CA RxR 2.11: Route 2: In the Flatlands (Santa Monica and Los Angeles)

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 exploration of the relationship of the Pacific Electric and Santa Monica Blvd; the history of Route 2 and US 66 — and the ever changing routing in Los Angeles and Santa Monica — and the whole story of the never-constructed Beverly Hills Freeway. The last episode of the season will complete our exploration of Route 2 by looking at Route 2 in the hills — the Glendale Freeway and the Angeles Crest Highway.

Note: I made one error in the show: I said the street in West LA was San Vincente. It is San Vicente (and I should know better — I grew up in the area and lived nearby on Darlington). Here’s the history of that name.

Here’s the link to the show:

And here’s the link on Spotify for Podcasters:

Here are some relevant links (I may edit this to add more links in later):

• California Highways:
  • Route 2
  • US 66
  • LRN 162
  • LRN 61
  • LRN 161
  • LRN 2:
    • US 101
• Gribblenation:
  • Route 66 Wednesdays; Santa Monica to Pasadena
  • Hollywood Freeway; California State Route 170, US Route 101, US Route 66 and California State Route 2
  • California State Route 2 on the Glendale Freeway
  • Former California State Route 248 (Old US Routes 66-99 from Pasadena to Monrovia)
  • The Arroyo Seco Parkway and early terminus points of US Route 66 in Los Angeles
• Other Road Scholars:
  • AARoads: California 2
  • Finding US 66 (Casey Cooper)
  • Route 66 on the Internet
  • Southern California Regional Rocks and Roads (Michael Ballard):
    • Beverly Hills Freeway
    • Route 2
• Other links:
  • 1948 – Studies – Street Traffic Management For Los Angeles
  • Past Visions of Los Angeles’ Transportation Future: 1940s
  • 1964 – Beverly Hills – REPORT ON GEOMETRIC DESIGN, PROPOSED BEVERLY HILLS FREEWAY
  • Southern California Railway Museum

We encourage you to explore our back catalog through this site or our Spotify for Podcasters home.