Rutgers professor, Route 66 Road Ahead assembling a case studies project

The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership announced last week it was putting together a Route 66 Case Studies Project with a Rutgers University professor to help Route 66 towns learn to use the road for economic development. The professor is David Listokin, who shepherded and co-wrote the influential Route 66 Economic Impact Study in 2012 … Continue reading Rutgers professor, Route 66 Road Ahead assembling a case studies project

Report: Route 66 Historic Trail legislation to be introduced this fall

The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership on Saturday released its third-quarter report. Among the newsworthy items is the organization expects congressional legislation to designate Route 66 as a National Historic Trail to be introduced this fall. The measure would be House Bill 801, "tentatively" scheduled to be introduced in the coming weeks. The report stated: … Continue reading Report: Route 66 Historic Trail legislation to be introduced this fall

New Mexico Route 66 Association wades into, then retreats from sign-preservation issue

The New Mexico Route 66 Association on Sept. 5 posted a statement about the thorny issue of historic neon signs disappearing along the highway, particularly in New Mexico, then deleted the post days later. The post, which I'd monitored to read the responses, generated more than 150 comments at last count and plenty of dissatisfaction … Continue reading New Mexico Route 66 Association wades into, then retreats from sign-preservation issue

What’s being planned for the Pony Bridge near Bridgeport?

I recently received a news release from Route 66 The Road Ahead Partnership about how a historic preservation specialist on behalf of the organization weighed in on several proposals for the William H. Murray Bridge, aka Pony Bridge, near Bridgeport, Oklahoma. That led me to ask: What exactly are the proposals for the Pony Bridge? … Continue reading What’s being planned for the Pony Bridge near Bridgeport?

Report: Route 66 Historic Trail bill will be reintroduced ASAP

The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership this week issued its update report on its activities in the second quarter, including that a U.S. senator from Oklahoma will reintroduce a Route 66 National Historic Trail bill "as soon as possible." The partnership summarized its findings in a letter with the report: In brief, the bill to … Continue reading Report: Route 66 Historic Trail bill will be reintroduced ASAP

Grassroots Baseball tour looking for obscure baseball sites on Route 66

The Grassroots Baseball tour this summer needs suggestions on less well-known baseball sites on or near Route 66. The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership is helping the soon-to-retire Baseball Hall of Fame president, Jeff Idelson, and photographer Jean Fruth as they explore Route 66. According to the partnership: “We are looking for kids, adults, stickball … Continue reading Grassroots Baseball tour looking for obscure baseball sites on Route 66

A few thoughts on the AP’s story on the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program

A few days ago, Russell Contreras, a reporter with the Associated Press' Albuquerque bureau, filed a story last week about the imminent demise of the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program. Because AP stories fly all over the globe and are picked up by dozens of news outlets, I thought I'd better address some of the … Continue reading A few thoughts on the AP’s story on the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program

Route 66 Road Ahead partners with Harvest Hosts RV network

The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership announced this week it has joined with the Harvest Hosts network that will give RV users to stay overnight for free at selected sites, attractions, and businesses along Route 66. According to a news release from the partnership: The goal of the new partnership is to expand the current … Continue reading Route 66 Road Ahead partners with Harvest Hosts RV network

Route 66 Road Ahead group holds annual board meeting

Among the most newsworthy thing that came out of the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership's annual board of directors meeting last month at El Vado Motel in Albuquerque is the group allocated up to $10,000 to update the 2012 Route 66 Economic Impact Study by Rutgers University. The economic report's initial release prompted a slew … Continue reading Route 66 Road Ahead group holds annual board meeting

Route 66 centennial bill reintroduced in Congress

An Illinois lawmaker reintroduced the Route 66 Centennial Commission Act before the Congress just days after the previous session failed to advance it and a Route 66 Historic Trail bill past the U.S. Senate. U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) reintroduced the centennial bill, called H.R. 66, on Jan. 3 as the new Congress convened. Davis … Continue reading Route 66 centennial bill reintroduced in Congress