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State Route 19

Click here for a key to the symbols used. An explanation of acronyms may be found at the bottom of the page.


Routing Routing

Rte 19(a) Route 19 is from the northern city limit of the City of Lakewood to Gardendale Street/Foster Road in the Cities of Bellflower and Downey.

(b) If the commission determines it is in the state's best interests to do so, it may do the following, pursuant to a cooperative agreement between the respective city and the department:

(1) Relinquish to the City of Bellflower the portion of Route 19 between the city's southerly city limit near Rose Avenue and Gardendale Street/Foster Road.

(2) Relinquish to the City of Downey the portion of Route 19 between the city's southerly city limit at Century Boulevard and Gardendale Street.

(c) A relinquishment under this section shall become effective when the county recorder records the relinquishment resolution containing the commissioner's approval of the relinquishment's terms and conditions.

(d) Any portion of Route 19 relinquished pursuant to this section shall cease to be a state highway on the effective date of the relinquishment.

(e) The relinquished former portions of Route 19 within the Cities of Downey, Lakewood, Long Beach, and Pico Rivera are not state highways and are not eligible for adoption under Section 81. For the relinquished former portions of Route 19, the Cities of Downey, Lakewood, Long Beach, and Pico Rivera shall maintain within their respective jurisdictions signs directing motorists to the continuation of Route 19. The City of Lakewood shall ensure the continuity of traffic flow on the relinquished former portion of Route 19, including any traffic signal progression.

Post 1964 Signage History Post 1964 Signage History

Route 19 was defined in 1963 to run "from Route 1 near Long Beach to Route 164 near Pico Rivera." Route 164 near Pico Rivera was where Rosemead met Gallatin Road (a few block N of Beverly Blvd).

Note: The portion of the highway in the City of Long Beach ceased to be a state highway pursuant to the terms of a cooperative agreement in 1998 between the City of Long Beach and the department providing for the relinquishment of that portion of the highway to that city. The Long Beach relinquishment was authorized by AB 2132, Chapter 877, signed September 26, 1998. The authorization for relinquishment of the portion in the City of Downey came from Senate Bill 803, Chapter 172, signed 7/23/1999.

In 2003, the legislative definition was changed by AB 535 (8/4/2003, Chapter 177) to acknowledge various relinquishments, and to permit some additional ones. The pre-2003 definition was:

From Route 1 near Long Beach to Route 164 near Pico Rivera, excepting the following portions once they have been relinquished by appropriate agreements:

  1. The portion of Route 19 that is between Del Amo Boulevard in the City of Long Beach and Route 1. Reliquished by cooperative agreement.
  2. The portion of Route 19 between Gardendale Street and Telegraph Boulevard with the City of Downey, upon approval of the California Transportation Commission.

Upon reliquishment, the definition of Route 19 will be:

  1. Del Amo Boulevard near Long Beach to Gardendale Street in Downey.
  2. The Downey city limit at Telegraph Road to Route 164 (Galatin Road) near Pico Rivera.

In 2010, the legislative definition was changed by SB 1381 (9/29/10, Chapter 421) and SB 993 (9/29/2010, Chapter 499). The latter change was the one that took, as it was the later chapter. This modification changed the definition to not mention the portion relinquished in Pico Rivera (which was up for relinquishment in 2004) and to add the portion relinquished in Lakewood. Specifically, (a) was changed as follows: "From Del Amo Boulevard near Long Beach to Gardendale Street/Foster Road in the Cities of Bellflower and Downey, and then, with an interruption of already relinquished route, from Telegraph Road at the Downey City limit to Route 164 (Galatin Road) at the northerly city limit of Pico Rivera.". (b) was added, and the 2003-2010 item (3) "To the City of Pico Rivera: The portion of Route 19 between Telegraph Road and Gallatin Road. (This was up for relinquishment in May 2004)" was deleted and replaced with the Lakewood wording, and (c)-(e) were added. The portion of the route in Lakewood was relinquished in March 2012.

In 2013, SB 788 (Ch. 525, 10/9/13) changed the definition again:

(a) Route 19 is from Del Amo Boulevard near Long Beach the northern city limit of the City of Lakewood to Gardendale Street/Foster Road in the Cities of Bellflower and Downey.

