How to Adopt a Highway in California

Adopting a highway in California is a great way for individuals, groups, or businesses to contribute to the community and help keep the state's highways clean and beautiful. Here are the steps to follow to adopt a highway in California:

1. Choose the highway: First, you need to identify the highway you want to adopt. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has a list of available highways for adoption on their website.

2. Contact Caltrans: Once you have identified the highway you want to adopt, contact the Adopt-A-Highway program coordinator at Caltrans. You can find the contact information on the Caltrans website.

3. Sign an agreement: You will need to sign an agreement with Caltrans that outlines your responsibilities as an adopter, such as how often you will clean the highway, what kind of litter and debris you will be responsible for, and how you will ensure your safety while cleaning the highway.

4. Attend a safety training: Before you start cleaning your adopted highway, you will need to attend a safety training provided by Caltrans. This training will teach you about the safety measures you need to take while working on the highway.

5. Clean up the highway: Once you have completed the safety training, you can start cleaning your adopted highway. You will need to provide your own equipment and supplies, such as gloves, bags, and safety vests.

6. Report your progress: After each cleanup, you will need to report your progress to Caltrans. This can be done through their online reporting system, which will ask for information such as the date of the cleanup, the number of bags of litter collected, and any issues you encountered.

By following these steps, you can adopt a highway in California and make a positive contribution to the community while enjoying the satisfaction of keeping the state's highways clean and beautiful.