FEATURE ARTICLE, OCTOBER 2004

INVESTING IN FLORIDA'S SCENIC HIGHWAYS
Lynne Marie Whately

Robert Frost’s assertion that the road “less traveled by” makes all the difference rings true when driving through America’s scenic highways. When travelers get off congested interstates to take roads recognized for their archaeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational and scenic qualities, their trip is no longer focused on the ultimate destination, but on an encounter with unique communities. Such communities have reaped quality of life and economic benefits by participating in state and national scenic highway programs.

Preserving a Way of Life

Grassroots groups that treasure a certain stretch of road and want to see it protected typically drive the effort to earn a scenic highway designation. That’s what happened with the 12-mile Pensacola Scenic Bluff Highway in Florida that runs along a dramatic, red clay bluff over the historic Escambia Bay.

When some of the area’s citizens saw new homes popping up along the bluff, they decided to gain inclusion of the corridor into the Florida Scenic Highways Program. Recognition as a scenic highway gave the group leverage in winning a $1.2 million federal grant to purchase parcels that would be free from development.

Designated scenic corridors prove to be more successful in gaining grant money than highways without the designation.

While the Pensacola group preferred to limit development, others work with land-owners to ensure that new buildings reflect the personality of the community or are not constructed within view of the roadside.

Winning Improvement Funds

Acquiring a scenic highway designation comes with tangible rewards. Established in 1991, the National Scenic Byways Program has provided funding to nearly 1,500 state and nationally designated byway projects in 48 states. The grants total 80 percent of project costs, and the remaining 20 percent must be earned through other public or private sources.

A road needs to gain state scenic highway status before joining the national program. Since Florida launched its program in 1998, its 11 corridors have received $12 million in federal, state and private funds.

The state’s application process can take 2 years because of the work involved in creating a corridor management plan that outlines what strategies will be put into place to protect and improve a road. The state offers technical assistance in the application and planning processes, as well as help with writing grants once a designation has been earned.

The goals and strategies of the corridor management plan should be included in the local government’s comprehensive plan to demonstrate that the effort is supported by more than a small group of people. The possibility of additional regulations is one reason why the program stresses grassroots support.

For instance, the federal program requires that no new billboards be located along a corridor. Beyond that, the designation can lead to change in local land use rules and ordinances that affect signage, lighting and other development elements. Encouraging Economic Development

Because scenic highways can be a boon to a local economy through lodging, restaurant and other services, it is essential to both welcome visitors and manage tourism.

In the communities of Flagler County and the city of Flagler Beach, Florida, visitors come to witness the nesting and hatching of sea turtles and the arrival of migrating whales. As part of a corridor that runs along the A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Highway, both governments received a total of $500,000 in National Scenic Byway grants to plan and design improvements that will serve tourists and locals.

Projects will include four gateways to the county where people can read displays or pick up brochures describing the area’s history, natural features and wildlife. In addition, six parks will receive enhancements such as picnic areas, nature trails and boardwalks.

Florida’s tourism agency plans to include a 12-page scenic highways spread in its tourism book that will be available in welcome centers, hotels and other visitor destinations.

National Scenic Byways has partnered with the Travel Industry Association, “LIFE” books and the Mobil Travel Guide to produce publications that highlight the program’s corridors.

Encouraging Civic Pride

Scenic highway programs are often a catalyst of community pride and action. Once people work together to create a corridor plan that will impact future generations, communicating with citizens and government officials on other initiatives becomes easier.

The nationally designated Indian River Lagoon Scenic Highway has gathered 15 governments to gain $1 million for the Lagoon House, a welcome center and multi-media educational resource that opened in September. The facility is near the middle of the Indian River Lagoon Scenic Highway, which borders on wildlife refuges, historic districts and the Kennedy Space Center.

Those interested in pursuing scenic highways participation should research designation criteria with their state or federal coordinator, who can usually be reached through a highway or tourism agency, and garner support by presenting program benefits to community groups.

The process takes time, but like scenic highways themselves, the journey is worth the effort.

Lynne Marie Whately is senior project manager with Carter & Burgess in Orlando, Florida.

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