BILL NUMBER:S5687

TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the highway law, in relation to the New York state
scenic byways system

PURPOSE:

An act to amend the highway law, in relation to adding portions of New
York State Routes 28, 42, and 214 to the New York State Scenic Byways
System.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 adds a new paragraph (j-13) to subdivision 1 of Section
349-dd of the highway law to include the "Catskill Mountains Scenic
Byway" as a component of the New York State Scenic Byways System.
Section 2 provides for the effective date.

EXISTING LAW:

No current designation exists for the portion of highway which is the
subject of the legislation.

JUSTIFICATION:
              

On May 1, 2015, the New York State Scenic Byways Advisory Board,
acting upon the nomination of the board of directors of the Central
Catskills Collaborative, voted unanimously to recommend the
designation of the Catskill Mountains Scenic Byway as a New York State
Scenic Byway. Legislation is required to formally designate and thus
include the Catskill Mountains Scenic Byway in the New York State
Scenic Byways System.

The 45 mile scenic byway corridor primarily follows New York State
Route 28, with short extensions along New York State Routes 42 and 214
through the heart of the Central Catskills, connecting the hamlets of
Phoenicia and Pine Hill, the villages of Fleischmanns and
Margaretville, and the towns of Olive, Shandaken, Middletown and
Andes, all within Ulster and Delaware 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 New York State Scenic Byways Advisory
Board, responsible for carrying out the intent of the legislation that
created the program, has adopted rigorous criteria to ensure
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 proposed Catskill Mountains Scenic
Byway have completed all the necessary steps to meet the New York
State Scenic Byways Advisory Board's criteria. This included
developing a vision statement and goals, identifying significant


features and resources along the corridor, and preparing a
comprehensive scenic byway corridor management plan. The route
traverses the Catskill Park, a tapestry of public and private lands;
passes the state operated Belleayre Mountain Ski Center at the
boundary between Ulster and Delaware Counties; provides a stunning
panorama atop Palmer Hill in Andes, and links two of New York City's
largest reservoirs.

The Central Catskill Collaborative, through a series of documented
public meetings, defined a vision for the proposed Catskill Mountains
Scenic Byway corridor that provides for the conservation and
enhancement of the underlying intrinsic resources, while fostering the
promotion of tourism and economic development. It aims to improve the
economic well being of the Central Catskills by enhancing and
promoting its historical, cultural, recreational, and scenic
resources. The collective energies of the involved local governments,
public agencies, non-profit organizations, and citizens illustrate
regional cooperation and forward looking commitment.

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 bill

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Minimal -- installation of scenic byway route marker signs, in
accordance with accepted state practice, along the 45 mile corridor
extension.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

Immediate