National Scenic Byways Program

National Scenic Byways Program
Federal Highway Administration · Public domain · source
Name	National Scenic Byways Program
Country	United States
Established	1991
Administered by	Federal Highway Administration

Contents

National Scenic Byways Program The National Scenic Byways Program promotes designation of distinctive United States Department of Transportation corridors by recognizing roads with archaeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and scenic qualities, and by supporting preservation and tourism through partnership with the Federal Highway Administration and state transportation agencies. The program links federal statutes such as the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 and the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century to on-the-ground stewardship involving National Park Service units, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and state-level historic preservation offices. It fosters collaboration among stakeholders including the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, nonprofit organizations like the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and local economic development agencies such as Economic Development Administration.

Overview

The program identifies corridors eligible for designation as All-American Road or National Scenic Byway under criteria established by the Federal Highway Administration and the United States Congress via transportation legislation such as the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 and the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century. Designated routes connect resources managed by institutions including the National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, United States Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management, and often traverse landscapes associated with events like the Lewis and Clark Expedition or landmarks such as the Grand Canyon National Park and Route 66. Partners include state departments such as the California Department of Transportation, Arizona Department of Transportation, and local entities like the Maine Department of Transportation and regional tourism boards exemplified by Visit Florida.

The program originated in federal law enacted by the United States Congress through the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, administered by the Federal Highway Administration with support from the National Scenic Byway Foundation and advocacy by groups such as the Scenic America and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. Early designations highlighted corridors linked to historical narratives like the Lewis and Clark Expedition, cultural corridors near the National Civil Rights Museum, and recreational routes providing access to Yellowstone National Park and Acadia National Park. Subsequent reauthorization under laws including the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century and the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users expanded grant programs and cooperative agreements with agencies such as the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Designation requires demonstration of intrinsic qualities—archaeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and scenic—as defined by the Federal Highway Administration and evaluated in applications submitted by state departments like the Ohio Department of Transportation or by corridor management entities modeled on partnerships such as the National Scenic Byway Foundation and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The process involves coordination with the State Historic Preservation Office, consultation with the National Park Service, and compliance with federal statutes administered by the United States Department of Transportation and oversight by congressional committees such as the United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and the United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Management typically relies on corridor management plans developed by partnerships between state agencies like the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and nonprofit organizations such as the American Hiking Society or regional development agencies like the Economic Development Administration. Funding has included discretionary grants from the Federal Highway Administration authorized under statutes like the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 and later programs administered through the United States Department of Transportation, supplemented by philanthropic support from foundations such as the Ford Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and by tourism revenues directed through state tourism offices such as Visit California and Explore Minnesota.

Notable corridors include the Blue Ridge Parkway linkages with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, sections of the historic Route 66 associated with the Route 66 Association, the Great River Road following the Mississippi River, the Pacific Coast Highway segments in California, and the Overseas Highway in Florida connecting to the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Other significant byways traverse landscapes tied to the Civil Rights Movement, the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and regions featuring landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty and Independence Hall.

Proponents highlight economic benefits measured by regional tourism boards like Travel Oregon, historic preservation advanced with assistance from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and conservation outcomes tied to the National Park Service and United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Critics, including some transportation policymakers and fiscal conservatives in the United States Congress, argue grant funding has been inconsistent and that designation can increase traffic pressures on fragile resources managed by agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management and the United States Forest Service. Environmental advocates from organizations like the Sierra Club have at times raised concerns about balancing access with protection of habitats overseen by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

Related domestic initiatives include the Scenic Byways Program (state) and heritage corridor efforts such as the National Heritage Area program administered by the National Park Service and supported by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. International equivalents and comparable programs include routes promoted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage framework, the EuroVelo network coordinated by the European Cyclists' Federation, and national scenic route systems in countries like Canada and Australia managed by agencies such as Parks Canada and the Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications.

Category:United States transportation