House subcommittee to consider Route 66 Trail bill Wednesday

The Natural Resources subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday is scheduled to consider the bill that would designate Route 66 as a National Historic Trail.

According to a story from E&E News (subscription required), the subcommittee will consider the bill introduced months ago by Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Ill.). The hearing will be at 10:30 a.m. EDT Wednesday at 1334 Longworth House Office Building in Washington (map here).

According to an internal memo, the Federal Lands subcommittee will hear the testimony. The subcommittee includes lawmakers from the Route 66 states of Illinois, California, New Mexico and Arizona, including the chairman and vice chairman.

Sue Masica, acting deputy director for operations of the National Park Service, and Bill Thomas, chairman of the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership, are scheduled to testify.

Many Route 66 stakeholders want to give it the National Historic Trail designation before the Mother Road’s 100th anniversary in 2026. Also, the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program is scheduled to sunset in 2019.

I laid out the case for a Route 66 National Historic Trail here in 2012. In short, such a designation would greatly improve directional signage on the route, boost local economies and offer more incentives for historic preservation.

The subcommittee also will consider three other national parks-related bills.

(Image of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington by Daniel Mennerich via Flickr)

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