FUNDING FOR NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAY PROGRAM FROZEN IN NEW BILL
October 31, 2012
On July 6, 2012 President Obama signed the new transportation bill, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21), which will sustain the Highway Trust Fund and provide States and communities with two years of steady funding to build needed roads, bridges, and transit systems.
Although the National Scenic Byway Program was NOT eliminated, and the designation program still exist within the Federal Highway Administration, there is no direct funding or grant program funds in the new bill for the National Scenic Byway Program. It appears there is some funding eligibility for byways under the new Transportation Alternatives Program, however, the extent of that eligibility is not yet clear. As expected, once it is more clearly worked out, decisions for use of Transportation Alternatives funds will be made at the state level.
The Federal Highway Administration has created a website to link to the new bill and provide related resources as they become available. The website can be accessed at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/MAP21/. You are encouraged you to check back regularly for updated information.
