Episode 1.01 – Before 1920 – Building a State Highway System

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.

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CARxR 2.03: Route 1 – Ventura and Santa Barbara CountiesCARxR 2.03: Route 1 – Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties

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 Malibu, Oxnard, Ventura, Lompoc/Vandenberg and Orcutt. We’ll go over the freeway plans, discuss relinquishments, names, and some current plans. Looking forward, episode 2.04 will continue our exploration of Route 1 with the portions in San Luis Obispo from the 5 Cities through the northern edge of Big Sur in Monterey County.

Here’s the link to the show:

 

And here’s the link on Spotify for Podcasters:

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CA RxR 4.03: Route 9: Santa Cruz and SaratogaCA RxR 4.03: Route 9: Santa Cruz and Saratoga

Episode 4.03 starts a pair of episodes that explore 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. This episode (4.03) covers the current Route 9 from Santa Cruz to Los Gatos; the next episode (4.04) covers the remainder of pre-1964 Sign Route 9 through Mountain View, Milpitas, and up through Hayward and the Castro Valley. This episode also explores the 9th State Route between Peanut and Kuntz (now Mad River), and LRN 9. LRN 9 ran all the way from Ventura to San Bernardino, and was Sign Route 118 from Ventura to Pasadena, and US 66 from Pasadena to San Bernardino. As always, we’ll talk about historical routings, projects along the route, and some significant names. As noted, the next episode explores the remainder of pre-1964 Sign Route 9 from Saratoga through Milpitas to the Castro Valley.

Here’s the link to the show:

And here’s the link on Spotify for Creators:

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CA RxR 3.05p1: I-5: San Diego to Los Angeles (Part 1)CA RxR 3.05p1: I-5: San Diego to Los Angeles (Part 1)

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 Route 5, Sign Route 5, and then I-5. For I-5, we look at the history of the route, and the pieces that led to first the US 101 Bypass and then I-5 in this area. We’ll finish the discussion in Part 2, where we look at projects along the route and names along the route. Subsequent episodes will be looking at (3.06) from Downtown LA to Wheeler Ridge, where Route 99 splits, including the Ridge Route; (3.07) the Westerly Routing; (3.08) the planned I-5W; (3.09) the former US 99W portion from Sacramento to Redding; and (3.09) the portion from Redding to the Oregon Border.

Here’s the link to the show:

And here’s the link on Spotify for Creators (Spotify changed names yet again):

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