Tag Archives: Adopt a Highway

Adopt a Highway volunteers put up big numbers in 2017

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PHOENIX ­­­– Almost 1,500 miles of landscape cleaned along state highways. Fourteen-thousand bags of trash collected. Half a million taxpayer dollars saved.

That’s what nearly 11,000 volunteers wearing lime-yellow vests accomplished in 2017 through the Arizona Department of Transportation’s Adopt a Highway program.

With many other highway stretches available for adoption, even more can be accomplished in 2018.

“As a frontier state, Arizona has a long history of self-sacrifice and volunteerism, and these impressive numbers illustrate those values,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “Highways provide a first impression of Arizona for many visitors, so we all owe a debt of gratitude to those who are investing time and effort through Adopt a Highway.”

Regardless of how many people volunteer for Adopt a Highway, Halikowski said, everyone has a responsibility for keeping Arizona litter-free.

“We have to continue changing the culture until everyone instinctively knows that littering is absolutely unacceptable,” he said.

Volunteer groups can apply for two-year permits to adopt highway stretches using an application available at azdot.gov/AdoptAHighway. Highways are available in ADOT engineering and maintenance districts around Arizona, and each district has someone available to help groups make selections.

Those accepted for the program get their own instantly recognizable blue sign featuring the name of the organization or group. Groups are expected to clean their stretches of highway at least three times a year.

Volunteers must be at least 12 years old, and cleanup crews should consist of six to 10 people. Groups schedule their cleanups ahead of time with their local ADOT districts, which provides trash bags, scheduled collections and safety training.

Adopt a Highway also has a sponsorship program through which businesses use ADOT-approved providers to clean up along busier highway stretches that tend to attract more litter. Participants in the sponsorship program can have their names and approved logos on blue Adopt a Highway signs.

Mary Currie, who oversees Adopt a Highway volunteer programs, said volunteers include those drawn to service, including retirees, civic organizations and faith groups, as well as families who adopt in memory of a loved one who has passed away. Volunteers tend to have two characteristics: a lot of drive and a love of the outdoors.

“It’s not easy working under the Arizona sun,” Currie said. “But it’s a great way to get exercise and have fun with friends, family or colleagues while providing an invaluable service to Arizona.”

More information on Adopt a Highway opportunities is available at azdot.gov/AdoptAHighway.

Adopt a Highway volunteers create a more attractive Arizona for all

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Adopt-Highway-16-03-28PHOENIX — With National Volunteer Week underway, how about helping save Arizona taxpayers millions of dollars a year and keeping our highways free of litter?

The 11,000 volunteers with the Arizona Department of Transportation’s Adopt a Highway program removed 67 tons of roadside litter last year. And there’s always room for more to join in.

“Thanks to all of the dedicated individuals who participate in Adopt a Highway volunteer programs throughout Arizona and perform such a valuable service for everyone in this state,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “Beyond the obvious benefits, keeping roadsides attractive creates a positive impression when visitors travel our highways.”

Becoming an ADOT Adopt a Highway volunteer starts with visiting azdot.gov/adoptahighway and completing an application.
Requirements include:

• Adopting a minimum of two miles of highway.
• Cleaning that segment of highway no less than twice a year for two years.
• Watching ADOT’s safety video before the first cleanup.
• Always wearing safety vests required by the Federal Highway Administration.
• Contacting ADOT before conducting cleanups.

ADOT recommends developing and maintaining a group of six to 10 people per two-mile highway segment. Once a group is approved, the permit holder schedules the date and time of each cleanup with an ADOT contact who will provide trash bags.

To honor her mother, Cecilia Cornejo and members of her family have tended to a stretch of State Route 80 in southern Arizona for the past 10 years. She calls Adopt a Highway a way to make a difference.

“This is an opportunity to keep an area close to where we grew up beautiful,” Cornejo said.

There’s also an Adopt a Highway sponsor program through which businesses may contract with maintenance providers to clean up roadside litter. Information is available at azdot.gov/adoptahighway.