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SAN JUAN ISLAND VISITORS INFORMATION BUREAU |
$154K Scenic Byway grant receivedThe San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau received a $154,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, to continue work on the San Juan Islands Scenic Byway. Sponsored by the Visitors Bureau, the San Juan Islands Scenic Byway is a collaborative effort to interpret, protect, preserve and promote the unique rural areas of the Islands that welcome and can accommodate visitors. Beginning at the Washington State Ferry terminal at Anacortes, the three segments of the San Juan Islands Scenic Byway include the marine highway to and between the San Juans – the historic canoe route used by Native Americans, a driving tour on San Juan Island and a driving tour on Orcas Island, all connecting major visitor destinations with forty art, nature and history stops along the way. For videos and maps of the three segments see www.visitsanjuans.com/visitors/scenic-byway This second grant award is specifically for the development of a corridor management plan, an essential element in Scenic Byway development. The process will bring together citizens, businesses, organizations, and local, state and federal government agencies to define the community’s vision, goals and branding of the San Juan Islands Scenic Byway. It will also develop plans for interpretation, define the infrastructure development needs, identify resource protection areas and methods, and define marketing approaches. SJIs Scenic Byway project part of National Scenic Byway awardposted 09/03/2009
Fourteen Washington Byways were involved with the project, including the San Juan Islands Scenic Byway, Chinook Scenic Byway, Stevens Pass Greenway, International Selkirk Loop, Coulee Corridor, Whidbey Scenic Isleway, Chuckanut Drive Scenic Byway, San Juan Islands Scenic Byway, Mt. Baker Scenic Byway, North Cascades Scenic Byway, Okanogan Scenic Byway, North Pend Oreille Scenic Byway, Lewis and Clark Scenic Byway, White Pass Scenic Byway, and Pacific Coast Scenic Byway. The Washington Trust for Historic Preservation led the Revisiting Washington project, producing an interactive, multi-media travel guide that updates the State's classic 1941 Works Progress Administration guidebook called, "Washington: A Guide to the Evergreen State." History comes alive through the fun and captivating presentation, and the State's entire scenic byway program has benefited from the project. Sponsored by the America's Byways Resource Center, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the prestigious award recognizes eight projects of excellence from byway nominations across the country. Selection by a panel of byway community experts is based on four criteria, including community involvement and public outreach; partnerships; advancing the goals of the byway's corridor management plan; and, innovation. "We hope these winning projects will inspire new efforts to preserve, protect, interpret, and promote the intrinsic qualities along America's Byways, distinctive routes designated by the National Scenic Byways Program," commented Michelle Johnson, Director of America's Byways Resource Center. To learn more about the Revisiting Washington CD and Website Project please go to Washington State Tourism website on the Washington State Tourism website. Information about specific driving tours along the San Juan Islands Scenic Byway can be found at http://visitsanjuans.com/visitors/scenic-byway/ on the San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau website. State senate passes SJI Scenic Byway billSen. Kevin Ranker, D-San Juan Island, earned his first legislative victory Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009 when the Senate passed Senate Bill 5289 to designate the Washington State Ferries Anacortes/San Juan Islands route as a State Scenic Byway. "I am very pleased with the progress of this bill," said Senator Ranker. "I appreciate all of the work of Deborah Hopkins and the rest of the team at the San Juan Islands Visitors’ Bureau. They have worked tirelessly to make this important scenic byway designation a reality,"he continued. Ranker points out that having a State Scenic Byway designation brings tangible benefits, including monetary resources to support and enhance natural, cultural and historical educational programs, signage, trails, and facilities to educate the public. "I think the designation of a State Scenic Byway will be a big help in promoting the San Juan Islands as a destination of natural beauty and recreational opportunities, particularly during October through mid June,” said Ranker. Although SB 5289 is a serious effort to encourage greater tourism and bring economic development to the region, Ranker’s colleagues carried out a Senate tradition of roasting him on the occasion of the passing of his first bill. Senators who also have ferry routes in their communities extolled the scenic beauty of their routes while one member from Central Washington noted that the Columbia River is a scenic waterway for which he’d like a ferry. After SB 5289 eventually passed, Ranker concluded the tradition by presenting his fellow senators with gifts from his home district, including lavender from his yard, Lopez Larry’s Smokey Chardonnay Mustard from Lopez Island, and passes to visit the Whale Museum in Friday Harbor. The Senate is also considering several other bills sponsored by Ranker, including Senate Bill 5344 to provide a permanent funding source for the Neah Bay Response Tug and Senate Bill 5944 to direct the Puget Sound Partnership to assist the city of Bellingham and Whatcom County to implement a demonstration program regarding phosphorus loading into Lake Whatcom. San Juan Islands Sea and Land Routes Become Washington’s Newest Scenic Bywayposted 03/31/2008
"This new designation will help us educate visitors through stewardship principles regarding the beautiful and unique sea and land routes of the islands,” said Deborah Hopkins, Scenic Byways leader and Executive Director of the San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau. "For us, the byway process is a way to preserve and protect our fragile environment and the character of island life through education and interpretation." With designation as a State Scenic Byway, the byway organization will be eligible to apply for National Scenic Byway grants. In 2007, more than $2 million in federal funds were made available to Washington’s Scenic Byways. These funds go directly to the local communities along the byway for projects in their Corridor Management Plan. The San Juan Islands Scenic Byway organization has set three goals for their route:
