 Our
mission is to enhance the quality of life and pride in local communities
as well as the visitor appeal by identifying and promoting as well as
encouraging the responsible management and preservation of the state’s
most scenic, cultural and historic roads and surrounding resources National Scenic Byways Grants
Our Grants Program funds the development of community-based corridor
management plans (CMP), which make scenic byways eligible for additional
grants as well as a National Scenic Byway designation. For more information
about Scenic Byways Grants see "Grant
Overview" (PDF, 50KB), Check out the list of previously funded
grants by visiting http://www.bywaysonline.org/grants/
Scenic byways must be designated at the State level
before a sponsor may apply for CMP funds. In order to obtain the state
designation, the byway must be "scenic" with added weight given to byways
with historical, cultural, natural, archaeological, and/or recreational
qualities that promote Maryland's unique heritage. Preference will also
be to byways with the potential for broad-based community support. After
a CMP has been completed, the project sponsor may choose to nominate
the State Scenic Byway as a National Scenic Byway or an All American
Road. Visit the National Scenic Byway page at: http://www.byways.org
CSS Guidelines for Maryland Scenic Byways
SHA has developed guidelines for work on byways titled, Context-Sensitive
Solutions (CSS) principles for Maryland Scenic Byways (PDF, 562
kb) and CSS
Guidelines for the Historic National Road (PDF, 2.88 mb). Future
road improvements along the byways will give consideration to the intrinsic
qualities of the byway, which will improve the visitor experience.
Corridor Management Plans
-
Check out the Charles
Street Corridor Management Plan. Charles Street is considered
Baltimore's premier street-the address for some of its finest stores,
restaurants, offices, institutions, and homes. Charles Street is
practically an outdoor museum that virtually tells the story of
urban innovation in City Planning, Architecture, Education, and
Philanthropy.
-
The Lower Eastern Shore Heritage Committee (LESHC)
has been working closely with SHA in an effort to develop a CMP for
the Blue
Crab Scenic Byway (PDF, 20.2 mb). This new byway plan will create
a 150 mile loop through the lower three counties with three offshoots
taking visitors to Crisfield/Smith Island, Ocean City and Assateague
Island National Seashore.
-
The Maryland National Road Association (MNRA),
a collaboration of state agencies, local governments, and the communities
have completed a CMP, nominated and received an 'All American Road'
designation for the Historic
National Road (HNR) . A new non-profit has formed to continue
the mission of the HNR CMP. The MNRA has applied for $25,000 in NSB
funds for a seed grant to help it meet its' self-sustaining goal.
Several members of the MNRA Management Team are board members of
the National Road Alliance, a multi-State, non-profit organization
dedicated to promoting and preserving the entire length of the Road;
-
The Chesapeake
Country Alliance is a partnership between Cecil, Kent, Queen
Anne's Counties and SHA. The Alliance has nominated and received
National Scenic Byway status for one of the state's most diverse
and beautiful driving routes through the Delmarva Peninsula;
-
Other Maryland communities are developing Corridor
management plans for many of the designated State scenic byways,
such as Catoctin
Mountain National Scenic Byway , Charles Street, Falls Road,
Lower Eastern Shore Byway, Lower Patuxant River Byway and the Underground
Railroad Trail.
-
-
St. Mary’s and Charles Counties and the Southern
Maryland Heritage Area, Inc. have teamed up with landscape architects,
planners, engineers, and historians to develop the Religious
Freedom Byway Corridor Management Plan (PDF, 22.78 MB.) The Religious
Freedom Byway presents the story of America’s First Right and the
quest for religious tolerance in Colonial America.
For Further Information:
For further information about each byway, see "Scenic
Byways" or contact:
Maryland Scenic Byways
Office of Environmental Design
State Highway Administration
707 North Calvert Street
Baltimore MD 21202
E-Mail: byways@sha.state.md.us
|
