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The US Adopt a Highway program began in the 1980s to allow civic groups, businesses, and non-profits to clean up a stretch of highway. The program has spread across the US and internationally, but has faced controversy over the inclusion of unpopular groups. Despite this, the program continues to help beautify the country’s roads.
With over two decades of history, the US Adopt a Highway program is a means for local groups to take responsibility for cleaning up a stretch of highway located somewhere in the vicinity of the group’s business. The program began under the auspices of the Texas Department of Transportation in the early 1980s. The idea came about after staff associated with the department became aware of trash falling onto the roads from open pickup trucks. Soon, the idea of developing a citizen-led campaign that would allow civic groups, businesses and non-profit organizations to reclaim a section of state and country roads and engage in regular street cleaning.
Over time, the basic criteria for participation in the Adopt a Highway program have been resolved. Some of the qualifications included committing to a highway cleanup program at least quarterly, selection from state-sponsored highways, and volunteers going through a basic volunteer safety training program. Within a few years, the program had established itself in the United States, with most states following the model developed by Texas. In addition to helping to beautify the country’s roads, local groups were also recognized by placing signs along their stretch of adopted highway bearing the name of the organization that had taken responsibility for cleaning that stretch of highway.
While for the most part, the Adopt a Highway program has gone smoothly, there have been some contentious points. Because the program essentially allows any type of group to request and obtain a stretch of road for highway cleaning, there have been instances where unpopular groups have become a part of the program. Public outcry over the inclusion of supremacist or radical political groups led to a US Supreme Court decision making the exclusion of any properly organized group from the program a violation of First Amendment rights.
Today, the Adopt a Highway program is in full swing across the United States. Additionally, many locations outside the United States have established their own schedules, using the original model. As this movement to get private citizens involved in highway cleaning continues to grow, the hope is that driving along the highways will more often include vision free from fast food bags, old tires and soda cans.
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