America's Byways®
Bulletin

Summer 2005 / Vol. 2 No. 5

WHAT'S NEW

Early bird registration ends on August 15! The early bird deadline - your chance to save on the National Scenic Byways Conference registration - is rapidly approaching! Everyone is eligible for the discounted conference rate of $320*. Only the full conference registration fee of $410 will be available after August 15. *Anyone who has received a special discount code must also register by August 15. Click on www.bywaysonline.org to register.

ATTENTION STATE BYWAYS COORDINATORS: You MUST register for the Conference before August 15th to receive the discounted rate of $195. After August 15th the registration fee will be $410. The registration code is "COORDXX" (replace XX with your state's abbreviation - i.e. COORDOH - for Ohio). Click on www.bywaysonline.org to register.

Transportation Reauthorization: Implications for 2005 and 2006 Grants

Congress appears close to completing negotiations on a new multi-year transportation reauthorization bill that likely will include byways funding for Fiscal Years 2005 - 2009. 2005 Grants: FHWA is waiting for the full year's funding before selecting and announcing those projects that will be funded. However, the funds will not be released until sometime in FY 2006 (after October 1, 2005). 2006 Grants: FHWA is planning to request grant applications sometime in the fall, possibly as early as October. Regardless, now is the time to start thinking about those projects for which you plan to seek byways funds and will need to prepare a grant application. The grant application should be very similar to the one used for 2005. You should contact your State byway coordinator to discuss the State's plans for considering proposed projects and any questions you have about the feasibility or eligibility of the project you have in mind.

State/FHWA Coordinator Workshop @ The Conference- Thursday, October 20

The National Scenic Byways Program State Coordinators Meeting is a gathering of State and FHWA Division staff, State scenic byways coordinators, America's Byways Resource Center, and National Scenic Byways Program staff at FHWA Headquarters. The agenda for the meeting includes presentations and discussions on topics such as the coordinator's roles and responsibilities to the program, grants, nominations, marketing and reauthorization. For more information please contact Bethaney Bacher at bethaney.bacher@fhwa.dot.gov or (800) 4BYWAYS, option 3.

GREAT IDEA

Lakes to Locks Passage "Two Nation Vacation"

Governor George Pataki met with Quebec Premier Bernard Landry in 2003, and one of the results was a Quebec/New York Tourism Initiative. Tourisme Quebec and I Love New York- Empire State Development agreed to host a Lakes to Locks Passage Media Tour. Planning began in September 2004, and June 15-19, 2005, 12 travel writers embarked on a "Two-Nation Vacation." Lakes to Locks Passage President, Howard Lowe, traveled to Montreal to welcome the group, provide an overview of the Byway, and present tote bags imprinted with Lakes to Locks Passage, I Love NY, Tourisme Quebec and America�s Byways logos. Bard Nordby, Media Relations, Tourisme Quebec hosted the Quebec part of the tour and Scott Flaherty, Media Communications, I Love NY- Empire State Development, hosted on the NY side. Patricia McNally, NSBP director of marketing communications participated in the entire trip.

The main theme was "an outdoor experience", coupled with the shared French history and cultural heritage of the corridor. Writers went bicycling, boating, hiking, and enjoyed museums, forts, gardens, antique cars, tugboats, fine dining, picnics and TONS of rain and laughter.

From observations, evaluation forms, and personal conversations with the writers, the tour was deemed a tremendous success. For more information, contact Suzanne Maye 518-597-9660, Suzanne@lakestolocks.com

Frontier Pathways Byway: Keep the WILD in the Wilderness mural project

In honor of both National Outdoor Month and the philosophy of Arthur Carhart, the Frontier Pathways Byway is hosting a mural project at the Byway Center, under the direction of professional artist Ed Sajbel. The two-day workshop invites kids 5-10 to paint and assemble a large mural that reminds young people to enjoy and respect the outdoors. The U.S. Forest Service heard about this project and has volunteered their assistance. They are helping with the project, which the Byway organization is following up with a joint-effort brochure called "Hiking with Your Family" that encourages families with children to drive the Byway and enjoy some nice easy hikes. Click here to see a copy..

Volunteers plant wildflowers on the Old Canada Road Scenic Byway

The owner of a popular campground teamed with Maine Conservation Corps and Americorps members to plant more than 500 lupines and wildflowers along Old Canada Road Scenic Byway. Lorena Albuit, who owns Evergreens Campground, and the other volunteers began planting on Robbins Hill on the Madison-Solon town line. Albuit has noticed wildflower plantings in other states, and decided it would be a good idea for Maine. The project is in keeping with the designation of that section of U.S. Route 201 as Old Canada Road Scenic Byway. The Scenic Byway Committee also is also involved in the planning effort.

 

ON THE WEB

You might have noticed a few changes in the www.byways.org website lately. The NSBO Utah team is constantly upgrading the usability, content and aesthetics of the site. The Discussion Forum on www.bywaysonline.org now includes a section for Jobs to be posted, and a new Press Room tab has been added on the site. In DC, Matthew Schulman has been adding news items regularly-so keep sending us your press releases! More upgrades will be rolled out in time for our October NSBP Conference, so keep watching.

NEWS BRIEFS

HOMELAND SECURITY LAUNCHES NEW PASSPORT INFORMATION INITIATIVE

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) just released a passport requirement timeline that explains machine-readable and biometric passport deadlines for visitors from Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries. The travel industry has worked closely with DHS to ensure that VWP travelers have sufficient time to update their passports and that any changes to requirements and deadlines are communicated to industry professionals and international travelers. Check out tia.org for more information. And click here to download the Department of Homeland Security brochure.

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July/August Topic:

"Responsibility and Leadership"