Adopt-a-Highway
The Adopt-a-Highway program is a roadside clean-up program that promotes pride and local ownership in Washington's highways. Sponsors can also have their logo posted at their sponsorship area.
May 2022 update: As of May 20, Adopt-a-Highway volunteer groups are no longer subject to the vaccine mandate as part of Governor Inslee’s Amended Proclamation 21-14. Declarations no longer need to be submitted by participating groups and any former group is welcome to rejoin the program if they choose. Please speak with your local coordinator for details.
Join the Adopt-a-Highway program
About the Adopt-a-Highway program
The Adopt-a-Highway (AAH) program is an anti-litter and highway enhancement campaign intended to promote pride and ownership in keeping our state beautiful. This program allows individuals and groups to "adopt" a section of state highway by agreeing to take care of it for a two-year period. Volunteer groups may be clubs, employees of a business, or concerned citizens. All participants must be at least 15 years of age and in good health. In the expanded program, a private sponsor may hire a professional contractor to clean or enhance a section of highway in return for a sign with the business name and/or logo.
Volunteers or sponsored contractors perform roadside litter removal in an effort to:
- Keep the state clean
- Help save taxpayer money
- Remind people not to litter
Typically, an assigned section includes between two and four miles of roadside. We will install signs, giving recognition to the individual or group that has adopted that section of highway.
We also provide traffic control equipment, safety equipment, safety training, litterbags and disposal of filled bags for volunteer groups.
Adopt-a-Highway history
Washington's Adopt-a-Highway program started in 1990. In addition to this, many counties and cities have started their own Adopt-a-Road or Adopt-a-Street programs. Trails and beaches have also been included in other adoption programs. Please contact your county or city office for more information about those programs.
The first Adopt-a-Highway program began in Texas in 1985. Concerned citizens wanted to help clean up the littered highways. Since then, thousands of groups have volunteered their time and effort picking up litter on highways all over the country. Forty-nine of the 50 states in the U.S. have a program like Adopt-a-Highway.
8,683 animals crossed the Snoqualmie Pass East Project area
as recorded by WSDOT and partners in 2020 and 2021.
46% increase in Amtrak Cascades ridership to 251,000 passengers
in 2021 compared to 172,000 in 2020.
Nine wetland and stream mitigation sites across 32.7 acres added
to our monitoring program in 2021 to help offset climate change impacts.