The Caltrans Adopt-A-Highway Program provides an avenue forindividuals, organizations, or businesses to help maintain sections ofroadside within California’s State Highway System. In addition to theaesthetic benefits of cleaner and more beautiful roadsides, participantshelp to prevent potential pollutants from entering our waterways andsave California taxpayers millions of dollars every year.

The Adopt-A-Highway Program provides a great opportunity to promotecivic responsibility, community pride, and camaraderie withinorganizations. And, even though the Adopt-A-Highway Program may notbe used as a forum for advertising or public discourse, Adopt-A-Highwaycourtesy signs provide prominent recognition for its participants.

What Kind of Work is Involved?

Participation can include one ormore of the following activities:

• Removing litter on a two-milestretch of roadside (frequencyvaries with location).

• Planting and establishing threeacres of trees and/or shrubsaccording to an approved plan.

• Planting and establishing threeacres of wildflowers according toan approved plan.

• Planting and establishing a smallarea of wildflowers, called a “spot”wildflower adoption, according toan approved plan. (Note: Spotwildflower adopters do not qualifyfor Adopt-A-Highway signs.)

• Painting over graffiti as neededfrom one or more highwaystructures.

• Controlling weeds on five acres ofright-of-way according to anapproved plan.

1

Who Can Participate?

• Individuals

• Organizations

• Businesses

• City, county, state, and federalagencies

You can perform the work with yourown volunteers or hire a contractorto perform the work on your behalf.

Depending on the adoption site andsubject to Caltrans approval,minors, aged 16 and older, mayparticipate. Groups includingminors must have at least one adultsupervisor over the age of 21 at thesite for every five minors present.

Entities that advocate violence,violation of the law, or discrimina-tion based upon race, religion,color, national origin, ancestry,physical handicap, medical condi-tion, marital status, age, sex, orsexual orientation may not partici-pate in the Adopt-A-HighwayProgram.

How Long Do Adoptions Last?

Adopt-A-Highway EncroachmentPermits are issued for a period offive years. You may apply foradditional five-year permits,provided that you (or your contrac-tor) have satisfactorily met the termsof the existing permit and the siteremains suitable for adoption. Youmay not transfer your encroachmentpermit to another organization.

How Do I Adopt a Highway?

• Decide on the general locationand type of adoption you want.

• Discuss the location and projectwith your local Caltrans Adopt-A-Highway Coordinator. Contactinformation is provided on page 6of this brochure.

• Submit a completed Adopt-A-Highway Program Application toyour coordinator. Applications areavailable from Adopt-A-HighwayCoordinators and on our web site.

– If you are hiring a contractor,they must submit a separateprogram application.

– If your adoption includesplanting or vegetation control,you will be required to submitwork plans and schedulesalong with your application.Handouts, containinginstructions for preparingplans and schedules, areavailable from your Adopt-A-Highway Coordinator and onour web site.

• Obtain approval of yourrecognition panel’s wording anddesign from your coordinator.

• Wait for your Adopt-A-HighwayEncroachment Permit (signalingyour acceptance into theprogram) to arrive in the mail.This may take several weeks.

• Make sure that you understandand can conform to all of theprovisions listed in your Adopt-A-Highway Encroachment Permitpackage BEFORE beginning work.

What if the Section I Want IsAlready Adopted?

When an existing adopter gives up asite, it is offered to the first group onthe waiting list.

You must submit an Adopt-A-Highway Program Application to beplaced on the waiting list. Yourname can be put on a waiting list forone or more sites and will beranked according to the date yourcompleted application was received.

Please be aware that it could takemany years to cycle through awaiting list. If there is a long waitinglist for the area you want, you mightwish to consider participating inanother type of adoption for thathighway section, or consideradopting in a different location.

2

How Much Does It Cost?

A volunteer group that performslitter removal and uses a standardrecognition panel on their Adopt-A-Highway sign will incur no costs.

However, certain supplies neededfor other adoption types, such asplants, tools, or paints, are usuallypurchased by the adopting group.

Caltrans will supply the followingitems free of charge:• An Adopt-A-Highway

Encroachment Permit.

• The manufacture and installationof Adopt-A-Highway signs andstandard recognition panels.

• A safety orientation for thegroup’s safety leader.

• Safety gear for volunteerparticipants (hard hats, vests,gloves, safety glasses, and litterpickers) and safety-trainingmaterials.

• Adopt-A-Highway litter bags.

• Collection and disposal of filledAdopt-A-Highway litter bags andother debris cleared from theadoption site.

In all cases, items to be displayed onrecognition panels shall be solelydetermined by Caltrans.

Although there is advertising valueinherent in Adopt-A-Highway signs,they are not a forum for advertisingor public discourse. Their purposeis to recognize who is providing theadoption service, not what servicesthe adopter provides, what productsthey sell, or where they are located.

In order to comply with Federal lawprohibiting advertising on stateright-of-way, our recognition panelrules are necessarily restrictive.With only a few exceptions, thename and/or logo of the applicant isall that will be permitted on a panel.

