America's BywaysOn June 2, 2004, U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta announced Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) National Scenic Byways Program (NSBP) grants totaling more than $15 million for 104 projects in 37 states. The grants will help fund such projects as scenic overlooks, visitor information centers, educational and promotional materials, pedestrian trails, bike paths and safety improvements. A complete list of the funded projects can be found on the Community site.
Although solicitation of grants for 2005 has not been announced, the grant application process is currently being revised. Ideas garnered from the byway community and other sources are being reviewed and considered in an effort to streamline the application process. FHWA is interested in complete applications that recognize the benefits to the byway travelers. Our goal is to have the least complicated, most relevant information available to assist the grant applicant in preparing their funding request. News of future grant solicitations will be communicated via your State Scenic Byway Coordinator, FHWA Division Byway contact, and posted on www.bywaysonline.org.
In response to input from the multi-state byways leaders, the National Scenic Byways Online team is currently revising the way multi-state byways are presented on the Web site. To reduce some of the confusion and become more consistent with each byway's marketing strategy, the Web site team has made some important changes to www.byways.org. Specifically, a multi-state byway can now choose whether the Web site presents its information at the state level as a single byway or as a collection of state-level byways.
Lakes to Locks Passage has a recent marketing campaign in partnership with Amtrak. They are featured in Amtrak's New York by Rail publication that features three pages of Lakes to Locks Passage editorial copy and offered an opportunity for independent and co-op advertising from within the regions on adjacent pages. 175,000 copies have been printed for distribution to travel agents, tour operators, other industry professionals and Amtrak marketing managers nationwide. They will be distributed at travel trade and consumer shows, I Love NY information centers, and convention and visitors bureaus throughout New York State, as well as into Vermont and Eastern Canada.
"This is a new approach for Amtrak in marketing their Adirondack line that extends from New York City to Montréal - the first in a multi-year campaign. Lakes to Locks Passage is excited to have this great opportunity to market, and clearly define, the Byway as a multimodal destination," said Suzanne Maye, Program Coordinator for Lakes to Locks Passage: The Great Northeast Journey Byway.
The deadline for submitting information for the new South and Northeast Mobil Travel Guides in the America's Byways series, and for the existing guides Midwest, Mountain, West Coast and America's Byways has been extended until July 26. All Byway leaders, marketers, and State coordinators have been contacted for their input. For questions, contact Margaret Littman at mlittman@mobiltravelguide.com or 847-795-6747.
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