Google shows S Union AVE as SR 99B

[Avalanchez71]

Is this correct?  Is S Union Ave south of Bakersfield SR 99B?

[Max Rockatansky]

At least one sign that I know of....although who knows if it's still there?


https://www.google.com/maps/@35.1686802,-119.0027143,3a,30y,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sQ0Pa_iqiY4KHXURG_y0QEg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

[coatimundi]

The "B" is usually an indication of a business route. There are quite a few of these along the CA 99 corridor, but many are unsigned. The real purpose behind business routes is to get people off of the highway and try to keep businesses along the original routing from totally dying. Though, in the Central Valley, that does not seem to have worked so well. They also serve to direct traffic back to the main road.
https://www.aaroads.com/california/ca-099_bus.html

I don't think California is to the point of lettering its business routes, a la Texas.

[andy3175]

Your link to the Business 99 page reminds me that I have a ton of new pictures to share of several business routes including Bakersfield ... but just not enough time to get those posted.

I agree, business route signage is haphazard at best on any given California business route or loop. Business 99 in Bakersfield happens to be among the best signed business routes out there. But most others along 99 are not well posted at all.

Has Google Maps marked other states' business routes with the "B" suffix?

[Avalanchez71]

I had forgotten those pages were there.  Thanks for the link and it confirms that Google is correct.

[cahwyguy]

I'll note, as always, that my pages also attempt to identify signed business routings. If you find one, and it is not mentioned on my pages or you want me to update its status, please send me an email and I'll work it in during the next round of updates (and I'll note that the January - June updates to my pages should drop sometime this week -- I'm just about done with the June CTC minutes).

[BakoCondors]

At least one sign that I know of....although who knows if it's still there?


https://www.google.com/maps/@35.1686802,-119.0027143,3a,30y,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sQ0Pa_iqiY4KHXURG_y0QEg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

It is. Or was the last time I drove down there a few weeks ago.

Northbound 99 exit 11 is signed in text as "Business 99" as well. Photo: http://www.imagebam.com/image/efb19b493744310

Just as an aside, while Business 99 runs the length of old 99, CA 204, which is co-signed with BR99 on Golden State Ave and Union Ave does end at the 58 freeway, while BR99 continues on its merry way down South Union Ave.

[Max Rockatansky]

I'll note, as always, that my pages also attempt to identify signed business routings. If you find one, and it is not mentioned on my pages or you want me to update its status, please send me an email and I'll work it in during the next round of updates (and I'll note that the January - June updates to my pages should drop sometime this week -- I'm just about done with the June CTC minutes).

Unless I missed something I think that I might have a signed business route 198 in Hamblin for you:

https://www.google.com/maps/@36.329363,-119.6009075,3a,75y,180h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1scYO40ze35HYkkLTyCRoPMw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

I did see the sign still there a couple weeks ago coming back home on CA 43.  I have no idea if there is anything west of there or what the BR consists of.

[Avalanchez71]

Looking as GSV it doesn't appear that the SR 99 Business is working out too well at the southern end.  CA goes out the way to designate business routes just not to sign them well.

[TheStranger]

Just as an aside, while Business 99 runs the length of old 99, CA 204, which is co-signed with BR99 on Golden State Ave and Union Ave does end at the 58 freeway, while BR99 continues on its merry way down South Union Ave.

Having driven the entirety of Business 99 in Bakersfield in 2013, can confirm.  (204 did run for a few years all the way from 58 south to the southern 99 junction of Business 99, but was removed from that portion in 1978)

[Avalanchez71]

So does Kern County maintain that roadway?

[Max Rockatansky]

So does Kern County maintain that roadway?

I'd be curious to find that out in general about CA Business Routes.  There are some pretty substantial ones like US 395 BL where it isn't multiplexed with CA 178 in Ridgecrest.

[andy3175]

So does Kern County maintain that roadway?

