Thursday, June 13, 2002
FHWA 27-02
Contact: Lori Irving
Telephone: 202-366-0660
U.S. Transportation Secretary Mineta Names 36 New National Scenic Byways, All-American Roads
U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta today added 23 new National Scenic Byways and 13 All-American Roads to the list of America's Byways. America's Byways are a distinctive collection of American roads, their stories and treasured places.
"America’s Byways are roads to the heart and soul of America," said Secretary Mineta. "Byways help create a sense of pride in America. They connect us to this country’s beauty, history and culture."
Under
the National Scenic Byways Program, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation
recognizes certain roads as National Scenic Byways or All-American Roads based
on their archaeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational and scenic
qualities.
A panel of experts considered the roads nominated for designation this year. Panel members were chosen based on, among other things, their experience with these six qualities expected of All-American Roads and National Scenic Byways.
To be designated as a National
Scenic Byway, a road must possess at least one of the six intrinsic qualities
and be regionally significant. These
roads are often the "roads less traveled."
To
receive an All-American Road designation, a road must possess multiple intrinsic
qualities that are nationally significant and have one-of-a-kind features that
do not exist elsewhere. The road or highway must also be considered a
“destination unto itself.” That
is, the road must provide an exceptional traveling experience so recognized by
travelers that they would make a drive along the highway a primary reason for
their trip.
The National Scenic Byways Program, established by Congress in 1991 and administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), was created to preserve and protect the nation's scenic byways and, at the same time, promote tourism and economic development. Participation in the program is voluntary and may encompass any public road or highway. The National Scenic Byways Program emphasizes local involvement.
“The Federal Highway Administration is proud of a program that helps preserve the sites, sounds and resources that exist on these diverse and interesting roads,” FHWA Administrator Mary E. Peters said. “Whether you want to travel close to home or plan a drive cross-country, byways provide people with exciting new travel choices. They are the treasured destinations for people willing to wander a little.”
In addition to designations, FHWA manages the scenic byways discretionary grant program. Under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), approximately $25 million is available annually for planning as well as enhancing and promoting the byways. Today's announcement marks the fourth round of designations.
With
these new designations, there are 75 National Scenic Byways and 20 All-American
Roads in 39 states, including 9 with portions in more than one state.
For additional information or to obtain brochures and maps, call
1-800-4-BYWAYS (1-800-429-9297) or through the National Scenic Byways Program
website, www.byways.org.
A
complete list of the America's Byways collection follows, with asterisks
indicating the newly designated roads.
National
Scenic Byways and All-Americans Roads
(Bold
with asterisk indicates new designations)
All-American Roads
Selma To Montgomery March Byway (Alabama)
Natchez Trace Parkway (Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee)
The Seward Highway (Alaska)
Route
One, Big Sur Coast Highway (California)
San Juan Skyway (Colorado)
Trail Ridge Road/Beaver Meadow Road (Colorado)
Historic
National Road (Illinois*, Indiana*, Maryland*, Ohio*, Pennsylvania* and West
Virginia*)
Creole
Nature Trail (Louisiana)*
Acadia Byway (Maine)
North
Shore Scenic Drive (Minnesota)*
Las Vegas Strip (Nevada)
Lakes
to Locks Passage, The Great Northeast Journey (New York)*
Blue Ridge Parkway (North Carolina)
