I want to share my ideas about renumbering Interstate 238 with everyone. Comes with maps!
I have thought up of two ideas: Plan A and Plan B.
Plan APlan A is, in a nutshell, extending Interstate 205, truncating Interstate 580 to the current Interstate 238 interchange. To delve deeper into the idea, I will give an explanation for each route that is modified.
Interstate 580As it was said in the introduction, Interstate 580 would be truncated to Interstate 205 (currently Interstate 238). The segment that spurs south of Tracy will be signed either State Route 501 or Business Loop 205 (if the current one is decommissioned). That will be explained later.
Interstate 205Interstate 205 would get a nice extension across Interstate 580 from its current terminus to Interstate 880, via current I-580 and I-238. Since I-205 is taking the path of I-238, it will decommission it in its entirety.
California 501 or Business Loop 205CA-501/BL 205 would cover the southern spur of Interstate 580 south of Tracy. The number of CA-501 was based off a system of auxiliary routes (signed as state highways) based off of a main route (For example, Washington has a system like this.). (In case you were wondering exactly how the number was made, the 5 is standing for Interstate 5, and the 1 is standing for the first state highway auxillary route.) If it were signed as BL 205, the current one in Downtown Tracy would have to be decommissioned entirely.
Current Business Loop 205 (maybe)If the southern spur of I-580 was signed as BL 205, this route would have to be decommissioned in its entirety.
Plan BThis idea is very similar to Plan A. The big difference is that Interstate 580 is not truncated and that it and Interstate 205 run together (Hey, if Ohio does it, so can California.).
Interstate 580The only difference from the current freeway is that it is multiplexed with Interstate 205.
Interstate 205Interstate 205 gets extended similar to how it was extended in Plan A. It is cosigned with Interstate 580 until it reaches the Interstate 238 interchange, where it leaves and follows current Interstate 238 in its entirety.
Anyways, these plans don't add on to the amount of interstates the Bay Area has, requires only sign modifications (no construction required!), are simple to understand, and fulfill the wish that some of us want to come true; remove Interstate 238.