This summer, the governor signed the Illinois Route 66 Centennial Commission bill into law, and now the panel seeks three people to fill available seats, including one that will lead it. Unlike a lot of nominating rules, people in this instance can nominate themselves. Gov. Bruce Rauner has the last say over who gets the nod. … Continue reading Nominees sought for Illinois Route 66 Centennial Commission
Category: Highways
Rails to Trails project to involve Sidewalk Highway near Miami
Officials in Miami, Oklahoma, want to use a Rails to Trails project to help rehabilitate the historic stretch of the 9-foot-wide Sidewalk Highway of Route 66 between Miami and Afton, Oklahoma. KSNF-TV reported the four-phase project will involve an eight-mile route across Ottawa County and the Neosho River, near Miami. The project will also incorporate … Continue reading Rails to Trails project to involve Sidewalk Highway near Miami
Section of original 66 in Marshfield to become roadside park
A section of original Route 66 in Marshfield, Missouri, will be converted into a roadside park after the state abandons it as a part of State Highway CC. The Marshfield Board of Alderman recently voted to hire the Crawford, Murphy and Tilly Inc. engineering firm draw up plans for the park, reported the Marshfield Mail newspaper. … Continue reading Section of original 66 in Marshfield to become roadside park
66,000 signatures sought for Route 66 National Historic Trail petition
The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership and the National Trust for Historic Preservation this week announced a goal of 66,000 signatures for a petition supporting the designation of Route 66 as a National Historic Trail. The groups stated in a news released they want to meet that goal by Nov. 11, which is the widely … Continue reading 66,000 signatures sought for Route 66 National Historic Trail petition
What path would the Route 66 National Historic Trail take?
Someone on a Route 66 thread on Facebook -- I don't remember where -- recently wondered what alignments would be covered in the proposed Route 66 National Historic Trail being considered by Congress. The bill, H.B. 801, states the trail "includes all the alignments of U.S. Highway 66 in existence between 1926 and 1985, extending … Continue reading What path would the Route 66 National Historic Trail take?
Kum & Go won’t pave over all of original Route 66 after all
The Kum & Go convenience-store chain reversed course and said it won't pave over a small section of Route 66 in Springfield, Missouri. The Springfield News-Leader reported: After hearing from fans of the historic road, the company will keep an original section unpaved as it builds a new marketplace store at the intersection of Glenstone … Continue reading Kum & Go won’t pave over all of original Route 66 after all
Governor signs Illinois Route 66 Centennial Commission bill
Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner on Tuesday signed and enacted a bill that creates a state Route 66 Centennial Commission. According to a news release, the signing took place Tuesday in Plainfield. The commission is tasked with developing plans for the 100th anniversary of Route 66 in 2026. The Illinois Route 66 Centennial Commission will consist … Continue reading Governor signs Illinois Route 66 Centennial Commission bill
U.S. House passes Route 66 Centennial bill
The U.S. House of Representatives on Monday passed the Route 66 Centennial Commission Act. It next will be considered by the U.S. Senate. The measure was passed by a voice vote without objection. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.), a key sponsor of the bill known as H.R. 66, issued this statement after the bill passed: Route … Continue reading U.S. House passes Route 66 Centennial bill
Two states poised to celebrate Route 66’s centennial in 2026
Today, when the U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on a bill to set up a federal-level 100th anniversary commission for Route 66, two Midwestern states also are poised to set up their commissions to mark the road's centennial in 2026. Missouri's governor signed such a bill into law this year, and Illinois' … Continue reading Two states poised to celebrate Route 66’s centennial in 2026
UPDATED: Original section of Route 66 to be paved over after convenience-store chain buys it
The fate of an original section of Route 66 in Springfield, Missouri, remains up in the air after the Kum & Go convenience-store chain recently bought the property on which it sits. The Springfield News-Leader reports the piece of road on 2.9 acres on the southeast corner of Glenstone Avenue and Kearney Street (map here) … Continue reading UPDATED: Original section of Route 66 to be paved over after convenience-store chain buys it