(b) If the commission determines it is in the state's best interests to do so, it may do the following, pursuant to a cooperative agreement between the respective city and the department:

(1) Relinquish to the City of Bellflower the portion of Route 19 between the city's southerly city limit near Rose Avenue and Gardendale Street/Foster Road.

(2) Relinquish to the City of Downey the portion of Route 19 between the city's southerly city limit at Century Boulevard and Gardendale Street.

(3) Relinquish to the City of Lakewood the portion of Route 19 that is within the city limits or the sphere of influence of the city.

(c) A relinquishment under this section shall become effective when the county recorder records the relinquishment resolution containing the commissioner's approval of the relinquishment's terms and conditions.

(d) (1) Any portion of Route 19 relinquished pursuant to this section shall cease to be a state highway on the effective date of the relinquishment.

(2) The portion of Route 19 relinquished under paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) may not be considered for future adoption under Section 81.

(3) For the portion of Route 19 relinquished under paragraph (3) of subdivision (b), the city shall ensure the continuity of traffic flow, including any traffic signal progression, and shall maintain signs directing motorists to the continuation of Route 19.

(e) The relinquished former portions of Route 19 within the Cities of Downey, Lakewood, Long Beach, and Pico Rivera are not state highways and are not eligible for adoption under Section 81. For the relinquished former portions of Route 19, the Cities of Downey, Lakewood, Long Beach, and Pico Rivera shall maintain within their respective jurisdictions signs directing motorists to the continuation of Route 19. The City of Lakewood shall ensure the continuity of traffic flow on the relinquished former portion of Route 19, including any traffic signal progression.

In May 2017, the CTC actually relinquished right of way in the city of Bellflower on Route 19 from the south city limits near Rose Street to the north city limits at Gardendale Street (07-LA-19 PM 5.5/8.4), under terms and conditions as stated in the relinquishment agreement, determined to be in the best interest of the State. The City is expected to approve the relinquishment agreement at their April 24, 2017 council meeting. Authorized by Chapter 499, Statutes of 2010, which amended Section 319 of the Streets and Highways Code. This relinquishment included a financial contribution of $4,500,000.

In December 2019, the CTC authorized relinquishment of right of way in the city of Downey (City) on Route 19 (Lakewood Boulevard), under terms and conditions as stated in the relinquishment agreement dated September 10, 2019, determined to be in the best interest of the State. Authorized by Chapter 597, Statutes of 2001, which amended Section 319 of the Streets and Highways Code.
(Source: December 2019 CTC Agenda, Agenda Item 2.3c)

This routing runs along Rosemead and Lakewood Blvds. Note: Route 164 from Route 19 to Route 210 is signed as Route 19. The designation as Route 19 is older, and by the 1950s was along Rosemead until Colorado Blvd.

Pre 1964 Signage History Pre 1964 Signage History

In 1934, Route 19 was signed from Jct. Route 3 (US 101A, later Route 1) near Long Beach to Jct. US 66 near Lamanda Park. This was LRN 168 (defined as a state highway route in 1933). Route 19 ran from the traffic circle in Long Beach exiting N on Bennett Ave, then N along Cerritos Avenue and San Gabriel Blvd to Foothill Blvd. in Sierra Madre.

Early routings included interim alignments in Downey along portions on Compton Blvd, as well as Firestone Boulevard, Lexington-Gallatin Road, 10th Street and Patton Street.
(Source: Gribblenation Blog (Tom Fearer), “California State Route 19 and unsigned California State Route 164”, April 2022)

In 1935, funding for construction of a new alignment of Route 19/LRN 168 on Rosemead Avenue from US 101/LRN 2 at Whittier Boulevard north to LRN 9 at Foothill Boulevard had been allocated (note, it is unclear if Route 19 signage ever extended north of US 66/LRN 161). 1935 also saw a contract awarded to construct the new alignment of Route 19/LRN 168 on Rosemead Boulevard from San Gabriel Avenue 3.5-miles north to US 99/US 60/US 70/LRN 26 at Ramona Boulevard.  1936 saw a planned new alignment of Route 19/LRN 168 between Bellflower and Downey along Farlow Drive.  By 1937, contract awards were referencing Lakewood Blvd instead of Cerritos Avenue between Carson Street and Norwalk Road. 1938 brought confirmation that Cerritos Avenue was renamed as Lakewood Boulevard, and the portion of San Gabriel Boulevard was now part of a new alignment of Route 19/LRN 168, and had been renamed as part of Rosemead Boulevard. 
(Source: Gribblenation Blog (Tom Fearer), “California State Route 19 and unsigned California State Route 164”, April 2022)

