Guiding Principles
The recommendations presented in this report should be considered within the context of a set of guiding principles designed to direct future actions to enhance, sustain, and promote the America's Byways® collection. These guiding principles should direct program priorities and byway actions.
The America's Byways® collection should be characterized by:
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A Distinguished Collection of Places
The America's Byways® collection is a national resource. Like the units of the National Park Service, byways tell the stories of the land and people of the United States. Visitor expectations should be high when anticipating a visit and should be confirmed on arrival to a nationally designated byway.
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Secure and Stable Resources
The intrinsic qualities are the cornerstone of the NSBP. For the America's Byways® collection to maintain a high level of quality and visitor satisfaction, the intrinsic qualities for which each byway has been designated must be protected and cared for. Care and conservation should be a baseline expectation for every byway manager and every byway traveler.
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Professional Management
As the America's Byways® collection grows, so do the expectations from the traveling public. Maturing byways should be professionally managed with resource experts, marketing professionals, and tourism managers. They should have a close and complementary relationship with their local, State, or Indian tribe transportation department ensuring that safety and context sensitive management are the rule, rather than the exception.
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Adequate Financial Resources
To manage the America's Byways® collection a dedicated and reliable stream of funding is needed. Funding may come from the local, State, Indian tribe, or Federal agency level, or be provided through entrepreneurial activities, foundations, or nonprofit organizations. Regardless of the source, such funding must be sufficient to enhance, sustain, and promote the byway and its activities.
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Standards of Consistent Quality
As a part of the America's Byways® collection, designated byways should meet expectations for quality of resource protection, visitor facilities, education, interpretation, organizational management, and fiscal stability. Quality standards should be developed and promoted among the byways. These standards must reflect the unique resources and local qualities of each byway while establishing a high, but achievable, standard of excellence.
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Grassroots, Entrepreneurial Responsibility
The America's Byways® collection is built on a strong foundation of grassroots commitment, initiative, and passion. Grassroots management and initiative is critical to ensure the diversity of the collection and the authenticity of the stories of America's land and people. The Program must strive for excellence while recognizing the unique relationship each byway has to the collection and to the NSBP.
