National Scenic Byway

A National Scenic Byway is a road recognized by the United States Department of Transportation for its archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and/or scenic qualities. The program was established by Congress in 1991 to preserve and protect the nation's scenic but often less-traveled roads and promote tourism and economic development. The program is administered by the Federal Highway Administration.

The most scenic of the roads in the program are designated All-American Roads. The designation means they have features that do not exist elsewhere in the United States and are scenic enough to be tourist destinations unto themselves. As of November 2010, there are 120 National Scenic Byways and 31 All-American Roads, located in 46 states (all except Hawaii, Nebraska, Rhode Island, and Texas).^[1]

Requirements

National Scenic Byways must go through a nomination procedure, and must already be designated as a state scenic byway in order to be nominated (However, roads that meet all criteria and requirements for National designation but not State or designation criteria may be considered for national designation on a case-by-case basis).^[2]

To be considered for designation as a National Scenic Byway "a road or highway must significantly meet at least one of the six scenic byways intrinsic qualities". To be designated as an All-American Road, a road must meet at least two of the six qualities. The qualities are:^[2]

• Scenic Quality is the heightened visual experience derived from the view of natural and manmade elements of the visual environment of the scenic byway corridor. The characteristics of the landscape are strikingly distinct and offer a pleasing and most memorable visual experience.
• Natural Quality applies to those features in the visual environment that are in a relatively undisturbed state. These features predate the arrival of human populations and may include geological formations, fossils, landform, water bodies, vegetation, and wildlife. There may be evidence of human activity, but the natural features reveal minimal disturbances.
• Historic Quality encompasses legacies of the past that are distinctly associated with physical elements of the landscape, whether natural or manmade, that are of such historic significance that they educate the viewer and stir an appreciation for the past. The historic elements reflect the actions of people and may include buildings, settlement patterns, and other examples of human activity.
• Cultural Quality is evidence and expressions of the customs or traditions of a distinct group of people. Cultural features include, but are not limited to, crafts, music, dance, rituals, festivals, speech, food, special events, or vernacular architecture.
• Archeological Quality involves those characteristics of the scenic byways corridor that are physical evidence of historic or prehistoric human life or activity. The scenic byway corridor's archeological interest, as identified through ruins, artifacts, structural remains, and other physical evidence have scientific significance that educate the viewer and stir an appreciation for the past.
• Recreational Quality involves outdoor recreational activities directly association with and dependent upon the natural and cultural elements of the corridor's landscape. The recreational activities provide opportunities for active and passive recreational experiences. They include, but are not limited to, downhill skiing, rafting, boating, fishing, and hiking. Driving the road itself may qualify as a pleasurable recreational experience. The recreational activities may be seasonal, but the quality and importance of the recreational activities as seasonal operations must be well recognized.

A "corridor management plan" must also be developed, with community involvement, and the plan "should provide for the conservation and enhancement of the byway's intrinsic qualities as well as the promotion of tourism and economic development". The plan includes, but is not limited to:^[2]

• A map identifying the corridor boundaries and the location of intrinsic qualities and different land uses within the corridor.
• A strategy for maintaining and enhancing those intrinsic qualities.
• A strategy describing how existing development might be enhanced and new development might be accommodated while still preserving the intrinsic qualities of the corridor.
• A general review of the road's or highway's safety and accident record to identify any correctable faults in highway design, maintenance, or operation.
• A signage plan that demonstrates how the State will insure and make the number and placement of signs more supportive of the visitor experience.
• A narrative describing how the National Scenic Byway will be positioned for marketing.

Corridor management plans for All-American Roads must also include:^[2]

• A narrative on how the All-American Road would be promoted, interpreted, and marketed in order to attract travelers, especially those from other countries.
• A plan to encourage the accommodation of increased tourism, if this is projected. Some demonstration that the roadway, lodging and dining facilities, roadside rest areas, and other tourist necessities will be adequate for the number of visitors induced by the byway's designation as an All-American Road.
• A plan for addressing multi-lingual information needs.

The final step is when the highway (or highways) is approved for designation by the Secretary of Transportation.^[2]

List of byways

References

Further reading

• Denver Post, State tops in scenic roads, September 20, 1996, p. B1
• Federal Highway Administration, Transportation Secretary Slater Announces All-American Roads, Scenic Byways in 19 States, June 9, 1998
• Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Transportation Deputy Secretary Downey Announces New All-American Roads, National Scenic Byways in 20 States, June 15, 2000
• Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Transportation Secretary Mineta Names 36 New National Scenic Byways, All-American Roads, June 13, 2002
• National Scenic Byways Program, Share the Celebration! - 45 New Designations Announced, September 22, 2005

See also

• List of Forest Service Byways
• State wildlife trails (United States)

External links

• Official website