Assembly Concurrent Resolution
No. 88
CHAPTER 140
Relative to the Charles I. Walter Memorial Highway.
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Filed with
Secretary of State
September 07, 2017.
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LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
ACR 88, Cunningham.
Charles I. Walter Memorial Highway.
This measure would designate a specified portion of State Route 1 in the County of San Luis Obispo as the Charles I. Walter Memorial Highway. The measure would also request the Department of Transportation to determine the cost of appropriate signs showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources covering the cost, to erect those signs.
Digest Key
Fiscal Committee:
YES WHEREAS, Charles I. Walter was born and raised on his parents’ large dairy ranch, which was located near the former United States Army Camp San Luis Obispo and where parts of the California Polytechnic State University now exist; and
WHEREAS, Charles I. Walter’s father immigrated from Switzerland and purchased the first 5,000 acres of his property in the County of San Luis Obispo to run a dairy ranch in the late 1880s, and later purchased an additional 3,000 acres adjacent to the ranch; and
WHEREAS, In 1923, Charles “Carlos” Walter passed away, leaving his wife, Mary, and his five children to take care of each other and the ranch, and in 1941, during World War II, the United States Government took over the ranch by eminent domain; and
WHEREAS, It was at this time that two of Charles Walter’s children, Charles I. Walter and his brother, Elmer Walter, started the Walter Brothers Construction Company, which specialized in the operation of heavy equipment and road construction; and
WHEREAS, After World War II, most of the ranch that was not still used by the United States Army was given to Cuesta College and the California Polytechnic State University, and a portion of the property is still called the Walter Ranch; and
WHEREAS, From that time, until his death in 1978, Charles I. Walter played a significant role in the construction of over 200 miles of freeway and expressway in the State of California, and most particularly, portions of State Route 1 in the County of San Luis Obispo; and
WHEREAS, Charles I. Walter was very involved in helping the San Luis Obispo County Historical Society, the Special Olympics, and other endeavors and was very generous with his time and resources throughout the county when needed; and
WHEREAS, As a county native and design professional, Charles I. Walter was involved for over 45 years with the physical environment of the County of San Luis Obispo, as well as with its documentation and the celebration of the county’s history, and thus it is appropriate that a five-mile portion of State Route 1, which runs through the old Walter family ranch, be dedicated in his name; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby designates the portion of State Route 1 from Kansas Avenue (post mile 20.890) to Canet Road (post mile 25.580) in the County of San Luis Obispo as the Charles I. Walter Memorial Highway; and be it further
Resolved, That the Department of Transportation is requested to determine the cost of appropriate signs consistent with the signing requirements for the state highway system showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources sufficient to cover that cost, to erect those signs; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the Director of Transportation and to the author for appropriate distribution.