I'd be curious to find that out in general about CA Business Routes.  There are some pretty substantial ones like US 395 BL where it isn't multiplexed with CA 178 in Ridgecrest.

To most cities, business routes are just another city street that sometimes have special signs, and only sometimes does the city actually remember the business route guide signs need to be kept up, replaced, and maintained. In most cases, they disappear as a business route ages due to benign neglect and a general lack of understanding as to where a business route actually goes. This is why signage at key turns is oftentimes lacking. Generally, signed business routes in the state of California that are not co-signed as California state routes are locally maintained. Examples include (but not limited to):

Business 5 in Weed - state maintained, with southern half as part of US 97 and northern half as part of SR 265
Business 5 in Yreka - mostly state maintained as part of SR 3
Business 8 in San Diego - El Cajon Blvd; locally/city maintained
Business 8 in Alpine - county maintained
Business 8 in El Centro - state maintained along overlap with SR 86 but city maintained along Imperial Ave
Business 8 in Winterhaven - locally (county) maintained
Business 10 in Colton (remnant signs remain) - locally (city) maintained
Business 10 in Blythe - locally maintained
Business 15 in Escondido - city maintained (Centre City Pkwy)
Business 15 in Barstow - city maintained
Business 17 in Scotts Valley - locally maintained via Mt Hermon Rd and Scotts Valley Drive
Business 18 in San Bernardino along Sierra Way - city maintained
Business 20 in Colusa and Grass Valley/Nevada City - locally maintained
Business 29 in Lakeport (mostly unsigned now) - city and county maintained
Business 30 in San Bernardino (still has some remnant signs but mostly gone) - city maintained; I guess this would now be Business 210
Business 40 in Needles - locally maintained
Business 54 in El Cajon - extant segment of former SR 54 along Second Street is maintained by city of El Cajon
Business 58 in Mojave - locally maintained
Business 60 in Moreno Valley - city maintained
Business 70 in Oroville - state maintained along SR 162 and locally maintained otherwise
Business 76 in Oceanside - locally (City of Oceanside) maintained
Business 80 in Sacramento - state maintained, with US 50 becoming the prevalent signed designation on the western half of the loop and SR 51 silently merged onto the eastern half
Business 99 in Bakersfield - state maintained north of SR 58, not state maintained south of SR 58; southern portion may be city of Bakersfield or Kern County depending on corporate limits and maintenance agreements
Business 99 in Delano - locally maintained (probably under the city's jurisdiction) ... Business 99 in Atwater, Modesto, Lodi, etc. follow the same model unless overlapped with a state highway
Business 101 in McKinleyville - locally maintained
Business 101 in Petaluma - locally maintained
Business 101 in Santa Rosa (mostly unsigned) - locally maintained
Business 101 in Santa Maria - state maintained when paired with SR 135 and city maintained otherwise (Business 101 in Salinas is similar to this, with the state maintaining the overlapped section of business loop with SR 183)
Business 111 in Palm Springs - city maintained
Business 128 in Cloverdale (signed with Business 101) - locally maintained
Business 156 in Hollister - locally maintained
Business 205 in Tracy - locally maintained, either by city of Tracy or county depending on segment

Given that most business routes in California are fairly old and have aging signage, and given that more recent freeway bypasses do not sign the old route as a business route (such as SR 78 through Brawley or SR 4 in Antioch), I think the business route designations are becoming less popular and less frequent in recent potential applications.

[coatimundi]

The Business CA 1 routes by me, in the Monterey area, are only signed on their respective exits on the CA 1 freeway. Even then, it's just text (southbound Seaside exit says "RTE 1 BUSINESS") with no route marker. They have no markers and the roads are maintained locally.
I would guess that Caltrans goes the distance of keeping up a sign at the exits, but the municipalities don't actually care. I've certainly never heard of Del Monte Avenue referred to as "Route 1 Business" locally.

