PennDOT Honors District 3’s Longest Adopt-A-Highway Participant

PennDOT Honors District 3’s Longest Adopt-A-Highway Participant

The PA Route 6 Alliance was proud to take part in a recent event alongside PennDOT and the Bradford County Tourism Promotion Agency to highlight the importance of highway beautification efforts ahead of the 2026 tourism season. Held in Bradford County, the event celebrated the impact of the Adopt-A-Highway program and recognized the long-standing dedication of local volunteers who help keep the PA Route 6 Corridor clean, safe, and welcoming.

PA Route 6 Alliance Executive Director Candace Hillyard said, “It’s no wonder that National Geographic has recognized Route 6 as one of America’s most scenic drives. But what makes this road truly special is not just the landscape. It’s the people who care for it. This recognition is built on strong partnerships and a shared commitment to stewardship. It is community pride in action. PennDOT helps keep this corridor safe and accessible, while volunteer groups like the Penn York Detachment of the United States Marine Corps League are the boots on the ground, showing dedication and pride in every mile they serve. Today, we celebrate that spirit. We celebrate partnership, service, and the shared responsibility of keeping Route 6 a place of pride for generations to come.”

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 10, 2026

Montoursville, PA – Today, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), PA Route 6 Alliance, and the Bradford County Tourism Promotion Agency highlighted highway beautification efforts in Bradford County ahead of the 2026 tourism season.

Bradford County has 57 groups participating in Adopt-A-Highway (AAH), a program in which volunteer groups beautify roadsides two miles at a time. These groups sign a two-year agreement to pick up litter at least two times a year along a specific state highway.
PennDOT provides access to safety training for volunteers along with gloves, safety vests, trash bags, and, if requested, highway warning signs for use during litter pick-ups. It also notifies Pennsylvania State Police of all scheduled events, collects bagged litter from the roadside following pick-up events, and posts roadway signage in recognition of the volunteer efforts.
At the event, PennDOT District 3’s longest AAH participant, Penn York Detachment/United States Marine Corps League, was honored for 36 years of picking up litter along a 2.8-mile stretch of Bridge Street Hill Road (Route 3018), just off Route 6 in Towanda Township. The group first joined the program in April 1990.

“Litter along Commonwealth roadways is unsightly, bad for the environment, and sheds a negative light on Pennsylvania,” said PennDOT Assistant District Executive-Maintenance Ken Bair. “We are grateful to the volunteers with Penn York Detachment/United States Marine Corps League for over three decades of picking up litter in beautiful Towanda Township.  Your work not only beautifies the area, but it also reduces the costs of removing litter from Pennsylvania’s state-maintained roadways.”

The event was held along scenic Route 6, one of the 21 designated Pennsylvania Byways<https://www.pa.gov/agencies/penndot/research-planning-and-innovation/byways-program<https://www.pa.gov/agencies/penndot/research-planning-and-innovation/byways-program>>. Route 6 covers over 400 miles in 11 counties in the state. To learn about cultural, historical, and recreational resources along Route 6, please visit https://www.paroute6.com/<https://www.paroute6.com/><https://www.paroute6.com/>.

“PennDOT helps keep the corridor safe and accessible while volunteer groups like the Penn York Detachment of the United States Marine Corps League are the boots on the ground, showing dedication and pride in every single mile that they serve. Today we celebrate that spirit. We celebrate the partnership, service, and the shared responsibility of keeping Route 6 a place of pride for generations to come,” said Route 6 Alliance Executive Director Candace Hillyard.

The importance of beautification efforts for the tourism industry was stressed by Executive Director Robyn Cummings, Bradford County Tourism Promotion Agency, “One may ask what would clean roads and tourism really have in common? It’s quite simple, yet a powerful connection. When visitors arrive in a new place the first thing they often notice is the environment, especially the roads that they travel. Clean well-maintained streets create a strong first impression. They signal that a community cares and takes pride in itself and values public health and the experience of the guests. “

PennDOT invites other civic-minded groups to join in the effort. Simply reach out to the Adopt a Highway Contact<https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/penndot/documents/about-us/roadsidebeautification/aah%20district%20coordinator%20template%20rev%203.25.2024.pdf<https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/penndot/documents/about-us/roadsidebeautification/aah%20district%20coordinator%20template%20rev%203.25.2024.pdf>> in your PennDOT region<https://www.pa.gov/agencies/penndot/regional-offices<https://www.pa.gov/agencies/penndot/regional-offices>> to learn what stretch of state roadways are available for adoption.
One hundred and one projects are anticipated to start in the district during the 2026 construction season, and 37 projects will continue in 2026, investing more than $230.8 million in the region spanning Bradford, Columbia, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, Sullivan, Tioga, and Union counties. This investment includes rehabilitating, reconstructing, and resurfacing 86 miles of highways and working on 59 bridges.

Under Governor Josh Shapiro’s Administration, 19,451 miles of roadway have been improved, and work has advanced on 1,738 state and local bridges.

MEDIA CONTACTS: Maggie Baker and Kim Smith at ra-pdd03crc@pa.gov<mailto:ra-pdd03crc@pa.gov>
PennDOT, Partners Highlight Adopt-A-Highway Efforts in Bradford County