Multi-state routes and why they exist

[roadman65]

I noticed that a lot of New England roads do not change numbers as they cross state lines. Was there a concerted effort in the beginning to organize a New England road network?

I think there was.  I read it somewhere on a roadgeek  FAQ site.  I am not sure of the site's name, but it was on there.

[roadfro]

I noticed that a lot of New England roads do not change numbers as they cross state lines. Was there a concerted effort in the beginning to organize a New England road network?

I think there was.  I read it somewhere on a roadgeek  FAQ site.  I am not sure of the site's name, but it was on there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_England_road_marking_system

It appears many state routes have retained the NE numbers, or at least a portion thereof.

[Scott5114]

One bit of apocryphal K-96 lore–supposedly the reason why it got the 96 number was because one Wichita businessman was responsible for posting most of the markers in Kansas during the auto trail era. When it became a numbered highway Kansas contacted him and asked him what number he would like it to become. He picked 96 because that was (part of?) his phone number.

[apeman33]

One bit of apocryphal K-96 lore—supposedly the reason why it got the 96 number was because one Wichita businessman was responsible for posting most of the markers in Kansas during the auto trail era. When it became a numbered highway Kansas contacted him and asked him what number he would like it to become. He picked 96 because that was (part of?) his phone number.

I believe it's been shown to be a true story. And since it was in the 20s or 30s, its likely 96 was the number. If the town was small enough, there were only two- or three-digit phone numbers and his shop was supposed to be in or near Augusta.

[Rover_0]

*AZ-NM-CO-WY-MT 789 (former): Canada-Mexico Highway

*ID-MT-ND-MN 200: joint creation? from US 10 Alternate (which itself replaced an earlier ID-MT 3; not clear which was first), MT 20, ND 23, ND 7, MN 31, MN 34

789 starting from Montana down to Arizona was supposed to be US 789 when the idea was turned down by AASHTO. Wyoming had some US 789 signs, but then were removed.

All those concurrences aside, it would've been interesting to see US-789 come to fruition. I wonder what style those signs were (2-digit but with small Series D numerals, otherwise), and I
bet that those signs are worth something--to the roadgeek community, if nothing else.

I guess you could say that modern US-191 is a successor to MSR-789--while the routes certainly don't have the same course, they're both border-to-border and traverse roughly the same region.

*ID-MT-ND-MN 200: joint creation? from US 10 Alternate (which itself replaced an earlier ID-MT 3; not clear which was first), MT 20, ND 23, ND 7, MN 31, MN 34[/b]

Route 200 from my understanding is apparently a joint effort to connect small towns and medium-to-large populated cities within these five states. Minnessota may have come first with MN 200, then ND, MT, and finally ID. Same with US 10. I'm assuming Route 200 coexisted with US 10 Alternate starting northwest of Spokane, WA, running though Sandpoint, ID, St. Regis, Superior, Missoula, Butte, and Annaconda, MT. After US 10 was decomissioned in Montana in 1986, Route 200 took over US 10 Alternate. I-90 and 94 took over the entire US 10 corridor, same with I-15 taking over Old US 91. Secondary Route 474 and 263 are risidual remnances of Old US 10 near where I live.

Looks like I'm not the only one believes in connecting communities via a common route number is beneficial.

[Road Hog]

I noticed that a lot of New England roads do not change numbers as they cross state lines. Was there a concerted effort in the beginning to organize a New England road network?

I think there was.  I read it somewhere on a roadgeek  FAQ site.  I am not sure of the site's name, but it was on there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_England_road_marking_system

It appears many state routes have retained the NE numbers, or at least a portion thereof.

Interesting. Looks like several of the states kept the bordered square for their state shields, too.

[NE2]

Interesting. Looks like several of the states kept the bordered square for their state shields, too.

Yep, still "black on yellow background with black borders". Wait, what?

[Alps]

I noticed that a lot of New England roads do not change numbers as they cross state lines. Was there a concerted effort in the beginning to organize a New England road network?

I think there was.  I read it somewhere on a roadgeek  FAQ site.  I am not sure of the site's name, but it was on there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_England_road_marking_system

It appears many state routes have retained the NE numbers, or at least a portion thereof.

Interesting. Looks like several of the states kept the bordered square for their state shields, too.

Connecticut used the state outline for awhile, but ended up deleting it in the 60s? 70s?.
Rhode Island has added the state initials, but otherwise square.
Mass. and Maine have always used the square.
New Hampshire used to use the square until they adopted the Old Man in the Mountain.
Vermont started off with the state name in a small square, then deleted it and made the square larger, then went to circles, and now the green shields.

[jp the roadgeek]

I noticed that a lot of New England roads do not change numbers as they cross state lines. Was there a concerted effort in the beginning to organize a New England road network?

I think there was.  I read it somewhere on a roadgeek  FAQ site.  I am not sure of the site's name, but it was on there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_England_road_marking_system

It appears many state routes have retained the NE numbers, or at least a portion thereof.

Interesting. Looks like several of the states kept the bordered square for their state shields, too.

Connecticut used the state outline for awhile, but ended up deleting it in the 60s? 70s?.
Rhode Island has added the state initials, but otherwise square.
Mass. and Maine have always used the square.
New Hampshire used to use the square until they adopted the Old Man in the Mountain.
Vermont started off with the state name in a small square, then deleted it and made the square larger, then went to circles, and now the green shields.

CT used the old CONN above the number much like the current RI state shields.  The state outline shield seemed to be only popular in Fairfield County, but the difference between the current shields and the MA/ME shields (which are identical) is the thicker black border.  CT and WV state route signs are identical.  VT, NJ, and DE used to be identical before VT went green.

[Duke87]

I'm not actually sure that RI 2 didn't connect to CT 2 historically, although it certainly doesn't any more. I think before US 1 was on its current alignment (i.e. when it followed what's now 1A), 2 was on it as well. Then again, all we go on for historical information is old maps, and those can be just as wrong as new maps.

Would be interesting if it did, that'd have made Route 2 rather U-Shaped.

Although, if Wikipedia is to be believed, the Westerly segment of 1A is not historic 1.

Connecticut used the state outline for awhile, but ended up deleting it in the 60s? 70s?.

The state outline was, as far as I am aware, only ever used on and in the vicinity of the Merritt Parkway. The recently R.I.P. outline 25 would have to have been installed when that section of freeway was completed, which dates it to 1982.  The BGSs on the parkway itself which used them were from the late 70s-early 80s. Other shields in this style are presumably of similar vintage, though it's possible some may be older.

Elsewhere in the state, the old style is the square with "CONN" in it. Dunno when exactly this fell out of use but based on the 184 shield we can safely say it was still current in the 50s.

[NE2]

Although, if Wikipedia is to be believed, the Westerly segment of 1A is not historic 1.

It's not (http://www.broermapsonline.org/members/NorthAmerica/UnitedStates/NewEngland/unitedstates1926ra_007.html) but the Charlestown segment (where 2 now ends) is.