California Highways: Route by Route History Episode 1.01 – Before 1920 – Building a State Highway System

Episode 1.01 – Before 1920 – Building a State Highway System

July 18, 2022| Daniel| 0 Comment| 6:05 pm

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History

Welcome to the first season of California Highways: Route by Route. This first season will be establishing the background listeners will need for our subsequent route by route podcasts. We’ll start with a history of the state highway system. We’ll then explore how highways are numbered in the state. Lastly, we’ll look at how highways are named, and some of the organizations involved with state highways.

This first episode explores the start of the state highway system. We’ll start with the humble beginnings with the first routes defined by the legislature, and then go into the routes defined by the first three bond acts. We’ll also explore the Good Roads movement, and we’ll have a special interview with Adam Prince of Gribblenation.

Here’s the link to the show:

Here’s a link to the show on anchor.fm:

Here are some relevant links:

We welcome your comments on the episode. We’re also looking for someone to donate or provide more appropriate theme music.

CA RxR 4.04: Route 9: Pre-1964 – Milpitas to Castro ValleyCA RxR 4.04: Route 9: Pre-1964 – Milpitas to Castro Valley

December 19, 2025| Daniel| 0 Comment| 7:02 am

Episode 4.04 is our second episode exploring Route 9, which in its post-1964 version runs from Santa Cruz to Saratoga and Los Gatos. Before 1964, Route 9 continued N up to the Mountain View area, and then across to Milpitas, and up to the Castro Valley. The previous episode covered post-1964 Route 9 (and the first segment of pre-1964 Sign Route 9) from Santa Cruz to Saratoga and then into Los Gatos, as well as all the 9^th State Route and LRN 9. This episode (4.04) covers the pre-1964 Route 9 portions N of Saratoga: Sign Route 9 through Mountain View, Milpitas, and up through Hayward and the Castro Valley. This portion of Sign Route 9 became Route 85, Route 237, Route 17/I-880/I-680 (in portions) and Route 238. The next pair of episodes will be covering I-10, with episode 4.05 covering the Santa Monica Freeway portion, and episode 4.06 covering the San Bernardino Freeway portion.

Here’s the link to the show:

And here’s the link on Spotify for Creators:

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CARxR Ep. 1.04: Expanding the State Highway System after WWIICARxR Ep. 1.04: Expanding the State Highway System after WWII

October 14, 2022| Daniel| 0 Comment| 6:33 pm

In this episode, we’re continuing to explore the history of the State Highway System, focusing on the period as WWII was ending, the Interstate system was emerging, and the construction boom was starting. This is part of our first season of California Highways: Route by Route, where we are exploring the background needed for our route by route journey. In this episode, we see the birth of the Freeway System in California, starting with the Collier-Burns act increasing state funding for highways, and State and Federal recommendations for higher-capacity systems. We see the growth in cities and urban areas pushing demand for the same, leading to the definition of the Freeway and Expressway System. We cover the passage of the 1956 Interstate Highway Act, and the subsequent freeway conversion and construction boom. Our guest interview is with Dr. Jonathan L. Gifford of the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University. He is also the director of the Center for Transportation Public-Private Partnership Policy. His doctoral dissertation examined the history and development of the interstate highway system from its origins in the 1930s through its design and deployment in the 1960s and beyond.

Here’s the link to the show:

And here’s the link on Anchor.FM:

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CA RxR 5.02: I-15 and I-215 (Part 2): Temecula to Devore (including Route 31 and Route 194)CA RxR 5.02: I-15 and I-215 (Part 2): Temecula to Devore (including Route 31 and Route 194)

October 12, 2026| Daniel| 0 Comment| 9:52 am

Episode 5.02 is the second of three episodes on Route 15. In this episode, we explore I-15 between Temecula and Devore. This exploration covers both the historical route, US 395, which became I-15E and later I-215, as well as the replacement route that became today’s I-15. We cover all the LRNs that made up the route, the pre-freeway routings in the cities along the route, and the transition of the route into today. We also cover major projects along the route, including the Mid-County Parkway, as well a some names along the route (including the Naming Hall of Shame). This is the middle of three episodes on Route 15: 5.01 covered Route 15 between San Diego and Temecula, and 5.03 will cover Route 15 from Devore to the Nevada Border.

Here’s the link to the show:

And here’s the link on Spotify for Creators:

(more…)

Episode 1.01 – Before 1920 – Building a State Highway System

Related Post

CA RxR 4.04: Route 9: Pre-1964 – Milpitas to Castro ValleyCA RxR 4.04: Route 9: Pre-1964 – Milpitas to Castro Valley

CARxR Ep. 1.04: Expanding the State Highway System after WWIICARxR Ep. 1.04: Expanding the State Highway System after WWII

CA RxR 5.02: I-15 and I-215 (Part 2): Temecula to Devore (including Route 31 and Route 194)CA RxR 5.02: I-15 and I-215 (Part 2): Temecula to Devore (including Route 31 and Route 194)