Hells Canyon Scenic Byway (Oregon)
Historic Columbia River Highway (Oregon)
Pacific
Coast Scenic Byway (Oregon)*
Volcanic
Legacy Scenic Byway (California* and Oregon)
Utah's
Scenic Byway 12 - A Journey Through Time (Utah)*
Chinook
Scenic Byway (Washington)
Beartooth
Scenic Byway (Montana* and Wyoming)
National
Scenic Byways
Talladega Scenic Drive (Alabama)
Alaska’s Marine Highway (Alaska)*
Glenn Highway (Alaska)*
Kaibab Plateau - North Rim Parkway (Arizona)
Crowley’s
Ridge Parkway (Arkansas and Missouri)
Wilderness
Road Heritage Highway (Kentucky)*
Great
River Road (Arkansas*, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin)
Arroyo
Seco Parkway Scenic Byway (California)*
Death
Valley Scenic Byway (California)*
Tioga Road/Big Oak Flat Road (California)
Dinosaur
Diamond Prehistoric Highway (Colorado and Utah)*
Frontier Pathways Scenic and Historic Byway (Colorado)
Gold Belt Tour Scenic and Historic Byway (Colorado)
Grand Mesa Scenic and Historic Byway (Colorado)
Santa Fe Trail Scenic and Historic Byway (Colorado and New Mexico)
Top of the Rockies (Colorado)
Connecticut State Route 169 (Connecticut)
Merritt Parkway (Connecticut)
A1A
Scenic and Historic Coastal Highway (Florida)*
Indian
River Lagoon Scenic Highway (Florida)*
Tamiami Trail Scenic Highway (Florida)
Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway (Georgia)
Northwest
Passage Scenic Byway (Idaho)*
Payette
River Scenic Byway (Idaho)*
Pend
Oreille Scenic Byway (Idaho)*
Country
Music Highway (Kentucky)*
Lincoln Highway (Illinois)
Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Route (Illinois)
Ohio River Scenic Route (Illinois, Indiana and Ohio)
Loess Hills Scenic Byway (Iowa)
Old Canada Road Scenic Byway (Maine)
Rangeley Lakes Scenic Byway (Maine)
Schoodic Scenic Byway (Maine)
Chesapeake
Country Scenic Byway (Maryland)*
Woodward
Avenue (Michigan)*
Edge of the Wilderness (Minnesota)
Historic
Bluff Country Scenic Byway (Minnesota)*
Minnesota
River Valley Scenic Byway (Minnesota)*
The Grand Rounds Scenic Byway (Minnesota)
Little Dixie Highway of the Great River Road (Missouri)*
Lake Tahoe – Eastshore Drive (Nevada)
Pyramid Lake Scenic Byway (Nevada)
Kancamagus Scenic Byway (New Hampshire)
White Mountain Trail (New Hampshire)
Billy the Kid Trail (New Mexico)
El Camino Real (New Mexico)
Jemez Mountain Trail (New Mexico)
Historic Route 66 (New Mexico)
Turquoise Trail (New Mexico)
Seaway Trail (New York)
Cherohala Skyway (North Carolina and Tennessee)
Amish
Country (Ohio)*
CanalWay Ohio Scenic Byway (Ohio)
Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway (Oregon)
McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass Scenic Byway (Oregon)
Outback Scenic Byway (Oregon)
Rogue-Umpqua
Scenic Byway (Oregon)*
West Cascades Scenic Byway (Oregon)
Ashley River Road (South Carolina)
Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway (South Carolina)
Savannah River Scenic Byway (South Carolina)
The Native American Scenic Byway (South Dakota)
Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway (South Dakota)
The Energy Loop: Huntington and Eccles Canyons Scenic Byways (Utah)
Flaming Gorge-Uintas Scenic Byway (Utah)
Logan
Canyon Scenic Byway (Utah)*
Nebo Loop Scenic Byway (Utah)
Mountains to Sound Greenway - I-90 (Washington)
Strait of Juan de Fuca Highway - SR 112 (Washington)
The Coal Heritage Trail (West Virginia)
Highland Scenic Highway (West Virginia)
Midland Trail (West Virginia)
Washington
Heritage Trail (West Virginia)
*36 new designations. Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway (California), North Shore Scenic Drive (Minnesota), and Beartooth Scenic Byway (Montana) are already All-American Roads, and extensions are being approved this year. Death Valley Scenic Byway (California) already is a National Scenic Byway, and an extension is being approved this year. The Historic National Road (Illinois), Historic National Road (Indiana), Creole Nature Trail (Louisiana), and Pacific Coast Scenic Byway (Oregon) are currently National Scenic Byways, and their designation is changed to an All-American Road.