ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY

Take an active role to keep your state clean - participate in the Adopt-A-Highway program. The Kansas Department of Transportation started the Adopt-A-Highway program in December 1989, with the first pick ups starting in April 1990. Participation in the program ranges from church and civic organizations, clubs, families, youth groups, employees from businesses, and much more.

Stipends now available to organizations participating in clean-up program

Organizations have been helping keep Kansas clean for more than 30 years through participation in the Adopt-A-Highway program. With increased amounts of trash along the highways and limited staff, the Kansas Department of Transportation has created an incentive stipend for groups that actively participate in the program. The stipend is $190 per highway section, which is generally two miles long. Adopt-A-Highway groups receiving $600 or more in payments in a calendar year will be issued a 1099 tax form. Groups will be able to submit a request for payment after their group completes a highway cleanup. The group will submit forms identifying the location, date, number of volunteers and number of bags as well as before and after photos of the site. All groups go through the standard process to adopt a section of highway. New groups will sign an agreement, receive safety training information and follow procedures when scheduling a cleanup. Existing groups will continue to follow existing procedures. State employees and their families are welcome to participate in a group, but are not eligible to receive stipends.

Litter pollutes the land and waterways in Kansas and can be harmful to people and animals. Adopting a highway helps the environment, saves tax dollars, and gives adopting groups a chance to perform a valuable civic service to their community and the State of Kansas. It is up to us to be responsible and keep our state looking great.

Civic-minded groups or businesses with an interest in keeping our highways litter-free, including families, youth organizations, civic groups, non-profit organizations, churches, schools, social organizations, neighborhood groups, service organizations, retiree organizations, and city, county or state agencies. Eligible groups must comply with state laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, religion, color, age, gender or national origin.

Any group whose name promotes or opposes an elected official or candidate for public office is not eligible to participate in the Adopt-A-Highway program. In addition, adoptions are not allowed for political candidates and/or their election campaign organizations, elected officials, or entities that may constitute partisan endorsements.

Group members must be at least 11 years old and have adequate adult supervision.

Groups agree to remove litter at least three times a year for a two-year period at their convenience. There's no cost to a group that joins the program - all we request is your time and efforts. KDOT recommends participating groups have a minimum of five members to be able to effectively remove litter on the assigned highway section. KDOT provides the safety vests, instructional safety materials, and trash bags.

• Adopt-A-Highway Brochure
• Adopt-A-Highway Safety Video

KDOT provides and places a sign marking each group’s assigned section of highway. The name on the sign is limited to the Group’s name or acronym of up to 30 spaces. See the Adopt-A-Highway Application and Agreement for additional restrictions on the name placed on the sign and when KDOT will replace or can remove a sign.

There are urban and rural sections of highway available to adopt throughout the state. Please contact the KDOT office listed below which is closest to you.

Please fill out the application form and send it to the nearest KDOT office. KDOT will work with the applying group to select a section of highway to be adopted. KDOT may not allow some highway sections to be adopted for safety or other considerations. Groups may be put on a waiting list if they are interested in a particular area that is already adopted.

Most sections are two miles in length. Some groups request three-mile sections in rural areas and some groups may adopt a one-mile stretch in urban areas. We work with each group to try and fit their needs. We encourage groups to plan an extra-curricular activity on their clean-up day. Many groups plan a picnic after they clean along the highway in order to combine work and fun.

The program is not intended as an advertising medium or a means of providing a public forum for groups, individuals or businesses to use in promoting name recognition, a particular cause, or a political candidate or position. Participants may not display messages, carry banners, or advertise their business or group affiliation or cause. The safety of those collecting litter and the travelling public are of paramount concern. For that reason, while collecting litter on right-of-way, the method, manner and appearance of the participants should be conducted in a way that does not distract, disrupt, or adversely affect traffic or the safety of the travelling public.

Additional restrictions, terms and conditions can be found in the Adopt-a-Highway Application and Agreement Form.

• Adopt-A-Highway Application and Agreement
• Adopt-A-Highway Release and Consent
• Adopt-A-Highway Renewal Form
• Adopt-A-Highway Stipend Request
• Adopt A Highway Stipend Program
• Adopt-A-Highway Application Addendum Stipend Program