[Avalanchez71]

Which route is acually well signed in the field if any?

[TheStranger]

Which route is acually well signed in the field if any?

Business US 101 in Santa Maria along Route 135 is pretty well-signed (based on my drive through there about 2 months ago).

[coatimundi]

Which route is acually well signed in the field if any?

Some of the Jefferson I-5 ones are. Yreka, Weed and Mount Shasta are the ones that I can immediately recall as having several markers.

[andy3175]

The Business CA 1 routes by me, in the Monterey area, are only signed on their respective exits on the CA 1 freeway. Even then, it's just text (southbound Seaside exit says "RTE 1 BUSINESS") with no route marker. They have no markers and the roads are maintained locally.
I would guess that Caltrans goes the distance of keeping up a sign at the exits, but the municipalities don't actually care. I've certainly never heard of Del Monte Avenue referred to as "Route 1 Business" locally.

The business routes for SR 1 in Cayucos and Cambria were well signed seven years ago when I last passed through there. The Monterey and Seaside business routes have been signed poorly ever since I first visited there in the mid-1990s.

[andy3175]

Which route is acually well signed in the field if any?

Business US 101 in Santa Maria along Route 135 is pretty well-signed (based on my drive through there about 2 months ago).

Yes. The locally maintained segment is not well signed, but the overlap with SR 135 is well signed.

This is true in most cases where a business route overlaps a state highway. Other examples include the I-5 business loops in Yreka and Weed and a portion of Bus US 101 in Salinas. Somehow, the Business 99 in Chico is very well signed even though it is locally maintained.

[coatimundi]

a portion of Bus US 101 in Salinas

Where are these signs? I know there's a "Route 101 Business" sign at the northbound Abbott Street exit, but I've never noticed any route markers. Just some city signs (Salinas uses a non-standard font) directing people toward the 101 freeway.

[andy3175]

a portion of Bus US 101 in Salinas

Where are these signs? I know there's a "Route 101 Business" sign at the northbound Abbott Street exit, but I've never noticed any route markers. Just some city signs (Salinas uses a non-standard font) directing people toward the 101 freeway.

There very few except where the business route overlaps or nears a state highway. I don't think any Business 101 shields are on Abbott south of town. It's unsigned going northbound. Here are the few examples:

Overhead sign on Main Street: https://www.google.com/maps/@36.679851,-121.654582,3a,75y,195.27h,88.29t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1svVUWf7r4HsEMwbFiJSu7aQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

Reassurance marker on Salinas Street:
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.6771675,-121.6561798,3a,75y,199.8h,96.68t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sXbaTzjO38oR1pDIOc98QTw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

[coatimundi]

Ya know, I've driven by the sign you linked to on Salinas Street at least 20 times and have never noticed it. It looks pretty old. I'll probably be over there this weekend, at some point, so I'll have to check it out.
It's strange that 183 is signed on Main north of that, but they didn't bother to put the 101 Business sign up as well. And that neither 183 nor 101 Business is on the BGS for the Main Street exit on 101.

[JustDrive]

Business 101 in Ventura is also well-signed (there are markers on WB Main Street approaching the Telegraph/Thompson interchange, as well on Thompson Blvd itself near Sanjon Road). GSV omits all references to Thompson and refers to it as US 101 Business exclusively.

[andy3175]

Ya know, I've driven by the sign you linked to on Salinas Street at least 20 times and have never noticed it. It looks pretty old. I'll probably be over there this weekend, at some point, so I'll have to check it out.
It's strange that 183 is signed on Main north of that, but they didn't bother to put the 101 Business sign up as well. And that neither 183 nor 101 Business is on the BGS for the Main Street exit on 101.

I found it interesting that "US 101 Business" is written out in text on the overhead sign on Main Street (I wrote Lake St above because the view I linked was from the intersection with Lake Street, so I corrected it). Usually it's "Route 101 Business" or "Business US 101" with a shield.