US Highway Shield Note that after 1947, a portion of Route 19 was cosigned as US 91. On July 1, 1947, the AASHO Executive Secretary notified the California State Highway Engineer that California's request to extend US 91 from Barstow to Long Beach had been approved. This extension brought US 91 to Long Beach as follows:

  1. US 91 started in Long Beach at the corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Atlantic Blvd (this was the terminus of US 6, and the junction of US 6, Route 15, and US 91). When the Long Beach Freeway was constructed the terminus was moved W two blocks to the freeway junction.
  2. US 91 then ran E along Pacific Coast Highway (US 101A) to Lakewood Blvd (Route 19) and the Los Alimitos Traffic Circle. This was part of LRN 60, defined in 1919.
  3. US 91 then ran N along Lakewood Blvd (cosigned with Route 19) to Carson St, which turned into Lincoln Avenue. This segment was part of LRN 168, defined in 1933.
  4. Until 1953, US 91 then ran E along Lincoln Avenue, cosigned with the 1934-defined Route 18 to Route 55 (LRN 43 / Santa Ana Canyon). US 91 would run cosigned with Route 18 (LRN 43) into San Bernardino; although by the 1964 renumbering, Route 18 had been trucated to start in San Bernardino). This segment was LRN 178, defined in 1933. Note: in the 1964 renumbering, former US 91/Route 18 W of US 101 was renumbered as Route 214, which wasn't signed and was eventually deleted.

    In response to the construction of the US 101 freeway, LRN 178 was truncated on its eastern end to Manchester Blvd in 1953, and then to US 101 in 1957. The intent was to route US 91 along the a-building Riverside Freeway (Route 14, LRN 175). Seemingly dependent on the year and the mood of the Dept. of Highways, US 91 would take an appropriate N/S to the closest end of the Riverside Freeway -- be that Manchester/Bypass US 101, Brookhurst St, or State College. This sometimes involved US 91 signage on city streets. But the goal was to get US 91 on US 101 for the jog between Route 14 and Route 18 on Lincoln Ave. The segment along US 101 was part of LRN 174, defined in 1933.

    After the 1953 truncation of LRN 178, W of the US 101/Orangethorpe Junction, US 91 then ran E along Orangethorpe, and later the Riverside Freeway, to Santa Ana Canyon, along Route 14 (present-day Route 91). This was part of LRN 175, defined in 1933. Present-day Route 91 follows pre-1964 Route 14 W from the junction with US 101 (now I-5). This is because the post-1964 Route 91 terminates in Hermosa Beach, not Long Beach like US 91 did.

    From Santa Ana Canyon, the route ran NE cosigned with Route 18 to Riverside. By 1962, the Route 18 signage was dropped and it was signed as just US 91. This was part of LRN 43, defined in 1931. Riverside is the present-day eastern terminus of Route 91.

  5. From Riverside to San Bernardino, the route ran cosigned with US 395 (and Route 18). This was also part of LRN 43, defined in 1917. The US 395 signage appears to have started around 1935. The start of the US 91 co-signage is undetermined.
  6. From San Bernardino, the route continue N to the vicinity of Hesperia cosigned with US 66 and US 395. This was part of LRN 31, defined in 1915.
  7. From the vicinity of Hesperia to Barstow, the route was cosigned with US 66. This was also part of LRN 31, defined in 1915. When the freeway routing was constructed between Victorville and Barstow after 1959, LRN 31 (and US 91/US 66) moved off the National Trails routing to the freeway routing.
  8. From Barstow to the Nevada state line, the route was cosigned with US 466. This was the remainder of LRN 31, defined in 1925.

