Changes to the California Highway Website covering September - December 2024

The last highway page update for 2024 is done. This covers September, October, November, and all of December except for the headlines post (which will happen Wed 1/1/2025) and the podcast episode post (which will happen Mon 12/30/2024). Here’s the changelog — for a nicer version, see the webpage version.

This update covers September, October, and November 2024, and part of December 2024, depending on how long it takes me to finish the last little bits. Before we dive into the updates to the California Highways site, an update on the California Highways: Route by Route podcast. As always, you can keep up with the show at the podcast’s forever home at https://www.caroutebyroute.org , the show’s page on Spotify for Podcasters, or you can subscribe through your favorite podcatcher or via the RSS feeds (CARxR, Spotify for Podcasters) . The following episodes have been posted since the last update:

• September | CA RxR 3.01: Route 3: Through the Mountains of Jefferson.  Welcome to Season 3 of California Highways: Route by Route. We promised that the season would start in September, and we’re making it by the wire. Season 3 covers Routes 3 through 7; this is the first episode covering Route 3, which is in Northwest California near Weaverville and Route 299. In this episode, we talk about all things “three”: The third state route, Legislative Route 3, Sign Route 3, and finally the current Route 3. For the current Route 3, we talk about the history of the route, projects currently ongoing on the route, and some naming along the route. We even have a digression on the proposed Interstate 3. We also talk about the state scenic highway system, and how routes earn the golden poppy. [Note: Internally, I’m going to a new numbering system this season, as we’re going to have some two part episodes, and the episode numbers require integers. Episode 3.01 will be 3010 (e.g., 3.01.0, without the dots). This allows a part 2 to be 3.01.1] (Spotify for Creators)
• October | CA RxR 3.02: Route 4: Hercules to Stockton. In this episode, we commence a 3-part exploration of Route 4. This episode starts with all things Route 4: The 4th state route, DOH and Legislative Route 4, and pre-1964 Route 4, finally setting on today’s Route 4. We talk about the LRNs that make up today’s Route 4: LRN 106, LRN 75, and LRN 24. We focus on the first segment of the route, from I-80 in Hercules to I-5 in Stockton. We talk about Route 4 in cities such as Hercules, Martinez, Concord, Antioch, Brentwood, the wetlands, and the Port of Stockton. We also talk about freeway segments, projects, and names along the route. The subsequent two episodes continue Route 4, with 3.03 focusing on the Stockton Crosstown Freeway. (Spotify for Creators)
• November | CA RxR 3.03: Route 4: Stockton. In this episode, we continue our a 3-part exploration of Route 4. This episode focused on the Stockton Crosstown Freeway: A short freeway segment of Route 4 that bisects the city of Stockton, essentially running from I-5 to Route 99. We talk about the LRNs that made up this segment: LRN 75, and LRN 24. We spend much of the episode talking about the impact the construction of the route had on Stockton, including an interview with Dr. Paul Ong of UCLA, lead author of a paper (“Stockton’s Crosstown Freeway, Urban Renewal, and Asian Americans: Systemic Causes and Impacts“) that explored the impact of the construction of the Stockton Crosstown Freeway on the Asian-American community. We also talk about the project to complete this freeway, and the names given to the freeway. Our last episode on Route 4 will focus on the segment of Route 4 from Stockton to near Markleeville, including the segment through Ebbetts Pass. (Spotify for Creators)
• November | CA RxR 3.04: Route 4: The Sierras. In this episode, we complete our exploration of Route 4, covering the segments from Stockton and Route 99 through Angels Camp, and then on over the Sierras to Route 89 near Markleville. This includes segments that go through Gold Country, as well as the Ebbetts Pass segment that includes some very steep grades. Along the way, we look at the history of the route in these areas, projects along the way, and naming of the route. As always, we conclude with a discussion of this segment of the route after the credits. Next up: The first of six episodes (some with two parts, making it really eight episodes) covering Interstate 5. Episode 3.05 looks at the former US 101 portion from the Mexico border to downtown Los Angeles. (Spotify for Creators)
• December | 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 5^th 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. (Spotify for Creators)
• December | CA RxR 3.05p2: I-5: San Diego to Los Angeles (Part 2). This will posted on Monday, 12/30/2024

Turning to the updates to the California Highways pages: Updates were made to the following highways, based on my reading of the (virtual) papers and my research for the podcast in Sepbemter, October, and November 2024 (which are posted to the roadgeeking category at the “Observations Along The Road” and to the California Highways Facebook group) as well as any backed up email changes. I also reviewed the the AAroads forum (Ꜳ). This resulted in changes on the following routes, with credit as indicated [my research^(ℱ), contributions of information or leads (via direct mail or ꜲRoads) from Tom Fearer⁽²⁾, Mike Palmer⁽³⁾, Will Poundstone⁽⁴⁾, kkt⁽⁵⁾, Joel Windmiller⁽⁶⁾: Route 1^(ℱ), Route 4⁽²⁾, I-5^(ℱ), Route 14^(ℱ,4), Route 27⁽⁴⁾, Route 29^(ℱ,2), Route 35^(ℱ), Route 36^(ℱ), Route 37^(ℱ), Route 41⁽²⁾, Route 43⁽³⁾, Route 46^(ℱ,2), Route 47^(ℱ), Route 49^(ℱ), Route 51⁽⁶⁾,  Route 78^(ℱ), Route 84^(ℱ,5), Route 89^(ℱ),  Route 99^(ℱ), US 101^(ℱ), I-105⁽⁴⁾, Route 116^(ℱ), Route 118^(ℱ), Route 121^(ℱ), Route 130⁽²⁾, Route 142^(ℱ), Route 152^(ℱ), Route 154^(ℱ), Route 168⁽²⁾,  Route 170⁽⁴⁾, Route 187^(ℱ), I-210^(ℱ), Route 217^(ℱ), Route 220^(ℱ), Route 221^(ℱ), Route 258 (Whitnall Parkway)⁽⁴⁾, Route 268⁽⁴⁾, Route 371^(ℱ), US 395^(ℱ), I-505^(ℱ), I-580^(ℱ), I-980^(ℱ), County Sign Route G19⁽²⁾.
(Source: private email through 9/2/2024, Highway headline posts through the August 2024 Headline post, AARoads through 9/2/2024)

Updated a number of links to New York area websites, thanks to input from Valerie Deane, who does the excellent New York State Roads website.

Reviewed the Pending Legislation page, based on the California Legislature site, for bills through 2024-12-26. As usual, I recommend to every Californian that they visit the legislative website regularly and see what their legis-critters are doing. As many people are unfamiliar with how the legislature operates (and why there are so many “non-substantive changes” and “gut and amend” bills), I’ve added the legislative calendar (updated for 2025) to the end of the Pending Legislation page. This review covered the end of the 2023-2024 Legislative Session and the start of the 2025-2026 Legislative Session. For the 2025-206 session, a few bills have been introduced. In additional to the “normal” bills, there seem to be a number that either (a) are intended as “protective” bills to protect the state from anticipated actions by the Trump administration, or (b) punitive bills against the perceived liberal legislature/pro-Trump agenda bills by pro-Trump assembly/senate-critters. I’m monitoring a few of the latter. After an extraordinary session, the legislature does not reconvene according to the calendar until 01/06/2025. Noted the passage of the following bills and resolutions from the end of the 2023-2024 Legislative Session:

( Read more... )