Assign each state a number from 1 to 50

[TheHighwayMan3561]

Since two lists have already come up empty on 36, I submit MN 36 is important enough to make the list, as both a major metro freeway and a connector to a popular local getaway destination.

[Eth]

42 GA - Might work for a "Heart of Georgia" situation, because it's one of the few which Georgia hasn't multiplexed or hidden with a US route for any significant length.

50 miles (US 23) out of 115 seems like a significant length, and certainly no one would follow this route anywhere near end-to-end. I guess it's not unimportant, just...kinda meh.

[oscar]

6 AK - Lowest number that is not a state's longest route

And one of Alaska's least important routes. 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, and 11 are more significant, even if some are shorter than 6.

[MikieTimT]

I'd go with 7 in AR over 35.  It was the first scenic byway and spans most of the landforms found in the state.  Heck, even 22 or 23 would be better numbers than 35 in regards to importance.  35 seems like just a placeholder.

[formulanone]

The trouble is that there's no way to avoid duplicates and not dole some states a crummy choice out of fifty. It's easy to pick the best for one state, but a controversial chore to pick one and only one unique number in a limited set and for each.

6 AK - Lowest number that is not a state's longest route

And one of Alaska's least important routes. 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, and 11 are more significant, even if some are shorter than 6.

Not much to choose from. Every other state wants a small number.

42 GA - Might work for a "Heart of Georgia" situation, because it's one of the few which Georgia hasn't multiplexed or hidden with a US route for any significant length.

50 miles (US 23) out of 115 seems like a significant length, and certainly no one would follow this route anywhere near end-to-end. I guess it's not unimportant, just...kinda meh.

Yeah, it's one of those which doesn't seem to hit many large cities. Georgia doesn't have many numbers which don't try to multiplex.

Another solution is to list the 10 longest or those with the highest-traffic numbers for each state. Then divvy them up, but the final 10-15 are going to get whatever scraps are left, once personal faves are selected.

[Max Rockatansky]

Isn't AR 7 pretty much the top shelf scenic highway in Arkansas?

[paulthemapguy]

I took a stab at this, pulling none of the strings I pulled to make my collages of 54.

1. LA    14. CO   26. ME   39. NM
2. MD   15. VT    27. IA    40. FL
3. AK    16. NH   28. NV   41. WV
4. KS    17. NY   29. OK   42. NC
5. MN   18. PA   30. UT    43. VA
6. ND   19. OR   31. SC    44. KY
7. AR    20. WA   32. GA   45. MI
8. CT    21. AL    33. ID    46. TX
9. DE    22. WY   34. MO   47. IL
10. RI   23. NJ    35. WI    48. OH
11. HI   24. AZ   36. CA    49. TN
12. NE  25. MS   37. IN    50. SD
13. MT               38. MA
             

[kphoger]

Wow, if it weren't for the section northeast of Topeka, I'd have said you were bonkers using 4 for Kansas.

[paulthemapguy]

Wow, if it weren't for the section northeast of Topeka, I'd have said you were bonkers using 4 for Kansas.

I favored using overall length when making my choices, not so much ADT.

[kphoger]

Well, I didn't figure total mileage made something an "important route".  Just a long one.

[tradephoric]

M-1 should be considered for Michigan.  It was home to the first 3 color traffic signal, the first mile of concrete pavement was laid here, the first moving assembly line was used at Henry Ford's Hamtramck plant, and it is the home to the dream cruise which is the largest single-day automotive event in the world.  Woodward is full of car culture and automotive history.

[Max Rockatansky]

M-1 should be considered for Michigan.  It was home to the first 3 color traffic signal, the first mile of concrete pavement was laid here, the first moving assembly line was used at Henry Ford's Hamtramck plant, and it is the home to the dream cruise which is the largest single-day automotive event in the world.  Woodward is full of car culture and automotive history.

Does the Dream Cruise even enter the City of Detroit yet?  That always made me feel irksome that it was touted as a historic tour on Woodward but didn't go all the way to at least Grand Circus Park. 

[Beltway]

VA-40 may be the longest, but it is still a somewhat minor route that doesn't really pass thru much other than Blackstone and Fort Pickett.

VA-42 is the general Shenandoah Valley Pike route and is historic and very scenic.

VA-3 serves Culpeper, Fredericksburg and the Northern Neck and has a couple impressive bridges.

VA-7 is an arterial highway with 4 lanes or more and town bypasses, and is a key route in Northern Virginia, connecting Alexandria, Falls Church, Tysons Corner, Leesburg and Winchester; and has 4 Interstate junctions (I-395, I-66, I-495 and I-81) and 3 freeway junctions (VA-267 twice and VA-28).

Highest rank --
Overall importance to the highway system -- VA-7
Historic and scenic -- VA-42
Small town and small city connectivity -- VA-3

As to how this would fit into the other 49 states, to select one, I don't have enough info for that judgement.