Transportation Secretary Slater Announces All-American Roads, Scenic Byways in 19 States

Topics:  Rodney E. Slater

Federal Highway Administration
June 9, 1998

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, May 22, 1998
Contact: Karen Whitney
Telephone: 202-366-0660
FHWA 24-98

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney E. Slater today announced that 33 roads in 19 states have been designated 1998 All-American Roads or National Scenic Byways because of their scenic, natural, historic, cultural, archaeological or recreational qualities.

"President Clinton and Vice President Gore have asked us to do all we can to protect and enhance communities and our environment," Secretary Slater said. "The National Scenic Byways program enables Americans to fully enjoy the roads that are important to us culturally, historically and esthetically."

This program will continue under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century which today is being signed by President Clinton.

The National Scenic Byways program, designed to recognize and enhance the best of America’s national transportation corridors, is managed by the department’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Designations are made in two categories, All-American Roads and National Scenic Byways.

All-American Roads, the highest designation, provide visitors with a unique driving experience. They are roads that travelers want to enjoy, and they are destinations unto themselves. International visitors are encouraged to include these roads in their travels to the United States.

National Scenic Byways are exceptional roads that exemplify regional characteristics of the nation’s culture, history and landscape. They are often "off the beaten path" and provide a taste of real Americana.

Today’s announcement marks the second round of designations under the National Scenic Byways program. Twenty roads were designated in 1996.

One of the All-American Road roads included in the 1996 designations, the San Juan Skyway, helped boost the tourism industry in that region. Ken Francis, Friends of San Juan Skyway coordinator, said the designation has helped bring additional visitors to southwest Colorado and has helped move forward important byway resource protection initiatives.

Under the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, $74.3 million was awarded in Scenic Byway discretionary grant funds to 39 states, including Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, for 538 projects. Under TEA-21, $148 million will be made available for the scenic byways discretionary program. Highways designated as All-American Roads or National Scenic Byways will receive priority consideration for these funds which will be used for the development of programs and related services along scenic byways.

The roads receiving All-American Road and National Scenic Byway designations in 1998 were selected by a panel of experts, among whom were representatives from the tourism industry, historic preservation organizations, tribal communities, and other public and private organizations. They evaluated nominations submitted by states and federal agencies for the 1998 designations.

For additional information or to obtain brochures on the 1998 and 1996 designations, call 1-800-4-BYWAYS (1-800-429-9297). Digital photographs of activities at the event during which the designated roads were announced are available on the National Scenic Byways Program web site at www.byways.org. A list of the 1998 designations follows.

All-American Roads

Oregon Historic Columbia River Gorge

Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway

Washington Mather Memorial Parkway

National Scenic Byways

Alabama Talladega Scenic Drive

Alaska The Seward Highway

Arkansas Crowley’s Ridge Parkway

Arizona Kaibab Plateau - North Rim Parkway

California Death Valley Scenic Byway

Colorado Frontier Pathways

Santa Fe Trail Scenic and Historic Byway

Top of the Rockies

Illinois Ohio River Scenic Route

Meeting of the Great Rivers

Indiana The National Road

Minnesota The Grand Rounds Scenic Byway

New Hampshire White Mountain Trail

New Mexico Billy the Kid Trail

El Camino Real

Jemez Mountain Trail

Santa Fe Trail

North Carolina Cherohala Skyway

Ohio Ohio River Scenic Route

Oregon Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway

McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass Scenic Byway

Pacific Coast Scenic Byway

Outback Scenic Byway

South Carolina Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway

Savannah River Scenic Highway

South Dakota The Native American Scenic Byway

Utah Flaming Gorge-Uintas Scenic Byway

Nebo Loop Scenic Byway

Washington Mountains to Sound Greenway

West Virginia The Coal Heritage Trail