2. An Introduction to Scenic Byways
What is a Scenic Byway
Information About the Program
The Role of the Advisory Council
Next Steps
3. What is a Scenic Byway?
A Scenic Byway is a route that connects the
traveler to the unique natural, scenic,
historical, recreational, archeological, and/or
cultural heritage of the area and whose
intrinsic qualities are protected.
4. What makes a Scenic Byway?
Good resources
– Scenic Resources
– Natural Resources
– Historic Resources
– Cultural Resources
– Recreational Resources
– Archeological Resources
13. Benefits of a Scenic Byway
Increased business, tax revenue and jobs from
tourist dollars
Potential federal and state funding
Protection for a resource
Local, state and national recognition and
identification on maps
14. Scenic Byways Allow Small Communities to
Connect:
– With Each Other
– With the Traveling Public
– With Additional Funding Sources
– With Regional, State and Federal leaders
15. How to become a Scenic Byway
There are two levels of Scenic Byways
– State Scenic Byways
– National Scenic Byways
16. State Scenic Byways
Becoming a state Scenic Byway is the first
step in becoming a national Scenic Byway.
Not all state Scenic Byways become national
Scenic Byways.
Becoming a state Scenic Byway varies from
state to state.
17. State Scenic Byways
Alabama has an established procedure
dealing with scenic byways
Alabama has two formal
bodies to review potential
scenic byways
An Advisory Council
A Designating Committee
18. National Scenic Byways
Once a road becomes a state Scenic Byway, it
can apply for national Scenic Byway status.
Being a national Byway brings more national
recognition and better opportunities for
marketing and federal funding.
National Scenic Byways should exemplify the
state they are in and should be a destination in
itself.
19. Getting Started
As a member of the Advisory Council, YOU are the
first line of outreach for the Scenic Byways Program in
Alabama
YOU Can help others to:
Organize a group of interested people
Decide on a tentative route
Develop a story
Take an inventory of the road
Review the route
20. Who to contact?
Alabama Department of Transportation
The Alabama Byways Program,
www.alabamabyways.org or
info@alabamabyways.org
Your local Regional Planning Commission
National Scenic Byways Resource Center
– 800-4-BYWAY or www.byways.org
21. Byways In Alabama
National Scenic Byways in Alabama
Alabama’s Coastal Connection
The Natchez Trace
The Selma to Montgomery All-American Road
The Talladega Scenic Byway
Alabama Scenic Byways
• Appalachian Highlands Scenic Byway
• The Barbour County Governors’ Trail
• Black Belt Nature and Heritage Trail
• Black Warrior River Scenic Byway
• Leeds Stagecoach Route
• Lookout Mountain Parkway
• The Tensaw Parkway (our newest byway)
Scene from the Selma to Montgomery All American Road Rural Tourism and scenic byways are a perfect fit.
This is the Alabama definition of a scenic byway, and it is pretty similar to the national definition. Basically, it means that a scenic byway is a road that has some good qualities that a traveler will find interesting and that these qualities are protected for the future.
These aren’t the only things that make a good scenic byway, but they certainly are a key part of it. Scenic: What you see when driving the road should be pleasant to look at, and should be either one of the best examples of a typical scene or something out of the ordinary. Natural: Similar to scenic qualities, but focuses more on how our natural world has been shaped by time and nature. Historic: Old buildings, historic neighborhoods, homes, fences, and other objects made by humans that have stood the test of time. Cultural: Events that continue to occur; museums along the byway; arts and crafts Recreational: bike trails; hiking trails; birding trails; anything that provides outdoor recreational opportunities to the general public Archeological: Somewhat less common than the other intrinsic resources, this resource relies on archeological sites that are protected and accessible by the public.
Talladega Scenic Byway overlook and the Appalachian Highlands Scenic Byway. The Talladega Scenic Byway was just chosen as one of the ten most scenic drives in the United States by the American Association of Travel Writers. A scenic byway isn’t necessarily about the road itself. It is about the surroundings.
Selma to Montgomery, looking off the Edmund Pettus Bridge. The Selma to Montgomery All American Road is famous for the civil rights history that took place along its route and this is the primary reason for its status as a national scenic byway, but there are spectacular scenes found all along the road as well. Without these scenic vistas, the route, although historically significant, wouldn’t be as pleasurable to travel.
Not what you might expect, but this is an actual scenic byway--or at least the strip in Las Vegas is.
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There are many roads around the country that have features like the roads shown in the photos, but they aren’t all scenic byways. A road needs more than just pretty scenery or a historic home to make it a scenic byway. It needs people who care about it AND want to showcase it for travelers. It needs a story that will interest visitors. It needs something worth telling strangers about and something worth protecting.
There are many roads around the country that have features like the roads shown in the photos, but they aren’t all scenic byways. A road needs more than just pretty scenery or a historic home to make it a scenic byway. It needs people who care about it AND want to showcase it for travelers. It needs a story that will interest visitors. It needs something worth telling strangers about and something worth protecting.
We’ve talked about what a scenic byway is. When it comes to rural tourism, the benefits are particularly important.
We’ve covered the what’s and why’s of scenic byways. Hopefully, some of you are convinced that you need a byway in your community. There are really more than two levels—depending on where you are. Local communities often name certain roads scenic routes. But for the purposes of rural tourism, there are really two main levels: state and national. The national level is even divided up a little more—into national scenic byways and a much smaller number of All American Roads. The All American roads are considered the cream of the crop.
Alabama’s state scenic byways program was formalized in 2000 and has just completed developing guidelines for becoming a state scenic byway. Our program, like many other states, is based on the national scenic byways program, but is less difficult. Mississippi passed legislation creating a byways program several years ago. I believe that it is still being developed.
Whether you have a state scenic byway or a national scenic byway, there are some things that will make the road a good byway. Local buy-in: the majority of people along the byway need to want it and be excited about it. Strong Corridor Advocacy Group: this is just a fancy name for a bunch of people who want a byway and are willing to work for it. Protected Resources: Basically, if the resources that made it a byway disappear, the road isn’t a byway anymore.
The national Scenic Byways program has been around in various forms for many years. The National Park Service had a byways program. The Forest Service had a byways program. In 1991, the Federal Highway Administration brought all of these programs together. To date, there are just over 100 nationally recognized scenic byways.
You can also learn a lot from the experiences of the national scenic byways located in your state—or surrounding states. You can find contact information for the national scenic byways on www.byways.org for all the nationally designated scenic byways in the country.
