Apologies if this was posted in a thread I didn't see, but I figured some might be interested in this Berkshire Eagle editorial about US 20.
https://www.berkshireeagle.com/stories/our-opinion-historic-route-20deserves-recognition,548853
Unlike Route 66, US 20 is still an ACTIVE designation. Designating it as a "National Historic Highway" is just more political BS this country doesn't need.
I guess everything is political if you look at it the right way, but is tourism and economic development really that bad?
Point taken. However, perhaps the people promoting this idea should present some realistic projections about the increased tourism and economic development before they force DOTs to rush headlong into providing signs for them. And the other question is this: How many other designations (Scenic Byway, Heritage Trail, etc.) do the various sections of US 20 in different states have? But let's plop down even more signs - again, on a ACTIVE US Route that will only serve to distract drivers and create future maintenance headaches for local communities and state DOTs.
Plus, the whole premise that US 20 can suddenly become the next Route 66, in my opinion, demonstrates how the folks promoting this haven't really thought it through. Route 66 became iconic both for being featured in popular culture since the Great Depression, and also as a symbol of how the Interstate system radically changed the country, and not for the better in several ways. US 20 doesn't have, and never will have, that pedigree or aura no matter how many signs you put up.