Take a look out of your car window at the side of the road when you’re traveling in Indiana County and you are liable to see plenty of unsightly trash.
While more than 88,000 people across Pennsylvania volunteer through the Adopt A Highway program, only eleven percent of Indiana County’s highways are currently “adopted”. That accounts for only 193 miles out of 797 miles of Indiana County roads.
John Serian, the Indiana County Manager, and Indiana County Adopt a Highway coordinator Stephanie Johnson would like to see that number increase. They point out the benefits of participation in the program, such as the environmental and economic impact, and the educational value for children. Kids must be eight years old to participate in Adopt a Highway, and there must be one adult for every eight children.
To adopt a highway, residents or businesses must agree to adopt an available two-mile section of highway, of their choice, for two years. Also, those who adopt must agree to pick up litter at least two times a year – once from March to April and once in September to October. Each highway adopter will receive safety vests, trash bags, work gloves, and “Litter Crews Ahead” signs. PennDOT will also provide safety training if requested, and will take care of trash removal.
For information, contact Indiana County coordinator Stephanie Johnson by phone at 724-357-2854 or by email at stephajohn@pa.gov. or you may enroll in the program at
https://www.penndot.gov/about-us/RoadsideBeautification/Pages/Adopt-A-Highway.aspx.
