America's Byways®WHAT'S NEW
New Useful Information for Grant Applicants - Examples of Grant Applications
ON THE WEB
Assessing and Sustaining the Quality of the America's Byways Collection Findings on Bywaysonline.org - Parts 3 & 4
In 2007 and 2008, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) sponsored a research effort to compile and analyze information on the quality of America's Byways and the results of projects funded through the National Scenic Byways Program. With the launch of the third and fourth installments, Projects Funded Through the National Scenic Byways Program and Directions for the Program, FHWA has now released the complete results of this effort on the bywaysonline.org website and encourages your discussion and comment.
New Feature on Byways.org
Byways.org now has a new feature for the international traveler! Inspired by the research performed by the U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, Office of Travel & Tourism Industries, the new Featured Destinations pages highlight seven gateway cities that the international traveler frequently travels to when coming to the United States and the America's Byways that are just a short drive away.
NEWS BRIEFS
Reauthorization Update
The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) expires on September 30, 2009. The U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is the primary committee that will deal with byways related provisions in the House (http://transportation.house.gov/). This Committee is currently considering the "Surface Transportation Authorization Act of 2009" which is a six-year authorization, but which currently provides no funding levels. This is a "Blueprint for Investment and Reform" that would redefine the Federal role and restructure Federal surface transportation by consolidating or terminating more than 75 programs. It would reform the U.S. Department of Transportation to "require intermodal planning and decision-making; ensure that projects are planned and completed in a timely manner; and ensure that DOT programs advance the livability of communities." This bill retains the National Scenic Byways Program as currently established in 23 U.S.C. 162. The only change would be to codify the America's Byways Resource Center and make funding of the Center a set-aside of the NSBP instead of a separate authorization. The House bill would also establish an Office of Livability within the FHWA to administer the National Scenic Byways Program and other programs.
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee is the primary committee that will deal with byways related provisions in the Senate (http://epw.senate.gov/). Their Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2009 would be an 18-month extension of SAFETEA-LU programs with funding at the same level as FY 2009 and with no program changes.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation LaHood has proposed 18-month highway reauthorization that would "enact critical reforms to help us make better investment decisions with cost-benefit analysis, focus on more investments in metropolitan areas and promote the concept of livability to more closely link home and work." No actual legislative language has been proposed as yet.
SPOTLIGHT ON BYWAYS
An Icon Retires
Sally Pearce, a name that is almost synonymous with America's Byways®, has decided to retire as the Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways Program Coordinator. Her influence on the National Scenic Byways Program is significant: beyond hosting the biennial National Scenic Byways Conference this year in Denver, she is a current board member of the National Scenic Byway Foundation and serves on the America's Byways Resource Center Advisory Committee.
So what was Colorado like before Sally got there? A native of Massachusetts, she moved to Colorado in 1979 with her M. A. in Historic Preservation, and B. A. in American Studies. Before devoting full time to Colorado's Scenic Byways, she was also the Department of Transportation's historian and did both jobs for eight years. She also served on the Board of Directors for Colorado Preservation Inc. for seven years, including terms as both President and Treasurer. When the State lost its tourism office for eight years, the Byways program was the only statewide alliance promoting tourism, and some people say that the program (substitute Sally) was no doubt responsible for softening some of the statewide tourism declines accrued during that period.
But through it all, it's hard to imagine Sally having it any other way. In fact, she doesn't even like to take credit for the program, because as she says, "all the hard work comes from local byway organizations…they have made me look good all these years." While that may be true, we know an icon when we see one. Sally Pearce is an icon. This is not goodbye; we are just waiting to hear about her next byway adventure! If you'd like to share a story about Sally, post it in our discussion forum.
