History of the Delaware Byways Program
The Delaware Byways Program is a collaborative effort of Delaware's citizens, local, state and federal government. During the 2000 legislative session, the General Assembly passed Senate Bill 320 authorizing DelDOT to develop what was then known as the Delaware Scenic and Historic Highways Program. Senate Bill 320 required that the program be developed under the guidance of an Advisory Board and it required that the Board be comprised of a wide range of interests. Members of the Board include representatives of local and county government, other state agencies, metropolitan planning organizations, various environmental and historic preservation advocacy groups, and other interested individuals. The program has since been rebranded is now known as the Delaware Byways Program.
Content Sensitive Solutions for Delaware Byways
Program Goals
The goals of the program include the identification, promotion, preservation and enhancement of Delaware roadways with at least one of the following intrinsic qualities: scenic, historic, natural, cultural, recreational and archaeological.
National Scenic Byways
The Delaware Byways Program has been spurred by the creation and policies of the National Scenic Byways Program, first established in 1991 by the federal Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA). This program, managed by the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Federal Highway Administration and in partnership with state departments of transportation or other responsible state agencies, designates National Scenic Byways and All-American Roads based on their scenic, historic, recreational, cultural, natural, and/or archeological intrinsic qualities.
Federal funds are available to assist sponsors of designated byways to prepare corridor management plans, or for other purposes including implementation of projects identified in the plans, marketing the byway, or addressing safety improvements needed due to the designation. For more information, go to bywaysonline.org
