Adopt-OUR-Roads

Introduction

The Town of Cross Roads enacted the Adopt-OUR-Roads Program as an additional tool to help the Town keep its rights-of-way clear of refuse. The program encourages organizations, groups, businesses, and individuals who would like to volunteer help in efforts to beautify our Town's roadsides.

Program Goals

The goals of the Adopt-OUR-Roads Program are:

1. Promote community pride, civic responsibility, and provide an opportunity to accomplish a worthwhile goal of taking care of our environment.
2. Allowing program participants to contribute time at their convenience.
3. To engage volunteers ages 13 and older, providing a chance to develop values of giving back to the community.

4. To recognize and thank program participants via sponsorship signs installed at the adopted road section(s). The Town will provide and install the signs.

Program Description

By agreeing to participate in the Adopt-OUR-Roads program, individuals and organizations agree to:

• Perform their Adopt-OUR-Roads function for at least two years
• Care for an adopted section for litter removal
• Perform work a minimum of four times per year

The Town will provide kits containing supplies needed to clean up the adopted roadway(s).

The Town will review adopted areas to ensure participants are complying with program guidelines.

Program Checklist

Equipment Kit Contents

The equipment kit is designed to provide Adopt-OUR-Roads volunteers with the necessary materials and tools to have a successful and safe cleanup event.

The Program Coordinator will arrange for a Safety Briefing for all adopting volunteer groups prior to their first cleanup, and will supply the Equipment Kit. Additional safety information is in the Safety Guidelines.

The following items are included in the Equipment Kit:

• Plastic Litter Bags
• Safety Vests (maximum of 10)
• Trash Grabbers (maximum of 10)

The Town provides the above for volunteers. If any items are missing, contact Town Staff. The kit is to be returned to the Town within four (4) business days after the cleanup event. Also, if you have any questions regarding the proper use of equipment, please ask.

Garbage Bag Placement Plan

Safety

The Adopt-OUR-Roads Program is crafted to have safety as the overall mission. Any adoptable sections of roadway are selected for safety and appropriateness of the work involved. Participants bear individual responsibility for their own personal safety and appropriate behavior while participants are working with the Town right-of-way. Insurance is not required. However, participants agree to hold the Town harmless for injuries or claims arising out of their inappropriate actions or non-conformance to safety requirements.

Participants work without direct Town supervision and without traffic control. Groups are required to provide one adult supervisor for every five minors (children between the ages of 13 and 18) on the roadside. Group leaders are responsible for conducting a safety briefing got all participants before the group departs to conduct an event. The group leader will conducting a safety briefing for all participants before the group departs to conduct an event. The group leader will lead a safety briefing with all program participants. This safety briefing is a requirement for participants according to the safety guidelines of the Adopt-OUR-Roads Program. This briefing is to assure all participants are aware and follow the program's safety requirements. There is a TxDOT safety video available through YouTube.com that crew leaders should watch with their team as part of the pre-work session safety briefing. The video includes generalized information, where TxDOT is referred to as a resource, replace with the Town of Cross Roads: https://youtu.be/oDgWq2AyH7U

Safety Guidelines

While working along the roadside, remember SAFETY FIRST!

Forms

Application Form

Hold Harmless Signature Form

Parent/Guardian Consent for Minor Form

Email consent forms to a.mccoy@crossroadstx.gov

Schedule your cleanup date here

Designated Adopt-OUR-Roads Street and Spot Locations

Fact Sheet

The Adopt-OUR-Roads Program involves volunteer organizations picking up litter on the roadside of local roads within the Town of Cross Roads' corporate limits. All designated cleanup areas will be limited in length by the Town's discretion, normally no less than 1/2 mile long. Volunteer organizations will need to clean up their adopted section of road at least four times per year.

In addition, the leaders of each organization, group, or business, along with the initial volunteers, are required to attend a safety briefing. Leaders will be responsible for training any additional future volunteers. Participants are also required to fill out an Adopt-OUR-Roads application and release of liability form before the cleanup can begin. Town Staff must be contacted one week prior to their scheduled cleanup to notify the Town of the planned cleanup.

The Town of Cross Roads, to show its appreciation, will provide two (2) Adopt-OUR-Roads signs, one at each end of the adopted section to show where the organization, group, or business is working. Signs will display the organization, group, or business' name utilizing limited characters, including spaces. Logos, addresses, or phone numbers are not permitted. The Town will supply garbage bags and safety vests to the volunteers and will provide garbage pickup service.

The Adopt-OUR-Roads Program has proven to be successful in many communities, improving appearance through litter pickup, and is a great way for community-based organizations/groups and businesses to show their involvement in the community. This program will provide another opportunity for businesses and community-based organizations/groups to work together in this effort.