U.S. 96

[Quillz]

What was the reasoning behind this intrastate U.S. highway? It travels north-south in eastern Texas and could have been assigned as a 3dus, could it not? I thought that perhaps it was truncated from a longer alignment, but that doesn't appear to be the case.

Is there a particular reason why that number was used as opposed to an available 3dus?

[Brandon]

It's Texas, 'nough said.  Somehow they got I-45 as well.

[Quillz]

Well, I can understand I-45, it serves an important corridor and follows the proper numbering grid pattern.

But U.S. 96 is near other U.S. highways such as US-90 or (for a time) U.S. 75, and neither of those used up all their available 3dus.

[national highway 1]

Maybe US 359?

[usends]

...Is there a particular reason why that number was used as opposed to an available 3dus?

South from Tenaha TX, US 59 originally followed what is now US 96 (which is actually the second US 96), ending where US 96 ends today (Pt. Arthur).  In 1939, several changes happened in Texas.  US 59 was rerouted to its current corridor, part of which follows the original US 96 (which was also a Texas intrastate route).  When that happened, the original segment of US 59 from Tenaha to Pt. Arthur probably should've been renumbered as an x59.  But, since the number 96 was then available, my guess is that TX felt justified in applying it to a different corridor that was in need of a new number.  To them, it probably felt like a simple swapping of numbers.

[US71]

Well, I can understand I-45, it serves an important corridor and follows the proper numbering grid pattern.

But U.S. 96 is near other U.S. highways such as US-90 or (for a time) U.S. 75, and neither of those used up all their available 3dus.

Here's something else: it should end at US 69 in Lumberton, but piggybacks with 69 (and US 287) to Port Arthur where all 3 end.

287 should end in Woodville instead of a useless multiplex.

[sandiaman]

You  got that right, US  96 is and always has been an  oddity.  From a 1934  Gousha  map:  US  96 heads  south  from Rosenberg TX, thru  Victoria  and Beeville until Alice, where  96 heads  west  thru  San Diego  and Hebbronville, ending  in Laredo, TX.

[usends]

You  got that right, US  96 is and always has been an  oddity.  From a 1934  Gousha  map:  US  96 heads  south  from Rosenberg TX, thru  Victoria  and Beeville until Alice, where  96 heads  west  thru  San Diego  and Hebbronville, ending  in Laredo, TX.

That was the original US 96, which later was mostly subsumed by US 59.  In what way was that US 96 an "oddity"?

[sandiaman]

US  96  is an oddity because  it  generally  runs norh- south instread  of east- west  like most even numbered routes.

[usends]

US  96  is an oddity because  it  generally  runs norh- south instread  of east- west  like most even numbered routes.

That's true of the current US 96.  But you were discussing the 1934 routing.  Rosenburg to Laredo could be construed to run east-west, so I don't consider that version of US 96 to be an oddity.
http://usends.com/mapguy/MapPgs/mapx98.htm