A handout called, RecognitionPanel Design Guidelines, isavailable on our web site. Thehandout explains rules regardinguse of logos, colors, lettering style,and image area. It would be a goodidea to review it before designingyour panel.

For More Information

A complete copy of Adopt-A-Highway Sign Restrictions andControls can be downloaded fromthe Adopt-A-Highway web site.

Adopt-A-Highway Signs

Caltrans will place Adopt-A-Highwaysigns at your adopted section inrecognition of your contribution tothe program. Each sign has a white,recognition panel where yourgroup’s name will be displayed.

Caltrans provides “standard”recognition panels at no cost. Thesedisplay the group’s name in blacklettering, using the standard highwaysigns type face.

Subject to Caltrans approval, yourlogo can be added to the standardpanel. There is no charge forinstallation of the logo, howevergroups must obtain an adhesive-backed logo at their own cost.

If all panel elements are provided bythe adopter at their own cost, thepanel is considered to be a “cus-tom” panel. Adhesive-backed panelelements can be provided toCaltrans for application onto a blankpanel, or, a completed panel can besupplied. Caltrans will provide blankrecognition panels at no cost toparticipants who choose the latteroption. There is no fee charged forapplication of panel elements.

Recognition Panel Design Rules

3

Documentation Requirementsfor Recognition Panels

The following documents must besubmitted along with programapplications:

• Businesses must submit a copy oftheir business license.

• Businesses and organizationswishing to display a logo mustprovide a copy of the logo beingused in a corporate document(i.e. business card, letterhead,web site, etc.).

• All groups planning to purchaseand provide decals to be placedon their recognition panel mustsubmit a scaled (reducedproportionally) and coloredproof of the proposed design.

How Does Caltrans DesignateAdoption Sites?

Any roadside within California’sState Highway System has thepotential for being adopted. Caltranspersonnel carefully review sites inorder to determine whether or notthey are suitable. Typical questionsasked during a review are:

• Does the area meet the Adopt-A-Highway Program’s minimummileage/acreage requirements?

• Has construction been plannedfor the location?

• Is maintenance of the area beingperformed by another agency?

• Is there safe access to and fromthe site?

• What are the working conditionsat the site?

• What work frequency will berequired?

• Will the use of motorizedequipment be required toaccomplish the maintenance task?

Once a site is reviewed, it will beclassified as either suitable or notsuitable for adoption.

What Is an Encroachment Permit?

Your Encroachment Permit andother documents included in yourencroachment permit package areyour contract with Caltrans. Thepermit authorizes you to performspecific tasks on a designatedsection of the State's right-of-way fora five-year period. The permit alsoincludes safety measures that mustbe adhered to.

Revoking Permits

Violation of any of the provisionsof your permit could result in itsbeing revoked. You, or Caltrans,may cancel the permit anytime youare unable to meet the permitrequirements.

Caltrans may temporarily suspendpermits for safety reasons, such asconstruction in your adopted area.

Multiple Permits

Up to ten adoptions per group perdistrict are permitted. Adoptions fortwo or more consecutive/adjoiningsites are permitted. However, if awaiting list becomes established forone of the adjoining sections, thenthe adopter will be asked torelinquish it when their permitperiod has ended.

What Is a Contracted Adoption?

Individuals, organizations, andbusinesses can adopt highwaysections and have the adoption tasksperformed by a professionalbusiness through contract oragreement. Adopt-A-HighwayProgram literature refers to allbusinesses hired by adopters as“contractors.” The adoption itself iscalled a “contracted adoption.”

Groups who hire contractors arecalled “sponsors.”

Use of contractors is sometimespreferred. For example, sites thatrequire litter removal more than 12times a year are usually difficult forvolunteer groups to maintain. Andgenerally, only contractors arepermitted to use motorized equip-ment on the State’s right-of-way.

A contractor can be used for anyadoption type. A contractor can behired to perform all or only aportion of the adoption tasks.

Your local Adopt-A-HighwayCoordinator can provide you with alist of contractors known to provideAdopt-A-Highway services in yourarea. New contractors will beconsidered, provided that they meetall of the Adopt-A-HighwayProgram’s insurance and licensingrequirements.

4

Safety Is Our Number One Concern Each Group Must Designate a Safety Leader

5

Participants must realize that theywill be working in a potentiallyhazardous environment and mustagree to diligently follow all safetyrequirements.

In addition to the documentsprovided in your encroachmentpermit package, Caltrans providesvolunteer adopters with safetytraining materials. The first is avideo called, Get Serious AboutSafety. Part one of the video focuseson the special responsibilities ofgroup leaders. Part two wasdeveloped for group leaders to showwhen giving safety training to theirgroup members.

You will also receive two handouts.The Safety Requirements forParticipants summarizes Adopt-A-Highway safety procedures and theBag It, Move It, or Leave It? sheetprovides instructions for handlingfound items. These are to be usedwhen conducting safety reviews withyour group prior to each workevent.

In addition, periodic safety bulletinswill be mailed to volunteer groupsadvising of any current safety issues.

