California/Major roads/Main

Functional Classifications

California is following the Functional Classification (FC) system for the USA.

To help update the current California roadways to the new functional classifications, go to the California FC update page.

Here is a bookmarklet which will locate the correct CRS Grid page for the area you are editing in. This is currently unavailable due to Caltrans web site updates. California Highway System is the unofficial reference for California Functional Classification]. CRS (PDF with signatures) is the currently recognized source. CRS grid information can be found here for cross reference and request via e-mail. Please contact the State Managers so requests to Caltrans can be consolidated.

Lock Levels

We observe the following minimum lock levels for Waze road types:

CALIFORNIA STANDARDS

ROAD TYPE	LOCK LEVEL
Freeway	5
Ramp	HCS
Major Highway	3
Minor Highway	2
Primary Street	2
All Others	1

Additional:

Note that these are minimums and, for protection, certain segments may be at higher lock levels.

U-turns

This is interim guidance for California, until such time as National standards are agreed upon.

U-turns on *two-way* Primary Street through Major Highway type roads may be enabled in either of the following two circumstances:

• 1) The U-turn is _explicitly_ allowed by signage; or
• 2) The U-turn is otherwise legal and safe, and there is _at least_ 10.1 m (33 feet) from the left edge of the departure lane to the "destination" curb. This can include any median that may exist to the left of the departure lane. (The measurement is intended to accommodate the turning radius of most passenger vehicles.)

Do NOT make a point of enabling all U-turns valid under this guidance, only as you encounter them and they are necessary. Do not enable U-turns on Street type roads. This guidance could change in the future.

Unsigned exit numbers

In California, highway forks and ramps sometimes lack exit number signage. Unsigned information generally does not belong in Waze instructions, but Caltrans has committed to marking exit numbers throughout California over time.

In simple situations where there is little chance of driver confusion, editors may add documented but unsigned exit numbers in expectation of their eventually appearing on signage. In complex situations, however — for example, when a highway comes to an end, changes designation, or joins a shared alignment — adding unsigned exit numbers to Waze instructions could confuse drivers. In such cases it is better to omit exit numbers until they become signed.

Under earlier guidance, editors may have added unsigned exit numbers even in complex, potentially confusing situations. These should not be removed without careful review, preferably based on personal experience and/or driver reports. There is to be no campaign to remove unsigned exit numbers from the Waze map of California.