The Correct Way to Rename a Road

Routes and Road Names

Google doesn't explain how road names, routes, and segments are related in Map Maker, so even experienced mappers often don't understand the implications of changing road names. Let me explain a few basic concepts and then we'll get into the proper way to change a road name.

Segments: these are the pieces of road or trail between intersections. Each segment can have it's own unique attributes and can be associated with one or more routes. A segment is always associated with at least one route, but that route may be "Unnamed." Here is an example of a segment associated with two routes ("Georgia 403" and "Interstate 85"). Notice the two "Edit entire <route name>" options.

Routes: (also sometimes called Roads in Map Maker) these are used by Map Maker to tie multiple segments together and can optionally carry one or more names. Some routes are unnamed, and aren't obvious to the casual mapper, but they're still there on every segment. Here is an example of a route with multiple names:

So changing a name can actually be quite confusing. You can change the name by editing the name of the route, by adding an existing route to a segment, removing a route from a segment, or by creating a new route and adding that route to the segment. It's easy to have unintended consequences of making a change without understanding how the routes and road names work together.

Changing a Road Name: the Wrong Way

Let's stay away from major highways and complicated routes for now and focus on a simple road name change. For example, the local government wants to change the name of a road and the old road name needs to be removed and a new name added. We can discuss whether to keep the old name as an "obscure" name at some other time, but for now let's just assume we want the old name to go away completely.

If you use the Select a Line tool in the Edit menu and click on a segment, you will see an option to "Edit entire <road name>". If the route is unnamed, it will just say "Road" instead of <road name>.

If we click on "Edit entire <road name>" we get a dialog like this and can change the name fairly easily:

Here's an example of the edit history for a different road where the route name was changed. Notice the changes show up as "Name: deleted / added".

So what's wrong with changing the name here? Map Maker never really forgets the route's original name. I don't know why, but it will remain there forever as you can see here when looking back a road that was changed from "Raintree Drive" to "Bailey Drive." The original name still shows up in the address portion of the segment.

This method also doesn't allow us to change only part of an existing route.

So why does this option exist? If a route has multiple names you can use this option to add, edit, or delete those additional names. See the information on Routes in the intro above.

The Correct Way to Change a Road Name

Your friend here is the Select Road Segments tool (under the Edit menu). This tool allows you to add or remove a route from a group of segments. To fix the above road we'll highlight both segments at once like you see below, click Next, and then click Edit road names:

We're going to fix this road by removing the existing route (which shows the name "Bailey Drive", but has the hidden name of "Raintree Drive"). If you see a route labelled "Unnamed" you should also remove that route. Also, if there are multiple routes that need removed, you might have to perform multiple edits: Map Maker will only remove one route at a time if the routes are on different segments.

Note: click the selector for "Type" next to the name and select "Local" (name is in the local language), "Primary" (for only one name if adding multiple names), and "Official" (assuming this is an official, as opposed to a commonly used name).

When we're done, the road will look the same initially, but will show the correct address. A history of this edit will look like this (note the "Removed route" and "Created new route"):

When viewed from Map Maker we see the address is now correct:

Extending a Route

If a route already exists on the map, or the route you want to rename branches into multiple paths (divided highway or loop) use Map Maker's Extend option in the Edit road names tool.

Important: When using the Edit road names tools, every time you enter a name in the space under Add a new name you are creating a new route. We don't want to create multiple routes with the same name so if the route already exists or we need to name/rename a road that branches, instead of creating a new route, we extend the existing route. That is, we can add more segments to an existing route.

Important: if you are a new editor or editing a high priority road, and your first edit to create a new route doesn't go live immediately (i.e. needs to be reviewed) you will need to stop at this point and wait for approval on your edit. You cannot continue and still perform the edit properly because you need the new route to be "live" before you can continue. Adding meaningful comments to your edit will greatly increase the odds that it will get approved!

Here's the trick to extending a route: select segments of the existing route along with the segments that need changed. In the image below we've selected part of a newly named South Oneida Street along with segments from Oneida Street which need changed to South Oneida Street:

Click Next and choose the option to extend the new name and remove the old name like this:

Click Save. Rinse and repeat until you've extended the new route to all of the segments needed. If the road branches go down one branch first and then come back and do the other branch the same way...always selecting a segment that already has the route and more segments that need changed.

You will never type in the road name twice!

Reviewers will know you got the edit right because they won't see "Created new route". They'll see "Added route" instead:

Notes:

• Do not use this technique to remove valid routes! Sometimes a route contains multiple names and you might be removing a name without even realizing it.
• This renaming technique will often fix missing road names on the map.
• If adding more than one name to a route, the Primary road name attribute determines which name will appear when editing the road.
• When multiple routes follow the same path, all non-obscure, primary names will appear on that road (if they fit).
• In some cases, different parts of a road may not be connected making it difficult to extend the name. The usual trick is to temporarily extend the route over a connector segment and once the route is carried across, remove the route from that connector segment. Make sure to explain this in any edit which needs reviewed or you will get denied!