Program Adopt A Highway People Businesses Volunteer Work State Maintenance

The Adopt-a-Highway Program is a "partnership" (cooperation between two or more people or groups) program between state governments and private businesses and organizations. "Essentially" (basically), it is a way for businesses to "sponsor" (pay for or provide) the maintenance of a section of the highway. As of 2009, the program is available in 13 states: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Washington State.

An individual, an organization, or a business can be a sponsor and provide maintenance, which includes removing "litter" (trash), planting trees and flowers, and removing unwanted "graffiti" (writing and drawings). The sponsors can volunteer to do this work themselves or hire a maintenance service to do it for them.

In California, for example, over 15,000 miles of roads have been maintained using this program. Each sponsor is given a two-mile "stretch" (distance) and commits to five years.

The state saves money, but what do the organizations and business get out of it? "In return" (in exchange) for maintenance, the company gets their name on a sign that is "erected" (put up) on the side of the highway to honor someone or to get "publicity" (attention). Since most highways are "well-traveled" (with many people passing on it) and the signs are easily seen from the road, businesses get attention, and hopefully, "goodwill" (friendly attitude) for their sponsorship. Although the companies get some benefit from participating in the form of advertising for their business, most people consider participation in the Adopt-a-Highway program to be "public-minded," an unselfish action that benefits the general public.