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Top Five Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Florida Scenic Highways Program?
A: It’s a program designed to enhance travelers’ experience. This, in turn, provides subsequent benefits to the community. The designated scenic highways promote a heightened awareness of the state’s exceptional resources and unique history through educational and visual experiences. The program was developed in response to legislation (Section 335.093, Florida Statutes) “to preserve, maintain, protect and enhance Florida’s outstanding cultural, historical, archeological, recreational, natural and scenic resources.” It is voluntary and grass-roots based, involving strong local citizen and government support to help meet objectives. The program is perhaps best summarized by its mission statement: The Florida Scenic Highways Program will preserve, enhance and maintain the intrinsic resources of scenic corridors through a sustainable balance of conservation and land use. Through community-based consensus and partnerships, the program will promote economic prosperity and broaden the traveler’s overall recreational and educational experience.
Why should our community seek a Corridor designation?
A: Scenic highway designations yield five broad-based benefits:
Resource protection. Resource protection is the primary benefit of becoming a Florida Scenic Highway. Designation provides the opportunity to preserve, enhance and maintain corridor resources and ensure that these resources remain for future generations to enjoy.
Community Recognition. Community recognition relates to the effects that a designation may have on tourism and the promotion of communities and regions. Recognition will come from the inclusion of scenic highways on statewide maps and promotional materials such as brochures and travel guides. The posting of official Florida Scenic Highway logo signage along the designated highways will identify the corridors as “special places” with important resources worth experiencing and studying
Economic Development / Tourism. Perhaps the most tangible benefit from a designation is the opportunity for economic development/tourism. Currently, millions of tourists vacation in Florida each year, many arriving by car. Scenic highways offer these visitors alternative, out-of-the-way routes to travel throughout the state. Florida residents also generate revenues when traveling within the state. Demand for travel industry services such as recreational tours, lodging, restaurants, gas stations and other tourist-related businesses will likely increase, promoting economic growth.
Community Vision Designation also contributes to the development of a community vision. This relatively recent planning approach known as visioning focuses on the guiding principles and identity of a particular community. A scenic highway designation can complement and support a community vision by instilling a sense of community pride, and in fact, the scenic highway itself may become the central focus for community development.
Partnering. The opportunity for partnering is a key program benefit. Many facets of our society are beginning to realize the tremendous potential of cooperative relationships. Because consensus is necessary to accomplish any large planning task, the concept of partnering to realize specific corridor goals cannot be overstated. Partnering fosters a sense of unity and support for common goals and benefits all parties involved.
Who can apply?
A: Any citizen, group of citizens or local government can propose a corridor for designation under the Florida Scenic Highways Program. While essentially anyone can participate, the Program does require that all applications be submitted through a Corridor Advocacy Group, which serves as the applicant. Corridor Advocacy Group membership includes those individuals and groups who will support the corridor’s designation, both in principle and through hands-on work.
Is there any money associated with designation as a scenic highway?
A: Although the State of Florida does not provide for direct funding of designated corridors, the Federal Highway Administration has funding available. Under the National Scenic Byways Program and the Transportation Equity Act of the 21st Century (TEA-21), grant money is available for nationally and state designated scenic highways. This funding averages about $24 million each year nation-wide and candidates may apply through their State Scenic Highways Program. In addition, there are numerous federal discretionary grant programs which can provide funds to designated Corridors. History reflects that designated corridors have more success in obtaining grant money, compared with those not designated. For example, the State of Florida received $509,000 in federal matching funds from just one National Scenic Byways Grant for use on the Florida Scenic Highways Program and two corridors in Florida. Other grants continue to be given to designated Florida Scenic Highway corridors. The Tamiami Trail Scenic Highway received $2.1 million from a Public Lands Discretionary Grant, and the Park Service residing along the Trail received another $5 million from a Public Land Discretionary Grant. They also received in Fiscal Year 2000, $450,000 for Master Plan development.
Is it true that designation under the Florida Scenic Highways Program takes a lot of work and time? If so, why?
A: The intent of the Florida Scenic Highways Program is to preserve, enhance and maintain significant Florida resources. In order to do that effectively, candidates must gather “full information” about their corridor, and a partnership must exist ensuring that plans for the corridor are implemented. Too often, great plans wind up sitting on the shelf and no implementation occurs. That is not the case with the Florida Scenic Highways Program. Yet, full information, partnership and consensus can be slow in obtaining. For corridors already participating in the program, the process has typically taken about two years to complete two of the main three phases involved (for details regarding each phase, see the “How does the program work?” heading on this web site). However, there are no mandatory dates or deadlines in the manual for application submission.
