The New York State Scenic Byways program was created in 1992 by the State Legislature. The program encourages both economic development and resource conservation, recognizing that each of these aspects of a byway must be fostered to ensure the success of the other.
In New York State, there are several types of types of corridors that fall under the Scenic Byways Program.
State Scenic Byways are transportation corridors that are of particular statewide interest. They are representative of a region's scenic, recreational, cultural, natural, historic or archaeological significance.
When the program was created some corridors automatically became Scenic Byways. These include:
Scenic Roads that were designated by the New York State Department of Conservation prior to the creation of the Scenic Byways Program;
Parkways that exhibit statewide scenic, recreational, cultural, natural, historic or archaeological significance; and the
North Country Touring Routes.
National Scenic Byways are transporatation corridors of particular nationwide interest. National Scenic Byways are designated by the United States Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration. New York State has three nationally designated scenic byways:
The New York State Scenic Byways Program is administered by the Landscape Architecture Bureau, Office of Environment, New York State Department of Transportation. The program is guided and implemented by the Scenic Byways Advisory Board which includes a number of state agencies, members of the motoring public, tourism associations and organizations interested in preserving scenic quality.