    The 1927 State of Nevada Department of Highways Map shows US 91 entering California via NV 6 and using the Arrowhead Trail via Silver Lake. The January 1928 California Highways & Public Works notes the alignment of US 91 on LRN 31 in California.   US 91 is stated to have enter California via NV 6 through Jean towards Baker.  From Baker US 91 followed LRN 31 southward to Daggett.   This alignment would have taken US 91/LRN 31 through Baker via Baker Boulevard. The 1930 Division of Highways Map of California shows US 91 routed onto a partially completed and largely unimproved route of LRN 31 from Barstow via Baker.
    (Source: Gribblenation Blog (Tom Fearer), “Former US Route 91 and US Route 466 in Baker”, April 2021)

    Originally, this segment was routed through Daggett. By 1931, the route ran from N Barstow to Yermo, as evidence in a 1931 Conoco California-Nevada map by H M Gousha (which shows US 91 going from Yermo to north of Barstow on a road section constructed in 1930). In January 1930, California Highways and Public Works noted that the contractor “is making excellent progress with the grading on their contract between Barstow and Yermo. This contract includes the laying of oil-treated plant-mixed surfacing 20 feet wide.”
    (Source: Email from Frank Aros)

The Los Alimitos Traffic Circle was the point where Route 1/Former Route 3/US 101A/US 91 and Route 19/US 91 came together. The Los Alamitos Traffic Circle was located at the junction of State Street, Bennett Avenue and Hathaway Avenue.  1934 Route 3 followed the entirety of LRN 60, which by proxy took it through Los Alamitos Traffic Circle in Long Beach.  CA 3 was renumbered as US 101A in 1935; the 1964 renumbering changed it to the current Route 1. Also meeting in the traffic circle was Route 19/LRN 168, which in 1947 was cosigned with US 91. US 91 would also be extended along US 101A to meet US 6. The Los Alamitos Traffic Circle originally only had what is now the inner circle.  The inner circle transitioned the implied connection of Route 3/LRN 60 from Hathaway Avenue to State Street (both were renamed by 1944 to Pacific Coast Highway). LRN 168 joined the traffic circle via Bennett Avenue, which is now Lakewood Blvd.  In 1942, the traffic circle was expanded and widened, with the original plan being to have six highways enter it (however, only three were constructed). The expansion added an outer ring which had been built by the city of Long Beach and Los Angeles County.  The original inner Los Alamitos Traffic Circle was expanded to increase capacity on US 101A/LRN 60. In 1993, Caltrans reconfigured Los Alamitos Traffic Circle to modern roundabout conventions.  Route 19 was relinquished in the city of Long Beach via AB 2132 Chapter 877 in 1998.
(Source: Gribblenation Blog (Tom Fearer), "Los Alamitos Traffic Circle; current California State Route 1/former US Route 101 Alternate and US Route 91", 2/7/2022)

The portion of Route 19 between Telegraph and Firestone was part of Bypass US 101 in 1942.

In 1959, Legislative Chapter 1062 defined LRN 271 as a new state highway between Route 19/LRN 168 and Route 35/LRN 170 (Future I-605) in the vicinity of Pico Rivera.  LRN 271 first appears on the 1960 Division of Highways Map.  LRN 271 was an initial addition to the Freeways and Expressways System when it was created during 1959.  In 1964, Route 19 was given a new definition of "Route 1 near Long Beach to Route 164 near Pico Rivera."  Route 164 was given a definition of "Route 605 near Pico Rivera to Route 210 near Pasadena."  Route 164 incorporated the planned segment of what was LRN 271.  Route 164 on Rosemead Boulevard north of Pico Rivera was still signed as Route 19. 
(Source: Gribblenation Blog (Tom Fearer), “California State Route 19 and unsigned California State Route 164”, April 2022)

Status Status

In March 2012, the CTC authorized relinquishment of right of way in the city of Lakewood on Route 19 between the city limits of Long Beach and Bellflower, under terms and conditions as stated in the relinquishment agreement dated March 1, 2012, determined to be in the best interest of the State. Authorized by Chapter 499, Statutes of 2010, which amended Section 319 of the Streets and Highways Code.

