PennDOT Seeks More ‘Sponsor-A-Highway’ Support from Businesses

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is encouraging businesses statewide to join the department’s Sponsor-A-Highway program and keep the state’s roadways clean as the 2026 tourism season is expected to bring more than 209 million travelers to Pennsylvania.

[Above photo by PennDOT]

Some 55 businesses currently participate in the program, which began in 2000; cleaning more than 375 miles of roadway on an annual basis. Beginning in 2026, Sponsor-A-Highway vendors will increase litter clean-ups along sponsored roads from six to eight times per year, the agency said.

“From the World Cup to the MLB All-star Game, the NFL Draft and the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, 2026 will put Pennsylvania centerstage,” said Mike Carroll, PennDOT’s secretary, in a statement. “With so many travelers coming to our cities, now is the opportunity to show the world what makes the Commonwealth the ‘Great American Getaway.’”

Through PennDOT’s Sponsor-A-Highway program, local businesses and organizations can secure agreements with a PennDOT vendor who uses skilled maintenance forces to remove litter on roadways such as interstates and expressways, especially in areas where volunteer litter groups cannot safely pick up litter.

Sponsors are recognized with a roadside acknowledgement sign displaying their business name and logo, while also receiving a listing on PennDOT’s website.

The Sponsor-A-Highway program signs have also been redone to feature the “Let Freedom Ring” design unveiled in 2025.

“With 2026 putting Pennsylvania on the world stage, we get one chance to make a first — and lasting — impression,” said Anne Ryan, deputy secretary of tourism for the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

“Roadside signage may seem simple, but it’s one of the very first touchpoints that tells visitors who we are, what we value, and what the Great American Getaway stands for,” she added. “This investment helps us welcome millions of travelers with pride, clarity, and a sense of place the moment they cross our borders.”