FACT SHEET

Important Events in Caltrans History

1769

California's first road, El Camino Real was established by Spanish explorers Father Junipero Serra and Governor Don Gaspar de Portola which linked the coastal missions founded by Father Serra.

1849

California ceded to the United States.
Thousands of "49ers" migrate to California in wagon trains to search for gold.
First river steamboat in California (Benicia).

1850

California admitted into the Union.

Surveyor General S. H. Marlette was assigned to take first surveys and make plans for transportation and navigational improvements.

1853

All mountain passes through the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range had been opened up by immigrants. Many new roads and trails had been created to meet the increasing demand.

1855

Marlette commissioned the first formal survey toward construction of a wagon road across the Sierra Nevada roughly where U.S. Highway 50 is today from Placerville to Nevada.

1863

Central Pacific Railroad begins laying track in Sacramento for the Transcontinental Railroad.

1869

Transcontinental railroad completed.

1879

The first bicycle club established in San Francisco.

1895

The Bureau of Highways created by the Legislature.

The three newly appointed officials of the Bureau of Highways, R. C. Irvine of Sacramento, Marsden Manson of San Francisco, and J. L. Maude of Riverside, purchase a buckboard and visit every county of the state during 1895 and 1896, covering some 7,000 miles through the coast, valley, mountains, and deserts. Their recommended highway system becomes the foundation of the system that exists today.

1896

Lake Tahoe Wagon Road deeded to California, becoming the first state highway.

1897

The Department of Highways replaces Bureau of Highways.

1907

The Department of Engineering replaces Department of Highways. It includes four-member Advisory Board. A state engineer also is appointed.

1909

First State Highway Bond Act issued to establish a State Highway system ($18 million).

1912

Construction begins on California State Highway Contract No.1, between South San Francisco and Burlingame. Groundbreaking ceremonies are held on the El Camino Real in San Mateo County.

Materials testing lab (Translab) authorized.

1915

California law passed allowing convict labor to be used for building roads.

1916

Second highway bond issue for $15 million is approved by voters.

1919

Third highway bond issue for $40 million approved by voters.

1920

Highway Commission recommends fuel tax solely for highway construction.

1921

Department of Public Works created to include Department of Highways.

1923

Two-cent-per-gallon fuel tax approved. One cent is devoted to maintenance and reconstruction, and one cent for county roads.

Highway Commission created as separate state department. State Highway Engineer appointed to handle only highway work.

1926

U.S. Highway Numbering System adopted. Auto Clubs in charge of signing.
Antioch Bridge opens, located on Highway 160 near Highway 4 in Contra Costa County and Highway 160 in Sacramento County.

1927

One cent increase in fuel tax approved for new construction (total 3 cents).
Dumbarton Bridge opens, located on Highway 84 between San Mateo and Alameda counties.
Carquinez Bridge opens, located on Interstate 80 between Contra Costa and Solano Counties near Vallejo.
Department of Public Works re-established with Division of Highways as a major division. Governor to appoint five Highway Commissioners to serve without pay, with powers to alter state routes, authorize right-of-way, and allocate money to build or repair state highways.

1929

Legislature establishes California Toll Bridge Authority and authorizes acquisition of all toll bridges on state highways. Department of Public Works authorized to begin work on the San Francisco Bay Bridge.

1934

State highway code realigned to allow state highway department to build state highways in cities, and reapportioned gas tax revenues to allow building of urban highways.

California State Sign Route Numbering System adopted. Auto Clubs do signing.

1936

San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge opens to traffic on Nov. 12.

1937

Golden Gate Bridge opens, located on Highway 101 between San Francisco and Marin counites.

1938

Ground broken for California's first freeway, the Arroyo Seco, still in existence as the Pasadena Freeway.
Key System electric train service begins across the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.

1940

California's first freeway, the 6-mile Arroyo Seco Parkway, now known as the Pasadena Freeway, opens to traffic in Los Angeles County on Dec. 30. It connects Pasadena, South Pasadena and Los Angeles.

1942

California speed limit reduced to 35 mph/25 mph near military bases.

1947

Collier-Burns Act raises auto license fees to $6. Gas, diesel and LPG taxes are raised to 4.5 cents per gallon. It also asserts the state's obligation to complete construction of the rural highway system and build urban highways.
California Division of Highways takes over signing from the Auto Clubs.
Plans revealed for the world's first "four-level grade separation" near downtown Los Angeles, connecting the 101 (Hollywood) and 110 (Harbor and Pasadena) freeways.

1953

Fuel tax increased to 6 cents per gallon. Diesel taxes increased to 7 cents.
An urban right of way acquisition fund established. With fuel tax money plus federal aid, Division of Highways plans Freeway and Expressway System totalling 12,414 miles.
The "Four Level" interchange near downtown Los Angeles is completed.

