Appendix C:
Public Involvement
PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT
Public involvement included compiling a mailing list, sending newsletters, requesting
written responses, contacting road associations as well as state and local organizations,
organizing public meetings along Route 66, and contacting American Indian governments.
These efforts have allowed the team to identify what the public feels is important about
Route 66. This is a summary of public input.
In the fall of 1992 the National Park Service, Denver Service Center distributed a
newsletter describing the Route 66 special resource study. The newsletter presented the
legislation. the study objectives, an overview of the resource, an explanation of the
planning process, and the planning schedule, and listed future opportunities that the
study could facilitate. The response form asked for comments on any aspect of the study
and tried to encourage specific input on important resources and ideas for the future of
Route 66.
NEWSLETTER NUMBER 1
Eighty-two responses were returned; 18 from organizations and agencies and 64 from
interested parties.
Out of the 82 responses, 24 expressed concern over local or regional resources, 21
expressed a desire to have national recognition/designation of Route 66, including federal
funds to revitalize the route. Forty-two people asked to be added to the mailing list or
needed more information, while 26 requested research data or offered to contribute
personally to Route 66. Of the respondents, nine belonged to one of the Route 66
associations. Eight were concerned with tourism and improved economic development
associated with road revitalization. Six responses directly mentioned the importance of
the Santa Monica pier as an important historical resource. The majority of respondents
expressed concerns that centered on improved economic conditions for local business
owners, including the preservation of important local landmarks, the road and associated
resources (possibly through national register nominations and significance criteria).
Other sub themes included concern about aiding the international visitor, preserving the
resources for future generations, and development of proper highway signs and guidebooks.
The open-ended nature of the comment form tended to generate stories related to personal
reflection and individual or local history associated with Route 66.
NEWSLETTER NUMBER 2
In the spring of 1993 the second newsletter was distributed to approximately 1,000
interested individuals on the mailing list and to many more during the public meetings.
This newsletter described four alternative concepts for the future of Route o6. The
concepts were derived from a combination of comments from public meetings, the first
newsletter, other NPS plans, and preservation and planning issues.
Of the 107 newsletters returned, 10 were from organizations and agencies and 96 from
individuals.
Individuals on the mailing list were asked to comment on the four alternatives
presented. The members of various organizations and agencies expressed interest in the
road for economic and preservation reasons. Many of the comments included individual
reminiscences about experiences along the road and various road attributes.
SPECIFIC RESPONSES
Concept 1: Route 66 Rediscovered and Nurtured
Those people who approved of this concept felt it was the simplest, included
preservation of resources, orientation facilities, left touring decisions to the visitor,
developed a focused commission, and offered standard signs and maps.
However, many respondents remarked that this concept could fragment the road and its
resources. Some worried about the creation of another government entity. Others feared
that preservation criteria would be too subjective, or were confused over who would get
jurisdiction over the resources, or felt that too much responsibility was given to local
groups.
Concept 2: The Route 66 National Heritage Corridor
The appealing aspects of this concept included regional economic benefits, the overall
interstate scope, the focus on cultural heritage, historic preservation, hike/bike
options, and the publication of guidebooks.
Respondents also felt that this concept was too broad and fragmented, and most
articulated that the concept was more than Route 66 ever was itself. Some stated that the
concept should include all alignments, and its primary emphasis should be on preservation
of the road and the associated resources. Some preferred a federal commission to a local
consortium, although most concluded that this concept would be too expensive. They felt
that too many diverse and sometimes opposing organizations exist to form an effective
consortium.
Concept 3: Route 66 Commemorated
The majority of comments received about this concept were negative. People felt that
labeling the interstate would be an offense against Route 66 (alignments should be
labeled) and that establishing a national board would be unrealistic. Most existing
associations are only loosely linked. Others commenting felt that if the states were in
control it would require intensive coordination. In addition, there would be gaps in both
preservation and interpretation .
Benefits seen in this concept included independence from the federal government (which
would provide the initial signs), the states would influence visitor experience. and there
would be welcome centers for interpretation.
Concept 4: The National Historic Trail
Supporters of this concept felt that the prestige of national designation would help
Route 66. They liked the overall tourism theme, putting qualifying resources on the
national register, having the National Park Service manage the national historic trail
program in partnership with others.
The negative comments included a feeling that the road is part of the built and
actively used environment and not a trail. The fear of too much government intervention
was also clear. They did not want federal land acquisition, the slow implementation
process associated with federal projects, and the loss of identity. There was also a
question of legal liability, the need for on-going preservation money, the feeling that
national register criteria are inappropriate and that too much responsibility is put on
site owners.
SPECIFIC SUGGESTIONS
People made a number of suggestions
- Route 66 should be the "premier' national heritage corridor of the auto age.
- The study should be integrated with the national biological survey and other state and
local environmental programs.
- Department of Defense and Department of Transportation information should be included.
- There is a lack of money in the federal government.
- Route 66 is too cumbersome for a government to manage.
- The money for the study should have been spent on a survey of the road and its
resources.
- Give congress a recommendation, not four options to choose from.
- Let the private sector preserve what is left
- The public meetings should be expanded on a regional basis or to the entire nation.
AMERICAN INDIAN CONSULTATIONS
Members of various tribes along Route 66 attended some of the public meetings. The
Southwest Regional Office of the National Park Service provided a mailing list of American
Indian contacts in the fall of 1993. The Western Regional Office supplied a few contacts
for California and Arizona. The Midwest Regional Office had no contacts for the Route 66
corridor. As a result, most of the contacts were from California, Arizona, New Mexico and
Oklahoma. In the winter of 1994 the tribes near and within the Route 66 corridor were
directly contacted by mail. All road alignments were included. Only two individuals from
New Mexico have responded: both preferred concept 1.
Additional Public Notification
Press releases were issued and articles were published to encourage participation in
public meetings. Written responses were sought. Other publications that generated public
interest were the Route 66 News (February 1993), Mother Road Journal, Grants
Beacon, Out West: The Newspaper that Roams (Spring 1993), The 66 News
(February 1993 Route 66 Association of Illinois), Rolling Route 66 (Netherlands), Cibola
County Beacon (Grants, New Mexico), Illinois Route 66 Association Newsletter
(Winter 1992), Williams News (December 17. 1992), Route 66 News. (February
1993 Route 66 Association of Arizona), American History (May 1993), Friends of
the Mojave Road, The Los Angeles Times and numerous others. In the spring of
1994 the Mother Road Journal ended publication.
Public Meetings
In the fall and winter of 1992 members of the Route 66 special resource study team
traveled the entire length of Route 66 from Illinois to California. On this trip they
observed the resources and met with members of state Route 66 associations. State Historic
Preservation Offices, departments of tourism, highway departments, county planning
personnel, and various museum and business owners on an informal basis to gather
information on resources, current programs, concerns, and hopes for the future.
Formal public meetings were held in the fall of 1993. There were eleven public meetings
in seven states (Rancho Cucamonga and Needles, California; Winslow, Arizona: Gallup and
Albuquerque, New Mexico: Amarillo, Texas: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Springfield and St.
Louis, Missouri: Springfield and Kirkwood, Illinois). More than 300 people attended the
meetings. The participants included representatives of federal, state, and local agencies,
American Indian tribes and private citizens.
RESULTS
Based on public response to the newsletter and in the meetings, the team re-evaluated
the four conceptual alternatives. The team rewrote the previous alternatives to reflect
ideas and concerns that were raised and developed a fifth alternative The Heritage
Highway.
Reprinted from:
Special Resource Study Route 66
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service (See Credits)
NPS D-4 July 1995.
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