About 125 grants from the National Scenic Byways Program were announced Thursday, with several of them going to Route 66 projects.
The following is a Route 66-related list of the grant award, where it’s going, and a description from the Federal Highway Administration of its purpose:
— $267,038, Kingman, Ariz., Historic Route 66 Kingman Pedestrian Crossing — “This project will construct a pedestrian crossing, limit dangerous turning movements, improve signage, and install a pedestrian signal connecting the Powerhouse Visitors Center with Locomotive Park. These improvements will improve pedestrian visibility and will allow better access to these two Route 66 visitor destinations.”
— $19,200, New Mexico Route 66, Historic Route 66 Los Lunas Corridor Management Plan — “This project will develop a corridor management plan for the Los Lunas segment of Historic Route 66 in New Mexico to identify and prioritize opportunities for wayfinding features and informational systems.”
— $120,000, Albuquerque, Historic Route 66 Wayfinding Signs — “This project will fund the design and construction of wayfinding signs along Historic Route 66 in Albuquerque.”
— $152,300, California Route 66, Historic Route 66 Needles to Barstow Corridor Management Plan — “This project will create a corridor management plan for 153 miles of California Historic Route 66 from Needles to Barstow.”
— $260,000, Kansas Byways Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan — “This project will develop a strategic plan to better accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians with safe facilities while traveling the State’s byways, determine locations where bicycle and pedestrian facilities would be feasible, explore the associated costs, and prioritize next steps.” (Note: Route 66 in Kansas recently gained byway status, and would benefit from the grant.)
— $271,069, Illinois Byways Bicycle Racks — “This project will install 362 bicycle racks at key sites along Illinois byways allowing cyclists to safely park their bikes and explore byway communities.” (Note: This would benefit Route 66, which is one of the Illinois byways.)
— $24,800, National Road in Illinois, Historic National Road Historic Mile Markers and Signs — “This project will install replica Historic National Road mile markers in 17 communities along the National Road in Illinois and add interpretive panels at the historic covered bridge in Greenup.” (Note: The National Road overlaps with parts of Route 66 in the metro-east area of St. Louis.)
However, these may be the final grants of the program. In a recent story about the Star Spangled Banner National Historic Trail, the Washington Post reported:
“Congress is looking at zeroing out the scenic byway program,” said Suzanne Copping, project manager for the trail. “We’re all a bit stressed about that.”