Caltrans waives insurance require-ments for volunteer participants.However, all participants must agreeto the terms set forth in Adopt-A-Highway Special Provisions itementitled, Responsibility forDamage. (The special provisionsincluded in your encroachmentpermit package.)

Sample copies of the specialprovisions and safety handouts canbe downloaded from our web site.

Unless otherwise notified, Caltransconsiders the person who signedthe Adopt-A-Highway ProgramApplication to be the group’sdesignated safety leader.

Safety-Related Responsibilities

Once your encroachment permit isreceived, the safety leader must:

• Schedule a safety orientation withthe Caltrans field representativeidentified on the encroachmentpermit.

• Complete the safety orientationwithin two weeks of the permit’sstart date.

- Obtain safety equipment for allparticipants.

- Obtain copies of the SafetyRequirements for Participantsand the Bag It, Move It, orLeave It? handouts and the GetSerious About Safety video.

• Provide initial safety training to allmembers of the group prior toworking on the highway.

• Conduct brief safety reviewsbefore the group goes out to workat the site.

• Hold an annual safety trainingsession for all group members.

• Ensure that all group memberscomply with safety procedures.

Other Responsibilities

• Provide Caltrans with at least fivedays notice prior to each workevent.

• Begin work within 30 calendardays of your permit’s start date.

• Participate in annual Spring andFall cleanup events.

• Notify Caltrans if there is a changeof group safety leader, address, orphone number.

• Notify Caltrans if you wish tocancel your adoption.

• Ensure that the tasks listed inyour encroachment permitpackage are completed asscheduled.

For More Information,Contact Your Caltrans DistrictAdopt-A-Highway Coordinator

6

COUNTY CALTRANS DISTRICT PHONE*

Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Lake District 1 (707) 441-5761

Siskiyou, Modoc, Trinity, Shasta, District 2 (530) 225-3277Lassen, Tehama, Plumas

Glenn, Butte, Sierra, Colusa, Sutter, District 3 (530) 741-4002Yuba, Nevada, Placer, Yolo,Sacramento, El Dorado

Marin, Napa, San Francisco, District 4 (North, South, and (510) 286-6227San Mateo, Santa Clara, Sonoma West Bays)

Alameda, Contra Costa, Solano District 4 (East Bay, Solano, (510) 286-4433and Delta)

Santa Cruz, San Benito, Monterey District 5 (North) (831) 372-1132

San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara District 5 (South) (805) 542-4755

North Fresno, NW Kern, Kings, Madera, District 6 (North) (559) 445-5394Mariposa, Tulare

South Fresno, SW Kern, Tulare District 6 (South) (559) 488-4022

Ventura, NW Los Angeles District 7 (North) (213) 897-4273

SE Los Angeles District 7 (South) (213) 897-3871

San Bernardino District 8 (North) (760) 252-1016

Riverside District 8 (South) (909) 383-4468

Mono, Inyo, Eastern Kern District 9 (760) 872-0622

San Joaquin, Amador, Calaveras, Alpine, District 10 (209) 948-7462Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Merced, Mariposa

San Diego, Imperial District 11 (619) 688-3327

Orange District 12 (949) 724-2598

Caltrans Districts

ADA Notice: For individuals withsensory disabilities, this document isavailable in alternate formats. Forinformation, please call or write:

Department of TransportationMaintenance ProgramAdopt-A-Highway, MS-311120 N StreetSacramento, CA 95814

Voice: (916) 654-2926

TTY: CRS-711

2

3

410

9

65

7

1211

8

1

*You Can Call Toll Free: 1-866-ADOPTAHWY(1-866-236-7824)

Visit Us On The Web: http://adopt-a-highway.dot.ca.gov

7

Adoption Checklist

Decide on the general location and type of adoption you want.

Call your local Adopt-A-Highway Coordinator to discuss available adoptionopportunities and select a specific site.

Send a signed and completed Adopt-A-Highway Program Application to yourlocal Adopt-A-Highway Coordinator. Groups using contractors must havetheir contractor submit a separate application.

Planting and vegetation control applicants must submit plans and a workschedule. If you are certain that you want to adopt a particular site but needtime to prepare these documents, submit your application without them.You will be granted 30 calendar days, from the date your application wasreceived, to prepare and submit them.

Obtain approval of your recognition panel’s wording and design from yourAdopt-A-Highway Coordinator.

Wait for your Adopt-A-Highway Encroachment Permit package to arrive inthe mail. This could take several weeks.

Call the Caltrans representative listed on your Encroachment Permit andschedule a safety orientation.

Attend the safety orientation and collect your Adopt-A-Highway supplies,safety equipment, and safety video and handouts.

Provide safety training and safety equipment to all group members beforeworking.

Notify the Caltrans representative shown on your permit at least five daysprior to each work event. Begin work within 30 calendar days of yourpermit’s start date

Abide by the provisions listed in your Encroachment Permit package andenjoy participating in the Adopt-A-Highway Program along with thethousands of other dedicated Californians.

Notes:

Last Revised February 2008

California Department of TransportationMaintenance Program, MS-31

1120 N StreetSacramento, CA 95814

Printed on recycled paper