Two senators introduce Route 66 National Historic Trail legislation

U.S. Sens. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) introduced legislation today that would name Route 66 a National Historic Trail under the National Park Service.

The bill is S.3609, known as the Route 66 Historic Trail Designation Act. The U.S. House of Representatives advanced similar legislation earlier this year.

According to a news release from Inhofe’s office:

“Route 66 deserves recognition as a National Historic Trail,” said Inhofe. “Oklahoma is home to the longest drivable stretch of ‘America’s Main Street,’ which earned its name from decades of connecting small businesses and rural communities with visitors from around the country. Museums from Clinton to Elk City to Chandler highlight the impact of this road as a representation of American pioneer values. I am proud to introduce this bill that will ensure Route 66 continues to reflect the history of our nation.”

“Route 66 is iconic — a long stretch of old road that cuts across eight states, linking the American West through a patchwork of Americana,” said Udall. “It’s not just a place, but a personality; an open road symbolizing freedom and teeming with mom-and-pop diners, small businesses, and scenic byways. In its heyday, this legendary highway was the major artery of the United States and an important pathway for westward migration until it was bypassed by the interstate system. By designating Route 66 as a National Historic Trail, this legislation would revitalize cities, small towns and rural communities along the Route 66 corridor in New Mexico and across the country, bolstering local economies and protecting vibrant historic sites. Just as importantly, this bill would safeguard Route 66 as cultural landmark, preserving its significance as the ‘Main Street of America’ for future generations of adventurers, migrants, hitchhikers, and tourists venturing westward.”

You can read my case, written in 2012, for having a Route 66 National Historic Trail. In recent years, Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership has made the national trail idea a top priority.

The odds of the House bill alone becoming law were fair to middling. But with a Senate version on the floor, the chance of Route 66 becoming a National Historic Trail has improved considerably. The Congress faces a deadline of Dec. 31 to pass it.

UPDATE 11/29/2018: The bill is scheduled for a hearing by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee on National Parks on Wednesday, Dec. 5 at 10 a.m. EST in Room 366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C.

UPDATE 12/4/2018: The hearing has been rescheduled to Dec. 12 because of former U.S. president George H.W. Bush’s funeral.

(Image of a Route 66 shield on the road in Adrian, Texas, by Thomas Hawk via Flickr)