The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania established the Location Referencing System (LRS) in 1987, which registers all numbered routes in Pennsylvania as SR-X. A state route would be SR 39, a US Route would be SR 22, and an Interstate route would be SR 80. However, routes which are numbered between 0000 and 0999 are classified as Traffic Routes, which are abbreviated as PA 39, US 22, and I-80, instead.[1]
There are also four-digit numbers for various "state roads" over which PennDOT has jurisdiction, but those numbers are not displayed on the roads, except in rural areas, where they are posted with index-card-sized small signs. In urban areas, these numbers are somewhat less prominently posted, and these streets are known by the names on the street signs.
History
In 1911, when the Sproul Road Bill was passed, a large number of Legislative Routes (LR) were assigned. These were the primary internal numbering until the present Location Referencing System was adopted in 1987. See also List of legislative routes in Pennsylvania.
Signed Traffic Route numbers from 1 to 12 were first assigned in 1924[2] to several of the national auto trails:[3]
Soon more numbers were assigned, including three-digit numbers for branches, like Pennsylvania Route 272 from Pennsylvania Route 72. The United States Numbered Highways were assigned in late 1926, and in 1928 State Routes concurrent with U.S. Routes were removed, while those that conflicted with U.S. Routes were assigned new numbers. In 1946, a mass decommissioning of highways around the state occurred, and many state routes were decommissioned, truncated, or rerouted. The establishment of the Interstate Highway System in 1959, as well as wanting to eliminate some concurrences in Pittsburgh, resulted in a small renumbering in 1961.[4]
Evolution of Pennsylvania state route marker
1926
1948
1960
1962
1966
Since Pennsylvania first introduced numbered traffic routes in 1924, a keystone symbol shape has been used, in reference to Pennsylvania being the "Keystone State". The signs originally said "Penna" (a common abbreviation for Pennsylvania at the time), followed by the route number in block-style numbering in a keystone cutout. In the mid 1950s, the signs were modified to have "PA" instead of "Penna", with the lone exception being the mainline Pennsylvania Turnpike (which continues to use "Penna" today for both the mainline, the Northeast Extension, and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission logo); additionally, the numbers were made more round and the signs were made larger in order to be more legible while driving, and the keystone shape itself remained a cutout. By the late 1960s, as U.S. Routes were beginning to be made on rectangular cutouts with the U.S.-style shield painted onto them instead of the shield cutout in most states outside of California, the same was done with the keystone. The state initials were removed altogether and while the numbers remained rounded, were standardized into FHWA Series E typeface, which was becoming the standard for the Interstate Highway System. Most of the 1950s vintage signs were replaced with the newer rectangular cutout with the painted-on keystone by the early 1970s, though a very few remain in scattered places on non-decommissioned roads. Pennsylvania has used the painted-on keystone signs since.
Section south of Harrisburg decommissioned in 1930 and replaced by US 15;[16] south end truncated to US 22 in 1955; section south of Trout Run split off and renumbered PA 147 in 1963 to eliminate a long overlap with US 15.[11]
Sections connected until 1966, when the middle section was replaced by US 309 (overlap removed), the new PA 873, an extended PA 93, and an extended PA 239;[22] section south of US 30 decommissioned in 1930 and replaced by US 122 (now US 202).
Became part of an extended PA 34; section from Mecks Corner to Milford decommissioned in 1930 and replaced by PA 5 (now PA 274) and US 209 (part now PA 147; section south of Shippensburg decommissioned in 1930 and replaced by US 11.
Section from Gap to Lampeter decommissioned in 1932 and replaced by PA 741; section from Lampeter to Carlisle decommissioned in 1930 and replaced by US 222, US 230 (now PA 230), and US 11.
Section from Centralia to Reading decommissioned in 1930 as it overlapped US 120, splitting the route into two sections; section from Reading to Oxford became part of US 122 (PA 10) in 1935;[27] southern section from Oxford to Chrome decommissioned in 1946.
In 1936, extended south from Jersey Shore to Turbotville; in 1941, extended southeast to Mahanoy City.[16] Truncated to its current southern terminus in 1964; former southern segment by PA 42 (overlap removed), US 11 (overlap removed), and an extended PA 339.
Section from Water Street to Belsano decommissioned 1961; this section now US 22 and PA 271; section east of Mooresburg decommissioned in 1966 and replaced by PA 642 (overlap removed), an extended PA 54, US 209 (overlap removed), and new PA 248.[22]
Replaced by US 106; now PA 106; segment from Meadville to Pittsfield Township section replaced by PA 27 in 1928; segment from Emporium to Smethport replaced by PA 46 in 1928.
Section from Snow Shoe Township to Potters Mills became part of an extended PA 144 in 1967; section south of Summerhill decommissioned in 1970 and is now PA 403, PA 281, and PA 523; section from Potters Mills to Reedsville became part of US 322 in 1932.
In 1936, section from Jersey Shore to Turbotville became part of an extended PA 44 and route was relocated to current west end; east end truncated from Ashland to Danville in the 1960s; overlap with PA 45 from Danville to Mt. Carmel removed; extended east from Danville to Nesquehoning in 1966, replacing part of PA 45[22]
Section from Shippenville to Tionesta became part of PA 208 in 1968 and route was rerouted north to Kane; section north of Tionesta decommissioned in 1932 and replaced by US 62; section south of New Stanton decommissioned in 1930 and replaced by US 119
Section north of Pittsburgh replaced by US 19 in 1930; extended north to Rochester in 1935,[27] and to New Castle in 1937;[41] segment north of Pittsburgh was renumbered PA 65 in 1960.[4]
In 1946, segment from Tunkhannock to Forty Fort was replaced by US 309 (now PA 29 and PA 309); route was extended south to West Pittston on a former segment of US 309.
Rerouted south from Blakeslee in 1935; the old route east to Swiftwater became part of PA 940;[27] western portion of original route split off as PA 118 in 1961; section from Brodheadsville to Easton decommissioned in 1972.
South terminus was originally in Airville; sections became part of PA 324 in 1936; extended to Fawn Grove in 1937;[24] Segment in Lancaster County decommissioned in 1941;[16] the former southern segment was renumbered PA 425 in 1966.
Segment from Bigler to PA 53 decommissioned in 1968 and overlap with US 322 from Bigler to Clearfield removed; extended south to PA 879 in 1970, to Houtsdale in 1971, and to Gulich Township in 1995.
Originally went from Milton to Jerseytown; section from Mausdale to Jerseytown became part of PA 115; a second section was added along the former routing of PA 115; in 1946, the southern section from Milton to Mausdale became part of PA 115.
Extended east from New Wilmington to Volant in 1937, and segment from Pulaski to West Middlesex became part of PA 551 in 1937.[41] Most of the route was added to PA 208.[41]
Extended southwest from PA 233 in 1937;[24] section from Roxbury to US 30 cancelled in 1947; section from Lower Mifflin Township to Roxbury became part of an extended PA 997 in 1964.
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