Since early this spring, volunteers from PennDOT's Adopt-A-Highway Program and other programs such as the Great PA Cleanup, have removed litter from 15,978 miles of Pennsylvania roadways -- 6,000 miles more than for the same period last year, according to PennDOT Secretary Allen D. Biehler, P.E.

"I'm pleased that we have so many groups and individuals dedicated to removing litter in Pennsylvania," Secretary Biehler said. "My thanks to all those civic-minded individuals who volunteer their time and efforts to keep our roadsides clean."

In addition to its own Adopt-A-Highway Program, PennDOT supports other cleanup efforts, such as the Great PA Cleanup, the first-ever Route 6 Round-up, and the Philly Spring Cleanup, which Keep America Beautiful confirmed as the largest single-day, citywide clean-up on record in the United States.

The department provided gloves and vests for the April 5 Philly Spring Cleanup, where 3,600 volunteers cleaned more than 6,000 miles in the Philadelphia region.

PennDOT also supported the Route 6 Round-up, May 2 - 3, where nearly 250 volunteers cleaned a combined 103 miles along the highway, picking up nearly 400 bags of litter.

So far this year, more than 92,000 volunteers in nearly 4,000 groups from PennDOT's Adopt-A-Highway and other PennDOT sponsored events have collected more than 200,000 bags of trash.

Groups interested in adopting a section of highway are encouraged to contact their local PennDOT county maintenance office and ask for the Adopt-A-Highway coordinator, or visit the Adopt-A-Highway Program webpage.

Link: Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Alliance

7/11/2008