Date:  Friday, March 20, 2009

Contact: Steve Canter, WSDOT Maintenance, (360) 905-2021 (Vancouver)
Abbi Russell, WSDOT Communications, (360) 905-2058 (Vancouver)

VANCOUVER – Warm weather is fast-approaching, and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is asking for citizens’ help to do a little spring cleaning along the highways.

E-mails and letters to the editor from attentive citizens have been popping up like daffodils, and WSDOT is aware of the concern.

“We’ve seen an increase in litter recently, and we understand that drivers are concerned,” said Don Wagner, WSDOT Southwest Regional Administrator. “We don’t like litter, so we attempt to get at it after taking care of safety issues like repairing bridges and patching potholes. To effectively combat litter, we need citizens’ help.”

WSDOT currently partners with the Department of Ecology and Department of Corrections on programs that put youth and work-release participants to work cleaning up state highways. WSDOT’s Southwest Region is also working with the City of Vancouver and Clark County to develop a joint plan for litter.

“We all share the responsibility for litter,” said Vancouver Mayor Royce Pollard. “The City looks forward to working with WSDOT to develop opportunities for taking control of litter in our communities.”

The state’s Adopt-a-Highway program offers one opportunity for citizens to help keep highways clean. 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. Typically, an adopted section is between two and four miles of roadway, in which WSDOT installs a sign to provide recognition to the adopter. WSDOT also provides traffic control equipment, safety equipment, safety training, litterbags, and disposal of filled bags for the volunteers.

More than 100 volunteer groups clean up nearly 700 shoulder miles of state highways in southwest Washington, and there are many sections of highway currently available for adoption. Find a local coordinator in your area by visiting: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/operations/adoptahwy/.

To learn more about WSDOT’s approach to litter and how you can do your part to keep Washington beautiful, please visit: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/maintenance/roadside/litter.htm.

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WSDOT keeps people, businesses and the economy moving by operating and improving the state's transportation systems. To learn more about what we're doing, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/news for pictures, videos, news and blogs. Real time traffic information is available at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic or by dialing 5-1-1.

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