America's Byways®What's New
Congressional Action on Extending SAFETEA-LU and Appropriations
Congress passed a SAFETEA-LU extension to February 28 as part of the Defense Appropriations Act (HR 3326, Public Law 111-118 – Division B, Section 1008(a)). This will extend FY 2010 funding for the National Scenic Byways Program and the America’s Byways Resource Center. This will give us five months of funding at the FY 2009 level, subject to obligation limitation.
However, Congress has passed a full-year appropriation bill (HR 3288, Public Law 111-117 – Division A, Title 1). This bill will allow us to fully fund all previous year grants that have not yet been allocated. There is still some processing underway, but we should have this funding in the next couple of weeks. States or Indian tribes must still notify us through our division offices that the projects are ready to obligate before we will allocate funds.
New State Assignments For Byways Specialists
State assignments for the byways specialists at the America’s Byways Resource Center have been updated! Some States have a new contact for technical assistance at the America’s Byways Resource Center, while others remain unchanged. View the updated listing.
The America’s Byways Resource Center will continue to provide quality, customized technical assistance to nationally designated byways and looks forward to building some new relationships in the process.
The America’s Byways Resource Center provides training, resources and technical assistance to individuals and groups that manage nationally designated byways. The America’s Byways Resource Center, located in Duluth, Minnesota, is a division of the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission (ARDC) in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration.
On the Web
Enjoying Winter on America's Byways
Winter is a great time of year to experience America’s Byways! Our new winter activity stories, just posted on byways.org, introduce travelers to some of our newly designated byways, and include a winter getaway that also includes the sun and sand! By adding and rotating stories seasonally that are of benefit to the byway traveler, FHWA and the National Scenic Byways Online (NSBO) team continue to generate new and maintain current visitor interest in the byways.org website, our primary means of marketing America's Byways. As byway leaders, you can be involved in this effort by responding to Byways Blast emails asking for information regarding upcoming story ideas. If you have anything to contribute, you can contact Angel Crane at angel@byways.org or Cindi Ptak at cindi.ptak@dot.gov.
News Briefs
U.S. Department of Transportation Receives Preserve America Award, highlights contribution of the National Scenic Byways Program
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) received the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) Award for Federal Preserve America Accomplishment for its support of the Preserve America Program and its leadership in historic preservation efforts across the nation.
The U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of the Secretary of Transportation, and the Federal Highway Administration were recognized for having demonstrated exemplary support for the goals and objectives of the Preserve America program. Among their many accomplishments: a Preserve America Web site that features success stories in 13 States, including Transportation Enhancement funding projects in seven Preserve America Communities; its use of the FHWA “Successes in Stewardship” newsletter in spring 2009 to highlight an additional extended case study of funding infrastructure improvements in downtown Natchitoches, Louisiana, a Preserve America Community; its long-term program support for heritage tourism development through the National Scenic Byways Program, including the 31 All-American Roads and the 121 National Scenic Byways in 46 States; and long-standing membership on the Preserve America Steering Committee. (photo included)
Spotlight on Byways
Exploring the Connection between Byways & Greenways
It was an exciting day for the Great River Road! An historic byway that now completely parallels the Mississippi River from its source to its mouth, byway representatives from Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana and Kentucky joined to cut the ribbon in Memphis to celebrate their collective designation as a National Scenic Byway. But the day was bigger than that. Communities from greater Memphis took this opportunity to look at the bigger picture, and were encouraged to think differently about living along the Mississippi – a major international resource.
The Mid-South chapter of the Urban Land Institute led the charge by hosting “Greenways and Byways: A Regional Forum for Success” on Wednesday November 18th at Mud Island River Park’s Harbor Landing. The Forum was designed to begin public dialogue about how local greenways and byways should be connected with regional initiatives, and how both can be linked to those efforts and assets on a national scale.
National Scenic Byways staff from Washington, DC kicked off the forum, speaking about funding opportunities for greenways and byways in an effort to work together up and down the river to encourage livable communities through cultural tourism and sustainable economic development.
Diana Threadgill, executive director of the Mississippi River Corridor-Tennessee, said, “It’s about green living. It’s about healthy lifestyles and exercise, and that sort of thing…it’s about being more conscious about your environment.”