In May 2017, the CTC actually relinquished right of way in the city of Bellflower on Route 19 from the south city limits near Rose Street to the north city limits at Gardendale Street (07-LA-19 PM 5.5/8.4), under terms and conditions as stated in the relinquishment agreement, determined to be in the best interest of the State. The City is expected to approve the relinquishment agreement at their April 24, 2017 council meeting. Authorized by Chapter 499, Statutes of 2010, which amended Section 319 of the Streets and Highways Code. This relinquishment included a financial contribution of $4,500,000.

In December 2019, the CTC authorized relinquishment of right of way in the city of Downey (City) on Route 19 (Lakewood Boulevard), under terms and conditions as stated in the relinquishment agreement dated September 10, 2019, determined to be in the best interest of the State. Authorized by Chapter 597, Statutes of 2001, which amended Section 319 of the Streets and Highways Code. In the January 2020 CTC Agenda, there an informational report on an allocation of $738,000 for relinquishment of 07-LA-19 7.8/8.4, which appears to be the right of way in the City of Downey.
(Source: December 2019 CTC Agenda, Agenda Item 2.3c, January 2020 CTC Agenda, Agenda Item 2.5f.(4) #2)

The SAFETEA-LU act, enacted in August 2005 as the reauthorization of TEA-21, provided the following expenditures on or near this route:

Note: Much work that seems to be on Route 19 is really either on a relinquished portion, or on Route 164.

Interstate Submissions Interstate Submissions

Submitted for inclusion in the interstate system in 1945; not accepted.

Other WWW Links Other WWW Links

Statistics Statistics

Overall statistics for Route 19:

Pre-1964 Legislative Route Pre-1964 Legislative Route

Before the 1964 signed/legislative route alignment, LRN 19 was defined to run:

  1. From LRN 9 W of Claremont to Riverside. This segment was defined as part of the original 1909 bond act. In 1931, it was extended to Beaumont. Originally, this route ran along Garey Ave from LRN 9 to the present Route 60/Route 71 junction. This was signed as Route 71 between US 66 (LRN 9) near Claremont and the cosigned US 60/US 70/US 99 (LRN 26; now I-10), and then continued as cosigned Route 71/US 60 to the present Route 60/Route 71 junction. It then continued along Garey Avenue as Sign Route 71. The portion along Garey Ave is no longer part of the state highway system; it was supplanted by the new routing for Route 60 and the new routing for Route 71.

    LRN 19 then ran E signed as US 60 (later near the alignment of Route 60) to Beaumont. The portion from Pomona to Riverside was added in 1909; in Riverside, the route was cosigned as US 60/US 91. The route was extended from Riverside to Beaumont in 1931. This extension was a former county highway commonly referred to as the Jackrabbit Trail. It was used as a bypass of LRN 26. It was also anticipated to be significant for truck traffic, and the deflection of truck traffic was felt to be significant.

  2. From Pomona to LRN 2 near Santa Ana. This segment was added in 1931 as running from Pomona to Fullerton via Brea Canyon. It represented the route between 5th and Garey in Pomona and Brea Canyon (eventually part of the Route 60 freeway). At this point, what was to become the Route 60 Freeway diverged as LRN 172. LRN 19 continued SW down Brea Canyon to Orangethorpe (Pre-1963 Route 14 (LRN 175)). This route was approximately that of the future Route 57 between the LRN 19/LRN 175 split and Tonner Canyon Road. This was originally a county highway running from Pomona to Fullerton by way of Brea Canyon that provided a cross-connection between the inland areas near Pomona and the coast territory in Orange County (similar to the Santa Ana Canyon route of LRN 43 and US 91). The Brea Canyon road joins LRN 19 (US 60) and LRN 2 (US 101) by a lateral at right angles to the course of those routes. It is geographically located about equidistant between the Santa Ana Canyon lateral and the thoroughfare to the coast. It and the Santa Ana Canyon road are the two laterals southeast of Los Angeles that must carry cross traffic inland from coast, a state function not supplied by the state system of 1930. The specific signage of this segment of the LRN 19 route before 1964 is unclear (post 1964, it was Route 57 and Route 60).

Acronyms and Explanations:


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