HR1422 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1422 LRB099 23480 GRL 50945 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, November 11, 2016 is the 90th anniversary of the official designation of Route 66; and

WHEREAS, For many decades, Route 66 was the major highway across the United States and through the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Illinois had a major impact on Route 66; the route begins in Chicago and Illinois was the first state to have the route paved across an entire state; and

WHEREAS, Illinois Route 66's journey runs almost a 300-mile stretch through numerous towns, eventually arriving in Missouri before continuing on its way to Santa Monica, California; and

WHEREAS, Since 1989, the Route 66 Association of Illinois has been working to preserve and promote Route 66 in Illinois; the group also established the Route 66 Association Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, Illinois' section of Route 66 was decommissioned in 1977, but the Prairie State's portion of the Mother Road endures; although the road is often under new designations, all but about 13 miles of the final alignment remains traversable; and

WHEREAS, In 2005, the Illinois stretch of Route 66 received National Scenic Byway status; the National Park Service Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program has awarded more than 23 cost-share grants to assist properties in Illinois; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we celebrate the 90th anniversary of this famed highway and invite the citizens of this State to join in celebrating this landmark year; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Route 66 Association of Illinois and the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway.