 1's end at US 101. Along the way, we'll discuss the communities of Gualala, Point Arena, Albion, Mendocino, Fort Bragg, Westport and Rockport, and Leggett. As always, we'll cover the history...

Episode 2.08 of California Highways: Route by Route continues our exploration of Route 1. We've now crossed the Golden Gate Bridge, and are continuing north from the Marin Headlands, up along the coast through Sausalito and Marin, Muir Beach and Stinson Beach, Point Reyes, Bodega Bay, Jenner and Fort Ross until we reach the Marin Headlands. As always, we'll cover the history of the route,...

Episode 2.07 of California Highways: Route by Route continues our exploration of Route 1 by exploring an interesting gap in the route: The Golden Gate Bridge (GGB). The GGB is not part of the state highway system, and thus (from the point of view of the state) not part of either Route 1 or US 101. It is part of US 101 per AASHTO, and is run by its own district. We'll cover what was there befor...

Episode 2.06 of California Highways: Route by Route continues our exploration of Route 1 by exploring everything about Route 1 from Pacifica, just N of the Tom Lantos Tunnels near Montara (in San Mateo Couny) to and through San Francisco up to the Golden Gate Bridge. This includes communities such as Pacifica, Daly City, and of course, San Francisco. As always, we go over the history of this segme...

In Episode 2.05 of California Highways: Route by Route , we continue our exploration of Route 1 by exploring everything about the segment of Route 1 from Carmel in Monterey County to just N of the Tom Lantos Tunnels near Monara (in San Mateo Couny). This includes communities such as Carmel, Monterey, Seaside, Watsonville, Castroville, Aptos, Santa Cruz, the Santa Cruz Coastline, Half Moon Bay, and...

In Episode 2.04 of California Highways: Route by Route , we continue our exploration of Route 1 by exploring everything about the segment in San Luis Obispo (SLO) County and the portion in Monterey County up through Big Sur until just S of Carmel. This includes the Five Cities (Grover Beach, Pismo Beach, Shell Beach (actually part of Pismo Beach), Arroyo Grande, and Oceano (unincorporated county l...

In Episode 2.03 of California Highways: Route by Route , we continue our exploration of Route 1 by exploring everything about the segment in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, from Solromar / Malibu at the edge of Ventura County to near Guadalupe in Santa Barbara County. We'll go over the history of this segment of the route, the history of the route through various communities including Mali...

In Episode 2.02 of California Highways: Route by Route , we continue our exploration of Route 1 by exploring everything about the segment in Los Angeles County, from Long Beach to the northern edge of Malibu at the Ventura County line. We'll go over the history of this segment of the route, the history of the route through various communies including Long Beach, the Beach Cities, the LAX and M...

Welcome back to season 2 of California Highways: Route by Route . With Season 2 we return to the original premise of the podcast: Going route by route through every state highway. We start with Route 1 and its segment in Orange County. In this episode, we'll go over what was the first national highway, the first state highway, the first legislative route, and then explore the history of today&...

We close season 1 of the podcast with an episode that focuses on the organizations involved with the State Highway System. In this episode, we discuss organizations you might have heard about, but don't know about: The California Transportation Commission, the California Coastal Commission, Caltrans, the Regional Transportation Planning Agencies, and AASHTO. After this episode we're taking...

In our penultimate episode of the season, we explore highways and their names. Tom and Daniel discuss how highways got their names in the past, as well as how highways are named today through the legislature. You'll see a discussion of historical names, destination-based names, and memorial names. We'll also explore auto trail names, as well as some of the more notorious names that highway...

In this episode, we complete our exploration of numbering of state highways by turning our attention to the County Signed Route system. This system, started in 1959, uses a blue pentagon with yellow numbers, and applies to significant routes at the county level. It is the last episode in a four part miniseries on highway numbers in California. In this episode we talk about the history of the Count...

In this episode, we continue our exploration of numbering of state highways by turning our attention to the Interstate Highway system. This system, started in 1956, uses the red, white, and blue shields. It is the third episode in a four part miniseries on highway numbers in California. In this episode we talk about the history of the Interstate Highway system, how the Interstate Highways are numb...

In this episode, we continue our exploration of numbering of state highways by turning our attention to the U.S. highway system. These are the white shields with black numbers. It is the second episode in a four part miniseries on highway numbers in California. In this episode we talk about the history of the US highway system, how the US highways are numbered, how things have changed in the post-...