A reader passed along a news release today from Rep. Jerry Costello (D-Ill.) about Illinois receiving grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Scenic Byways program for several of the state’s historic highways, including Route 66.
Here are the grants that should be of interest to roadies:
- $60,000 to update the 1999 Great River Road Corridor Management Plan as well as produce a new map and fund a coordinator position.
- $46,528 for the implementation of the Corridor Management Plan for the Ohio River Scenic Byway. This project includes researching and mapping existing businesses along the byway to create a brochure for travelers.
- $62,000 for implementation of the Corridor Management Plan for the Historic National Road, including a marketing campaign, displays and workshops for local museums and a guidebook promoting the Historic National Road.
- $380,000 to construct several wayside exhibits on Historic Route 66.
- $60,000 for marketing, including a guidebook for the seven Illinois National Scenic Byways.
I don’t know whether the grant for the Route 66 wayside exhibits is specifically for the ones mentioned in the recently released Illinois Route 66 master plan. If it is, the plan mentions three dozen historical sites on the Mother Road in Illinois that would be candidates for such exhibits. The word “several” in the release implies that not all of the proposed wayside sites would get the money.
On an aside, those are significant grants being doled out from the Scenic Byways program. If, heaven forbid, the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program is not renewed in the coming congressional sessions, it’s apparent the Byways program might be a viable alternative in some instances, especially with funding signage and promotional tools. However, the Byways program generally does not deal with the preservation of specific historic properties like the Corridor program does. It would be better for Route 66 overall if both programs were functioning.
(Hat tip: Geoff Ritter)