Why the heck does I-99 have such a weird number?
This has been one of the most contentious questions or topics in the newsgroup. Unlike other interstate highways, which have their numbers assigned by AASHTO, I-99’s number was assigned in a piece of appropriations legislation sponsored by former Rep. Bud Shuster (R-Pa.), through whose district the highway ran. Many of the regulars on m.t.r take issue with this highway designation because: 1) Its number was written into law, as described above; 2) Its number is out of place–a highway designated as I-99 should run right along the Atlantic coast; and 3) From its length (under 70 miles), location (in an area where all the available 2di designations are already being used), route (basically, a spur from I-76 to the Altoona/State College area, at least until it connects to I-80), and the fact that it doesn’t come close to any interstate other than I-76, an odd 3di designation (such as I-576) would be more appropriate. As a side note, for now I-99 also has the distinction of being the only
