Highly respected Route 66 researcher Jim Ross assembled these compelling reasons to Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) on why the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program should be renewed for another 10 years.
The program is set to end in late 2009. There is legislation proposed to renew the program for another 10 years, but Coburn is threatening to place a hold on the bill when a lame-duck session of Congress begins next week.
I urge roadies, especially Oklahomans, to write Coburn here and include these facts to your letter. You can also call his Washington office at 202-224-5754, his Tulsa office at 918-581-7651, or his Oklahoma City office at 405-231-4941.
Five Sound Reasons to Support the Program’s Re-Authorization
1. It complies with your own policy regarding earmarks. The funds for this program are NOT from earmarks. If the program dies, the funds will simply shift to other Park Service programs.
2. The economic impact study of tourism along the Route 66 corridor now underway shows that the program’s impact on communities in Oklahoma (and elsewhere) are positively impacted to a level that pays for the program many times over. A letter supporting this fact from Dr. David Listokin at Rutgers University, who is conducting the study, was recently sent to your office.
3. Oklahoma businesses helped by the program have benefitted far more than any other Route 66 state, receiving $280,227 of the $1,313,204 awarded over the life of the program. These businesses’ cost share contributions total $329,613, more than doubling the funds provided.
4. In spite of the overall economic downturn and volatile gas prices, tourism on Route 66 is up this year and has increased each successive year since the early-1990s. International tourists
comprise a greater percentage of travelers each year and spend freely in the communities along the route. For example, director Pat Smith at the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum reports that visitors in first two weeks of September 2008 surpassed the entire month of September 2007. Other businesses report equally impressive levels of visitation.5. The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program is exceptionally well managed and has been a stellar success. It helps fellow Oklahoma businessmen and women, stimulates economic activity, and more than pays for itself without using any earmarked dollars.
I sent another e-mail.
I hope someday there can also be a Highway 50 corridor preservation program, too.
If you live outside Oklahoma, it also wouldn’t hurt to write your own representatives.
Please spread the word. I believe that since (at least at the moment) gas prices are reasonable and international travel is very costly we can get people to travel in this country. Let them explore all of our U.S highways, US 54, 50, 99, and 66 for instance.
We need the act to pass so many places that need our help can get it. I believe our people will look into traveling in the country since it is cheaper than going to London or Prague. Let us take pride in an important piece of our heritage..