Pre-1964 – California Highways: Route by Route

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

April 12, 2024| Daniel| 0 Comment| 6:41 pm

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.

Here’s the link to the show:

And here’s the link on Spotify for Podcasters:

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CA RxR 2.10: Route 1: The Lost Coast (incl. Route 208 and Route 211)CA RxR 2.10: Route 1: The Lost Coast (incl. Route 208 and Route 211)

March 10, 2024| Daniel| 0 Comment| 4:37 pm

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” portion of the route Route 211. This episode explores the Lost Coast, including the history of Route 208 and Route 211. In our next episode we will move to Route 2, talking about Route 2 in the flatlands: From Santa Monica to and through Glendale, including the Beverly Hills Freeway, the Glendale Freeway, and even some Pacific Electric. We’ll also talk about the Western Terminus of US 66.

Here’s the link to the show:

And here’s the link on Spotify for Podcasters:

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CA RxR 2.09: Route 1: The Redwood ForestCA RxR 2.09: Route 1: The Redwood Forest

February 25, 2024| Daniel| 0 Comment| 5:55 pm

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 of the route, and some current projects along the route. Our next episode will be the last on Route 1, this time covering what was Sign Route 1, and now covers Route 208 and Route 211 in the Lost Coast.

Here’s the link to the show:

And here’s the link on Spotify for Podcasters:

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CA RxR 2.07: Route 1ish: Golden Gate BridgeCA RxR 2.07: Route 1ish: Golden Gate Bridge

January 25, 2024| Daniel| 2 Comments| 4:00 am

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 before the bridge, the construction of the bridge, and current projects along the bridge (such as the singing bridge retrofit, the suicide barrier, and the earthquake retrofit. We’ll also discuss how one pays tolls on the bridge. Looking forward, episode 2.08 will continue our exploration of Route 1 moving northward from the Marin Headlands to the Redwoods.

Here’s the link to the show:

And here’s the link on Spotify for Podcasters:

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CA RxR 2.06: Route 1: Pacifica and San FranciscoCA RxR 2.06: Route 1: Pacifica and San Francisco

January 12, 2024| Daniel| 0 Comment| 5:00 am

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 segment of the route, the history of the route through various communities , the freeway plans, discuss relinquishments, names, and some current plans (although there’s not much in the relinquishment or plans area). As part of the freeway plans in the area, we include a discussion of the freeway revolt and some broader plans for San Francisco. Looking forward, episode 2.07 will continue our exploration of Route 1 with something Route 1-adjacent: The Golden Gate Bridge.

Here’s the link to the show:

And here’s the link on Spotify for Podcasters:

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

November 18, 2023| Daniel| 0 Comment| 2:10 pm

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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CARxR 2.02: Route 1 – Los Angeles CountyCARxR 2.02: Route 1 – Los Angeles County

October 29, 2023| Daniel| 0 Comment| 5:16 pm

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 Marina areas, Santa Monica, and of course the Battle of Malibu. We’ll go over the incredible freeway plans, discuss relinquishments, names, and some current plans. Looking forward, episode 2.03 will continue our exploration of Route 1 with the portion in Ventura and Santa Barbara County.

Here’s the link to the show:

And here’s the link on Spotify for Podcasters:

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CARxR 2.01: Route 1 – Orange CountyCARxR 2.01: Route 1 – Orange County

October 16, 2023| Daniel| 0 Comment| 4:12 pm

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’s route 1, looking specifically at the segment from Dana Point to Seal Beach. We hope to pick up the pace a little (after all, we have 34 planned seasons to get through), and the next episode will cover Route 1 in Los Angeles County.

Here’s the link to the show:

And here’s the link on Spotify for Podcasters:

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CARxR 1.11: Highway NamingCARxR 1.11: Highway Naming

May 28, 2023| Daniel| 0 Comment| 4:27 pm

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 highways have been given. Lastly, listen until after the end credits for a discussion about an aspect of naming that people often forget.

Our last episode in the season will explore the organizations related to the state highways. We’ll then have a short hiatus while we write season two, and then we’ll start exploring the California state highway system, route by route.

Here’s the link to the show:

And here’s the link on Spotify for Podcasters:

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CARxR 1.07: Highway Numbering: State Highways and Post MilesCARxR 1.07: Highway Numbering: State Highways and Post Miles

January 16, 2023| Daniel| 0 Comment| 7:55 am

In this episode, we explore numbering systems in state highways. It is the start of a four part miniseries on highway numbers in California. Specifically, this episode explores the rhymes and reason for the assigning of signed route numbers to highways with the state shield. This includes looking at the patterns in those numbers, and how the numbering system stands today after the Great Nenumbering. The subsequent episodes in the miniseries will explore the numbering system of US Highways, the numbering of and the history of California’s Interstates, and the signed county route system.

The episode also explores another numbering system on state highways: Post Miles. As opposed to sequential mileage numbers as is found in other states, California uses a system called post miles that identifies points along a highway using a combination of a county and a mile point from the southern/western county line, possibly with clarifying prefixes or suffixes. We discuss this system is good detail.

Our interview is with Andy Richardson, who retired from Caltrans as a Subject Matter Expert in Geographical Information Systems, Linear Referencing Systems, and Postmiles. Andy worked as a GIS specialist for the State of California since 1988, including Caltrans between 2001 and his retirement in 2021. In his last years at Caltrans, he implemented the Department’s current Linear Referencing System.

Here’s the link to the show:

And here’s the link on Anchor.FM:

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