1956

Richmond-San Rafael Bridge opens, located on Interstate 580 between Contra Costa and Marin counties

1959

Senate Bill 480 establishes a 12,414-mile freeway and expressway system.

1961

Legislature combines Departments of Public Works, Motor Vehicles and Highway Patrol into Highway Transportation Agency.

1962

Benicia-Martinez Bridge opens, located on I-680 between Solano and Contra Costa counties.

1963

Legislature increases gas and liquid petroleum taxes and commercial weight fees to aid cities and counties. Fuel tax stands at 7 cents per gallon.
Renumbering of State Highway System approved, to go into effect July 1, 1964.
Master plan for Scenic Highways established by Legislature.
Vincent Thomas Bridge opens, located on Route 47 in the San Pedro area of Los Angeles.

1965

Highway Transportation Agency changes name to Transportation Agency.
Final payment made on third State Highway Bond Act of 1919.

1967

San Mateo-Hayward Bridge opens, located on Highway 92 between San Mateo and Alameda counties.

1969

San Diego-Coronado Bridge opens, located on Route 75 between the City of San Diego and the City of Coronado.

1971

Sylmar earthquake strikes north of Los Angeles, causing damage to the under-construction Antelope Valley Freeway and prompting engineers to re-examine the way bridges are affected by earthquakes.

1972

Assembly Bill 69 consolidates the Department of Public Works and Aeronautics into the Department of Transportation (Caltrans) with six divisions: Transportation Planning; Highways; Mass Transportation; Aeronautics; Administrative Services and Legal.

1974

Proposition 5 passes. Shifts highway dollars to public transportation.

1978

California Transportation Commission formed to replace California Highway Commission, State Transportation Board, Aeronautics Board and California Toll Bridge Authority.

1983

State gas tax increased to 9 cents a gallon.

1984

Business and Transportation Agency renamed Business, Transportation and Housing Agency.
Santa Clara County becomes the first California County to approve a county sales tax increase devoted to transportation improvements.

1987

Governor signs bill allowing counties to ask voters for up to a penny hike in the state sales tax to pay for new roads and mass transit.
Governor signs bill allowing the construction of three toll roads in Orange County.
12th regional Caltrans district opens in Orange County.

1989

Governor signs SCA1, a transportation package designed to provide $18.5 billion for transportation over 10 years. The package depends on voter approval of three ballot measures in June of1990.
Loma Prieta earthquake strikes the San Francisco Bay area, causing widespread damage to infrastructure. The Cypress Freeway (880) and the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge are damaged.
A temporary statewide quarter-cent sales tax increase is enacted to pay for rebuilding and retrofitting in the wake of the Loma Prieta earthquake. The tax expires in 1991.

1990

Proposition 108, 111 and 116 pass, designed to generate $18.5 billion for transportation improvements.
The state gas tax is raised to 14 cents per gallon.

1991

State gas tax is raised to 15 cents per gallon.

1992

State gas tax is increased to 16 cents a gallon.

Voters reject a $1 billion rail bond measure.

1993

The 17.3-mile Glenn Anderson (Century) Freeway, Interstate 105, opens to traffic between Norwalk and El Segundo in Los Angeles County. The $2.3 billion project, which includes interchanges to four other freeways, is billed as the last new freeway in Los Angeles.
State gas tax increased to 17 cents a gallon.

1994

Northridge earthquake strikes the Los Angeles area, causing widespread damage. Four major freeways suffer heavy damage and are closed: the Santa Monica Freeway (I-10), the Simi Valley Freeway (118), the Golden State Freeway (I-5) and the Antelope Valley Freeway (14). Accelerated rebuilding effort results in all freeways being reopened by year's end.
State gas tax increased to 18 cents a gallon.
Voters reject a $1 billion rail bond measure.

1995

In response to the federal government granting states the authority to set their own speed limits, Caltrans raises the speed limit from 55 mph to 65 mph on 2,800 miles of freeway and expressways.

1996

Voters approve Proposition 192, the Seismic Retrofit Bond Act, providing $2 billion in bonds to strengthen bridges to better withstand earthquakes.
Opening of $498 million Harbor Freeway Transitway, a 10.3-mile bus and car-pool facility running down the median of the Harbor (110) Freeway in Los Angeles. The project includes the first-ever viaduct built along an existing freeway in Los Angeles.
Speed limit raised from 65 mph to 70 mph along 1,300 miles of mostly rural interstates.

1997

Governor Pete Wilson endorses a Caltrans recommendation to replace, rather than retrofit, the earthquake-vulnerable eastern span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.

1998

Tolls on San Francisco Bay area bridges increase from $1 to $2 to pay for earthquake retrofit work.