The San Juan Islands Scenic Byway organization will begin developing a Corridor Management Plan that will detail specific projects along the route. The organization is also hosting a State scenic byway workshop in early May. Registration is on April 30, with sessions on San Juan Island on May 1 and on Orcas Island on May 2. The workshop is open to byway leaders and coordinators from around the State, as well as San Juan Islanders involved in the new byway. The National Scenic Byways Program is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. The program was established to help recognize, preserve and enhance selected roads throughout the United States. Known as “America’s Byways,” roads in the Scenic Byways program are cherished for their scenic, natural, recreational, historic, cultural or archaeological qualities. For additional information about the National Scenic Byways Program and the newly designated Washington routes, visit www.byways.org Scenic Byway public information meetings setposted 3/17/2006
According to organizers, more than 15 grassroots community organizations support a Scenic Byway designation. If the routes are designated as a State Scenic Byway, they will be eligible to apply for designation as a National Scenic Byway and if successful for National Scenic Byway grants. Scenic Byways are based on six qualities: scenic, cultural, historic, natural, recreational and archaeological. The three goals for the local Scenic Byway are: 1. Economic Development: To increase ridership on Washington State Ferries, and visitorship and interest in the San Juan Islands as a destination of natural scenic beauty, cultural significance and recreational opportunities. 2. Education: To educate the public regarding islanders’ stewardship ethics in protecting and preserving our unique environment, natural resources, watchable wildlife, scenic vistas and quality of life through interpretive signage, etc. 3. Monetary Resources: To bring national monetary resources to San Juan County in order to support and enhance natural, cultural and historical educational programs, signage, and facilities, etc. along the Scenic Byway. The following organizations support the designation, others are being contacted.
For more information or to be added to the list of supporters please contact Deborah Hopkins, San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau, 378-3277 x5. Scenic byway status sought for roads and ferry routesposted 12/27/05
Deborah Hopkins, executive director of the San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau, updated the county Commissioners on the process. "There are up to six intrinsic qualities found along such a route which are: scenic, natural, historic, cultural, recreational and archaeological, she said. The group believes the county's route includes all but the archaeological quality, she said. Representatives of 15 organizations attended meetings this fall with State Scenic Byway Coordinator Paula Connelley, according to Hopkins. The groups included:
The group set three goals for the designation. They are:
There will be public information meetings on each island and in Anacortes in January and February "to gain support and collect a list of 'gems/treasures' along the byway." Hopkins noted islanders may decide to keep some treasures "hidden". After the application is submitted, Connelley will conduct a field study and then make a presentation to the Transportation Commission and the state legislature. Once the designation is granted, the group will work on a Corridor Management Plan grant application, a National Scenic Byway application, and will seek grant funding for marketing, signage, etc. Commissioner Bob Myhr said, "I want to congratulate Deborah. This is a great project. W am delighted you are taking this on." Myhr noted the San Juan Preservation Trust worked on developing a ferry corridor greenway by purchasing parcels designated "forever wild." Commissioners Alan Lichter and Kevin Ranker both expressed their support of the plan. Ranker thanked Hopkins for the progress she has made in just a few months. "I was very excited the Visitors Bureau took it on. The (project) was with other organization for two years and they didn’t do anything with it," he said. Community support essential for scenic byway designationposted 03/03/03
Nielsen said, "Once designated, the byway route including ferries, terminals, and county roads would be eligilble for funding and other assistance from state and national offices of transportation and economic development." Alaska's Marine Highway obtained the scenic highway designation last year. The Strait of Juan De Fuca highway through Cllallam is part of the state scenic highway program. "The process has to be initiated by a local group," said Nielsen. There is a six part process.
Commissioner John Evans said, "I'm encouraged. I am always skeptical but the research I've done appears it is all upside, there is not much if any downside. This would be something for the new committees on EDC and tourism could take a lead on." Commissioner Rhea Miller appreciated the work Nielsen had done and noted grants for walking trails may be available if as a result of the process. Scenic byway designation suggested for ferry route | |
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posted 02/10/03
Congress created the National Scenic Byways Program in 1991. According to the National Scenic Byways Program Web site:
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CriteriaApplications must refer to what is representative, unique, irreplaceable, or distinctly characteristic about a Byway, in six categories: Archaeological -- Physical evidence of historic or prehistoric life that is visible and capable of being inventoried and interpreted. Cultural – Evidence and expressions, in current practice, of the customs or traditions of a distinct group of people, e.g., crafts, music, dance, rituals, festivals, speech, food, special events, and vernacular architecture. Historic – Legacies of the past, distinctly associated with the physical landscape, whether natural or manmade, of such historic significance that they educate the viewer and stir an appreciation of the past. Natural – Visible environmental features, in a relatively undisturbed state, that predate the arrival of human populations, e.g., geological formations, fossils, landforms, water bodies, vegetation, and wildlife. Recreational – Outdoor recreational activities directly related to the natural and cultural elements of the corridor’s landscape. Scenic – With exceptional views of natural and manmade elements of the visual environment. |
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