About NYS Scenic Byways Program
To support New York State communities interested in utilizing scenic byway corridor designation and corridor management plans (CMP) to enrich quality of life in New York State, the Hudson River Valley Greenway partnered with the University at Albany to develop this resource manual.
The purpose of this web resource page is to assist communities in making critical decisions regarding the process of pursuing a scenic byway designation and/or creating a community-driven corridor management plans to guide future development and establish eligibility for scenic byway funding from the federal and state government.
What are Scenic Byways?
A Scenic Byway is “a public road having special scenic, historic, recreational, cultural, archeological, and/or natural qualities that have been recognized as such through legislation or some other official declaration”. While many other states have similar programs, this web resource will focus on two specific forms of designation: New York State Scenic Byway designation, and National Scenic Byway designation.
Achieving designation, either at the national or state level, is expected to be a grassroots, bottom-up process, controlled by local stakeholders. Any individual or group in a community can initiate the application process. In as much as it is a bottom-up, voluntary process, it is important that public participation be strong throughout the application process: from deciding whether or not to nominate a route, to identifying the sites and features that make that route eligible, to planning for the proposed byway’s future. To learn more about byway designation programs, please refer to the Report page.
Planning NYS Scenic Byway
This web resource also includes maps, datasets for creating your own maps, and other resources for case studies to assist byway planning process. Maps section includes online interactive map application. This page is designed to assist byway designation process for local governments, community-based organizations (CBOs), and citizens.
Other Important Links for Scenic Byway Planners in NYS
Hudson River Valley Greenway:http://www.hudsongreenway.state.ny.us/home.aspx
New York State Department of Transportation:
https://www.nysdot.gov/display/programs/scenic-byways