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Families unaware as MoDOT discontinues ‘Adopt-A-Highway’ program
SIKESTON — Missouri Department of Transformation’s Adopt-A-Highway program is in the process of being discontinued and will be replaced by a new program.
According to Taylor Brune, assistant communications director at MoDOT’s Central Office in Jefferson City, Missouri, the decision to make the transition was made public during the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission meeting on April 3.
“Missouri’s Adopt-A-Highway program was suspended in May 2023 to perform a top-to-bottom review of the costs and benefits of the program,” Brune said. “A recent adoption in St. Louis had raised concerns with the program.”
The detailed review was presented at the April 3 meeting, and its findings revealed the program’s costs and safety risks outweighed its benefits, according to Brune.
Brune said the analysis revealed the average cost per bag of litter collected through the Adopt-A-Highway program is $42, compared to the MoDOT staff pickup cost of $18.
“Adopt-A-Highway costs account for MoDOT staff administration of the program, the signs and sign installation and the added costs for staff to pick up the bags left by the volunteers,” Brune said. “Also, distracted driving continues to be a concern for safety on the road.”
According to Sara Hooper Snider of Scott City, Missouri, whose family adopted a highway in Scout County in memory of her son, Dominic Hooper, she and her family were unaware the program was being discontinued.
Snider said in May 2021, she signed a contract with MoDOT to adopt approximately 2 miles of a Scott County highway in memory of her son. Snider and her group would pick up trash several times a year, and her family would also donate a significant amount of fuel and time to mow the section of the highway.
It wasn’t until the morning of Wednesday, April 17, when Snider went to the highway adopted in her son’s memory that she noticed the signs were no longer there, she said.
After noticing the signs were gone, Snider said she learned the Adopt-A-Highway program was ending when she called the MoDOT’s Southeast District office in Sikeston later that morning.
“Apparently, it was suspended in 2023, but I myself and none of us were made aware by MoDOT that the program was suspended or going away until we saw that the signs were pulled,” Snider said.
Snider said after learning about the program’s discontinuation, she has been able to obtain the signs designated for her son that were taken down for her family to keep.
Snider said when she discovered the signs were taken down, she was shocked and confused.
“I think a lot of people had the same feeling as I did,” Snider said. “This situation could have probably been avoided with better planning and communication.”
Snider noted that a few days after she noticed her son’s Adopt-A-Highway signs were removed, she received a letter in the mail stating the program’s costs outweighed its benefits and MoDOT was concerned about safety issues.
“I haven’t really gotten any other answers from MoDOT besides that,’ Snider said.
According to Brune, as of right now, MoDOT’s new program “Keeping Missouri Beautiful” is the one that will replace the Adopt-A-Highway program.
The program will focus on having community groups do one-time clean up events that are coordinated with the district offices.
“Similar to the ‘No More Trash Bash’ community events, they are typically held in April but can occur year-round,” Brune said. “MoDOT staff will work with the volunteer groups to organize the community events, including advising them on a safe location, provide a safety briefing and even setting up a work zone if that’s deemed appropriate.”
Snider said she has spoken to State Rep. Jamie Burger regarding the matter.
“I know he (Burger) has contacted a couple of commissioners with MoDOT, and I believe everyone is on board that it is a good program, but they think it’s just going to take them time to revisit it, and revise it and to possibly make a program that works,” Snider said.
Snider said she believed Burger will work with MoDOT to find a solution.
“The program was obviously a good thing, but stopping it without justification or any kind of better notice was not good,” Snider said.
Snider said she is thankful to have gotten her signs back and said MoDOT was great at helping her get the signs.
“Unfortunately, it’s out of the people’s hands here locally; this is something mandated that came out of Jefferson City,” Snider said.