Rep. LaHood sponsoring legislation to turn Route 66 into a National Historic Trail

Posted on June 2, 2021

 

U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Dunlap). (Photo courtesy: WJBC/File)

By Blake Haas

BLOOMINGTON – A Central Illinois Congressman is joining a California lawmaker to reintroduce a bill to turn U.S. Route 66 into a National Historic Trail.

According to Congressman Darin LaHood (R-Dunlap), the name designation could attract more tourists across the state.

“Route 66, of course, goes from Chicago all the way to Southern California; (it) runs through I think 14 different states. It’s an iconic roadway, and what our legislation does, which is bipartisan legislation, it ask for the U.S. Park Service and the Department of the Interior to designated it as a National Scenic Byway.

We believe that is important. It will help with tourism. There are many people that fly into Chicago, they either rent a motorcycle, or maybe a mini RV or a vehicle, and they travel from Chicago down through Central Illinois. From Towanda to Bloomington, through Atlanta, Illinois, down through Springfield, and then make their way across the country. It is part of our American history.”

The legislation has previously passed the House of Representatives, where LaHood is joining U.S. Rep. Grace Napolitano of California as the bill’s sponsors.

“It doesn’t cost taxpayers a lot of money, but it helps promote the tourism of Route 66, and you would be amazed of how many international tourists that come to American and get on that roadway and travel. We believe this legislation will help with small communities like Towanda and Atlanta and others like Lincoln, Illinois to promote the historical significance of Route 66.”

LISTEN: U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Dunlap) spoke with WJBC’s Scott Miller. 

U.S. Route 66 spans 2,238 miles across the United States.

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].

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