Big Bend Scenic Byway Program

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Welcome!

• Big Bend Scenic Byway Program

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Goals For This Presentation -To Provide An
Understanding Of

• The Scenic Highways Program What it IS
• Importance of community participation and
  partnering
• How it can benefit communities along the corridor
• What this Program is NOT

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Scenic Highway History
1975
1993
1996
1991
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Relationship to the National Scenic Byways Program

• Two levels of national designation
• National Scenic Byways (NSB)
• All American Roads (AAR)
• NSB must be first regionally recognized
• State and National Programs mirror one another

All American Roads
National Scenic Byways
State Scenic Highways
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Florida Scenic Highway Program

• Cultural
• Historical
• Archeological
• Recreational
• Natural
• Scenic

• A grass roots effort to heighten awareness of
  our States history and outstanding intrinsic
  resources

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Primary Intent

• Designate roadway corridors along which we can
  conserve, maintain, protect, and enhance these
  resources for the enjoyment of our citizens and
  the traveling public

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Basic Criteria

• Resources must be visible from roadway
• Corridor must tell a story
• Must be a public road that safely accommo- dates
  two-wheel-drive automobiles

• Corridor must exhibit significant, exceptional,
  and distinctive features of the region
• Must be at least 1 mile in length and provide
  access to resources

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Basic Criteria

• Community Participation program must be
  implemented
• Strong local support must be demonstrated
• Corridor Management Plan must be developed with
  the endorsement of local governments

• Majority of roadway must exhibit qualifying
  resources, which must be as continuous as
  possible
• CAG must be organized to support designation

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Program Benefits

• Recognition - Increases community recognition
  locally, statewide, regionally, nationally, and
  internationally.
• Partnering - Improves community awareness and
  understanding, thus encouraging community
  consensus.
• Education - Enables others to gain a higher
  appreciation of a communitys heritage.

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Economic Benefits

• Promotes Nature/Heritage Tourism
• General 10 increase in revenue
• Elevates the corridor and affiliated communities
  to a higher status, thus increasing chances of
  receiving funding for various projects

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Current Status

• Florida Scenic Highways
• Tamiami Trail
• Pensacola Scenic Bluffs
• Bradenton Beach
• Indian River Lagoon
• Old Florida Heritage Highway
• AIA Ocean Shore
• AIA River to Sea
• Keys Overseas Heritage Trail

• Florida Candidate Corridors
• Big Bend Scenic Byway
• US 441 Scenic Highway
• William Bartram Scenic and
• Historic Highway
• Ocean Shore Boulevard

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- Examples

• Pensacola Scenic Bluffs and Tamiami Trail
  420,000 for development of Master Plans
• Tamiami Trail - 7.1 million for development of
  Welcome Center and Roadway Improvements
• Overseas Heritage Trail 110,000 for Scenic
  Highway Program Process
• Pensacola Scenic Bluffs Highway 200,000 for
  Cell Tower Mitigation

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• Apalachee Savannahs Scenic Byway/USFS 185,000
  for development of 4 Roadside Interpretive
  Stations
• Pensacola Scenic Bluffs and Tamiami Trail -
  80,000 for Development of Interpretive Plans
• Indian River Lagoon Scenic Highway 1 million
  for development of a Visitors Center
• Pensacola Scenic Bluffs 1.2 million for Land
  Purchase of 8 Linear Acres
• Total Funding of 10,295,000 in grants, private
  donations, and state/local government
  contributions

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What Its NOT
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Does Not Preclude FDOT From

• Providing and maintaining a safe
  transportation system
• Building necessary roadway and bridge
  projects, including road widening
• Performing maintenance obligations on
  state roads, rights-of-way, and bridges
• Adhering to Standard Specifications for
  roadway design, traffic operations,
  signing, striping, signalization, and
  construction activities

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Does Not Preclude Local Governments From

• Establishing, amending, or carrying out
  local ordinances
• Maintaining local roads and infrastructure
• Carrying out established routine duties
  of local government

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Property Owners Rights

• A scenic highway designation does not change,
  add to, or take away any rights from property
  owners.

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Scenic Highway Designation

• How can we make this happen?

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Join Your (CAG) Corridor Advocacy Group

• Anyone can participate
• Acts as applicant for the corridor by preparing
  documentation and applications
• Driving force of designation process

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Special Role of the Historical
Society

• Identify outstanding Historical, Cultural, and
  Archeological resources for the Big Bend Scenic
  Byway
• Provide advice and guidance for their
  maintenance, protection, and enhancement

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The Three Phases of the Program
Eligibility Phase CAG develops supporting document
ation
Designation Phase CAG develops Corridor Management
Plan
Implementation Phase CMP Implemented
FDOT grants designation
Scenic highway Becomes a reality. . . .
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Program Reminders

• Its about Designation, not about a highway
  construction project.
• Its a community based grass-roots program.
• Land use regulations and plans still fall under
  jurisdiction of Local Governments
  Comprehensive Plans.