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

October 16, 2023October 16, 2023| DanielDaniel| 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 1.12: The Organizations of the State Highway SystemCARxR 1.12: The Organizations of the State Highway System

July 4, 2023July 4, 2023| DanielDaniel| 0 Comment| 1:56 pm

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 a short break, but should be back in the fall when 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 1.11: Highway NamingCARxR 1.11: Highway Naming

May 28, 2023May 28, 2023| DanielDaniel| 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 1.10: Highway Numbering: County Signed RoutesCARxR 1.10: Highway Numbering: County Signed Routes

April 22, 2023April 22, 2023| DanielDaniel| 0 Comment| 3:57 pm

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 County Signed Route system, how the routes are numbered, some significant county signed routes, and what is happening with the system today.

There is no interview. We’re going to move the interview segments into separate bonus episodes, owing to the difficulty of obtaining and scheduling the interviews.

There are two episodes left in the season: one exploring highway naming, and one exploring the organizations related to the state highways.

Here’s the link to the show:

And here’s the link on Spotify for Podcasters:

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CARxR 1.09: Highway Numbering: Interstate HighwaysCARxR 1.09: Highway Numbering: Interstate Highways

March 25, 2023March 25, 2023| DanielDaniel| 0 Comment| 1:04 pm

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 numbered, the history of California’s chargable interstates (i.e., highways that counted towards the federal 42,500 mile limit), the history of California’s non-chargeable interstates, some interstate submissions that were never approved, and we opine about some of the most common questions about California interstates.

There is no interview. We’re going to move the interview segments into separate bonus episodes, owing to the difficulty of obtaining and scheduling the interviews.

The remaining episode in this miniseries will explore the numbering of and the history of California’s signed county route system.

Here’s the link to the show:

And here’s the link on Spotify for Podcasters:

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CARxR 1.08: Highway Numbering: U.S. Highways (Part I)CARxR 1.08: Highway Numbering: U.S. Highways (Part I)

February 18, 2023February 18, 2023| DanielDaniel| 0 Comment| 5:23 pm

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-Interstate era, and we wax rhapsodic on the nostalgia of US highways. The remaining episodes in the miniseries will explore the numbering of and the history of California’s Interstates, and the signed county route system.

Our interview for this episode was to be with Jim McDonnell of AASHTO on AASHTO’s role in assigning US and Interstate numbers. But we’ve run into scheduling difficulties and haven’t been able to coordinate a recording time by our scheduled drop date. So consider this Part I of the episode. When we can get things coordinated with Jim we’ll record and release Part II.

Here’s the link to the show:

And here’s the link on Anchor.FM:

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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, 2023January 16, 2023| DanielDaniel| 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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CARxR 1.06: Chronology – CEQA and RealityCARxR 1.06: Chronology – CEQA and Reality

December 24, 2022December 24, 2022| DanielDaniel| 0 Comment| 5:27 pm

In this episode, we conclude our exploration the history of the State Highway System with the last episode in this 6-part miniseries. This episode focused on the post-1969 era in the stat highway system: the changes in the highway system after 1969; the impact of the environmental quality acts, and the growing involvement of the regional transportation agencies. We also explore the changes in governance of state highways.

Our interview is with Gary Ruggerone, who was the Caltrans District 5 Environmental Branch Chief from June 1980 until December 2010 when he retired from Caltrans. He started as as an Environmental Planner in D7 in March 1979, one of 5 environmental planners hired off the very first Environmental Planner Civil Service Exam. He was directly involved with Caltrans during the early days of CEQA and NEPA and is joining us to provide valuable insight on the impact of the CEQA. Gary is currently the Owner/Principal Environmental Planner of Piedra Environmental Consultants, a local environmental planning firm specializing in CEQA and NEPA analysis and regulatory permit compliance for transportation-related projects. A life-long resident of California, Gary earned a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from California Polytechnic State University, Pomona, and a Master of Arts in Population Aquatic Biology from the University of California at Santa Barbara.

Here’s the link to the show:

And here’s the link on Anchor.FM:

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CARxR Ep. 1.05: Chronology – The Great Renumbering and New FreewaysCARxR Ep. 1.05: Chronology – The Great Renumbering and New Freeways

November 15, 2022November 15, 2022| DanielDaniel| 0 Comment| 9:35 pm

In this episode, we’re continuing to explore the history of the State Highway System, focusing on the construction boom in the 1960s under the administration of Pat Brown. This period saw the great renumbering, as highways were unified under a combined legislative / sign route system (as opposed to the separate systems that existing previously). It also saw a tremendous expansion of the freeways as construction worked hard to meet the construction deadlines. The period ended with the passage of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the election of Ronald Reagan, and the Freeway Revolts.

Our interview is with Arturo Salazar, a retired District 7 Caltrans engineer and moderator of the Freeways of Los Angeles Facebook group.

Here’s the link to the show:

And here’s the link on Anchor.FM:

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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, 2022October 14, 2022| DanielDaniel| 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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