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Adopt-A-Highway
The Missouri Adopt-A-Highway Program Turns 20!
The program, which involves volunteers picking up trash along state highways, is now offering groups the option of adopting roadsides solely to plant Missouri wildflowers. While some groups have been planting flowers, trees and shrubs all along as part of their beautification efforts, this new option will encourage the growth of wildflowers native to Missouri, such as coreopsis and purple coneflowers. MoDOT is joining with Grow Native!, a program sponsored by the departments of Conservation and Agriculture, on the effort.
"The goal of the Adopt-A-Highway program is to keep our roadsides clean and attractive and what better way to do that than to plant native wildflowers along the way," said MoDOT Director Pete Rahn. "This option takes the program one step further and hopefully will spur new adopters to join the cause."
Over the program's 20-year history, more than 100,000 volunteers have picked up thousands of bags of litter, mowed hundreds of roadside miles and planted countless flowers, shrubs and trees. Currently, there are 3,772 groups in the program that have adopted 5,281 highway miles.
"If MoDOT had to do the work of these volunteers, it would cost about $1 million a year and keep our maintenance staff from doing other needed work," Rahn said. "That's money and resources we can put toward road improvements instead."
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The purpose of the Adopt-A-Highway
program is to provide community support for litter prevention and
highway beautification efforts.
The Missouri Department of Transportation is responsible for
maintaining about 385,000 acres of right of way. Much of this
consists of the roadsides along the highway. Because of this
large task, MoDOT started the Adopt-A-Highway program in the
fall of 1987. The program allows the public to become personally
involved in improving our environment and helping to keep
Missouri's roadsides beautiful. |
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The program is not intended as a means of providing a public
forum for the participants to use in promoting name recognition
or political causes. Missouri highway right-of-way is not
a public forum.
Sometimes the department doesn't have the resources to maintain
roadsides that enhance or blend in with its neighbors' property.
The AAH program joins MoDOT and its neighbors to work together
in maintaining attractive roadsides.
MoDOT's neighbors include farmers, businesses, industries,
tourist attractions, citizens, state agencies, local governments,
civic and service organizations and clubs. All share an interest
in and a common, sincere concern for our state.
More about Adopt-A-Highway's 20th Anniversary
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First Lady Melanie Blunt and Missouri Department of Transportation Chief Engineer Kevin Keith helped celebrate the 20th anniversary of Adopt-A-Highway at a press conference Oct. 19 on the Capitol lawn. Two of the four charter adopters still in the program attended and were recognized for 20 years of service and a new wildflower adoption option for the program was announced. A great visual to commemorate the event was a 13-foot tall wildflower made of recycled Adopt-A-Highway and No MOre Trash! signs. |
Photos of the Celebration
A 13-foot tall wildflower made of recycled Adopt-A-Highway and No MOre Trash! signs.
Two members of the Viva Cuba Beautification Committee accept an award from First Lady Melanie Blunt. Also, Pat Hawver from the City of North Kansas City accepts an award from First Lady Melanie Blunt and MoDOT Chief Engineer Kevin Keith.
Jill Barnett of the Viva Cuba Beautification Committee blows out the candles on the AAH 20th anniversary cake.
Landmark Adopters
History of MO Adopt-A-Highway
Interesting Facts from 1987
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Adopt today
for a clean tomorrow.
For more information, check out the topics below: |
| - General Information |
| - AAH
Brochure (5.3 mb, 2 pages) |
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AAH Safety Tips (7 mb, 2 pages) |
| - Types
of Adoption and Recognition |
| - A
Few Facts about the Program |
| - Common
Questions |
| - Summary
of Rules and Regulations |
| -
Activity Report |
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No MOre Trash |
| - Roadside Review |
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For specific information,
click here to contact your local
office. Or call our toll free number at 888-ASK MODOT (275-6636)
and ask for the Adopt-A-Highway coordinator. For general questions
please email us at aah@modot.mo.gov.
The documents are provided in Acrobat Reader format. Free Acrobat Reader download  |
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