National Scenic Byway

To ensure a comprehensive review of scenic byway programs and issues and to get the broadest possible range of public opinions and suggestions, the study also included the following: An inventory of current Federal, State, local, and private sector scenic byway programs; An announcement in the "Federal Register" seeking views on the study approach and guidelines for a national program; A national workshop to discuss options for a national scenic byway program; and Case studies investigating tourism impacts, safety and environmental issues, scenic and historic protection techniques, and successful Federal, State, and regional byways and byway programs. This report summarizes these various activities.

Describes the scenery, history, and points of interest along three hundred scenic routes across the United States.

Describes the scenery, history, and points of interest along three hundred scenic routes across the United States

Expanded to include all U.S. designated America's Byways as well as other selected drives in all 50 states, this stunning new edition features unique driving tours through virtually every kind of landscape--spectacular coastlines, mountains, lakes, small towns, ranches and farmlands, islands, bays, and river valleys.

National forest scenic byways projects range in scope from corridor management planning to renovation of historic sites, new visitor facilities, interpretive waysides, scenic overlooks, marketing plans, and other projects. Federal Lands Highways Transportation Planning Assistance funds have made an invaluable contribution to these projects and have also leveraged grant opportunities available through FHWA National Scenic Byways Program competitive grants. These two funding sources have been the catalyst for the may outstanding community-based tourism development efforts highlighted throughout this report.

There are a number of programs at local, regional, state, and federal levels to identify scenic byways. If a community regards a roadway as a special resource, there are good reasons to work toward some kind of official designation. Doing so allows the community to protect and promote its unique qualities. An important part of that process is to create a plan to balance factors like development, conservation, tourism, and economic uses of the land along the byway. This guidebook is designed to help a community to successfully maneuver through the steps of that process. There are six intrinsic criteria for scenic byway designation.

Provides 275 distinctive drives with descriptions, detailed maps, photos.

The 1990 Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriation Act directed the Department of Transportation to prepare a report with the following objectives: update for the use of Congress a nationwide inventory of existing scenic byways; develop guidelines for the establishment of a National Scenic Byways Program, including recommended techniques for maintaining and enhancing the scenic, recreational, and historic qualities associated with each byway; conduct case studies of the economic impact of scenic byways on travel and tourism; and analyze potential safety consequences and environmental impacts associated with scenic byway designation. To respond directly to the first objective, the Federal Highway Administration developed a questionnaire in May 1990, to obtain information on Scenic Byways and byways programs. This report summarizes all four parts of the questionnaire.