BILL NUMBER:S3494

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the highway law, in relation to the
New York state scenic byway system

PURPOSE:  To change the route of the existing Black River Trail Scenic
Byway, adding various state, county and local roads in the Towns of
Lowville, Denmark, Champion, Wilna, LeRay, Rutland, Watertown,
Hounsfield and Brownville and the City of Watertown to the existing
route; rename sections of the existing Black River Trail in the Towns
of Lowville, New Bremen, Croghan, Diana, Pitcairn, Fowler, Gouverneur,
DeKalb, and Oswegatchie and adding new various roadways in the Towns
of Lisbon and Canton, to become a new Maple Traditions Scenic Byway.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:  Revises section 342-k of the Highway Law
describing the route of the Black River Trail Scenic Byway; a
component of the New York State Scenic Byways System. Adds a new
component, (j-x) to subdivision 1 of § 349-dd of the Highway Law,
including the Maple Traditions Scenic Byway as a component of the New
York State Scenic Byways System.

EXISTING LAW:

Section 349-dd, subdivision 1 of the Highway Law enumerates the
components of the State Scenic Byways System.

              

JUSTIFICATION:  On October 17, 2012, the NYS Scenic Byways Advisory
Board, acting upon the nominations of the Black River Trail Scenic
Byway Steering Committee and the Maple Traditions Scenic Byway
Steering Committee, recommended changing the name of a portion of the
existing Black River Trail Scenic Byway to a new Maple Traditions
Scenic Byway, adding new sections to both the Black River Trail and
the Maple Traditions Scenic Byway creating two distinct New York State
Scenic Byways. To be formally designated and thus included in the New
York State Scenic Byways System, legislation is needed.

The 95-mile corridor of the revised Black River Trail Scenic Byway
follows portions of US Route 11, New York State Routes 3, 12, 12D,
12F, 26, 126, 180 and 410; in Oneida, Jefferson and Lewis Counties.

The 71-mile corridor of the Maple Traditions Scenic Byway follows
portions of US Route 11, New York State Routes 3, 26, 37, 58, 68, 812,
and, St. Lawrence County Route 78, in Lewis and St. Lawrence Counties.

The Legislature established the Scenic Byways Program in the
Department of Transportation in 1992 to create a statewide system of
scenic byways and to coordinate the activities of state agencies,
local governments and not-for-profit organizations into one
comprehensive program. The Scenic Byways Advisory Board, responsible
for carrying out the intent of the legislation that created the
program, has adopted rigorous criteria to insure that communities
seeking scenic byways designation for a highway are committed to the
scenic, historic, natural, recreational, cultural and archeological
resources associated with the proposed byway.


The communities located along the revised route of the Black River
Trail Scenic Byway and the proposed Maple Traditions Scenic Byway have
completed all the steps necessary to meet the Board's criteria.  This
included developing a vision statement and goals, identifying
significant features and resources along the corridor, and preparing a
distinct comprehensive Corridor Management Plan for each scenic byway.
Through a series of public meetings, each Byway defined a vision for
the scenic byway corridor that would balance the promotion of local
interests with the protection of scenic, agricultural, recreational
and historic resources. For the Black River Trail this will be
accomplished by improving way finding and byway identity through
coordinated directional signage; enhancing understanding of byway
resources through education and interpretation; enhancing existing and
creating additional recreational opportunities; coordinating
communities along the byways and linking them to tourism markets; and
assisting with business activity to make the byway experience more
fulfilling for travelers and economically stimulating for local
establishments. To reach these goals there will be an emphasis on
public-private partnerships of citizens, businesses, public officials
and local support agencies. For the Maple Traditions Scenic Byway this
will be accomplished by strengthening and diversifying the
agricultural economy and craft products industry along the route;
assisting with business activity to make the byway experience more
fulfilling for travelers and economically stimulating for local
establishments; coordinating communities along the byways and linking
them to tourism markets; improving way finding and byway identity
through coordinated directional signage; and enhancing understanding
of byway resources through education and interpretation. To reach
these goals there will be an emphasis on public-private partnerships
of citizens, businesses, public officials and local support agencies.

Many benefits may accrue to communities through which scenic byways
pass including: increased economic benefits through promotion of
tourism, improved traveler and community services, broadened
appreciation of the State's historic and natural resources and support
for managing and maintaining these resources, improved management of
resources to accommodate visitors, more careful stewardship of the
byway corridor, appropriate signs, incorporation of design features in
keeping with the attributes of a scenic byway and grants to develop
the scenic byway. It is desirable to have the byways designation made
as soon as possible so that efforts to carry out the objectives of the
scenic byways program can get underway within the corridor while the
momentum and enthusiasm that resulted in the nomination are still
high.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: New.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:  This proposal has no fiscal implications for the
State. However, it would allow the municipalities along the designated
byways to be eligible for federal funding under the National Scenic
Byways Program.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Immediate.