About 150 miles of Route 66 from Needles, California, to Barstow, California, was officially announced Tuesday as a National Scenic Byway by the Federal Highway Administration.
Over 300 miles of Missouri’s Route 66 also attained All-American Road status, which means it contains features that do not exist elsewhere in the United States and is unique and important enough to be a tourist destination unto itself.
Route 66 in that Mojave Desert stretch of Southern California was one of 34 new byways, the first additions to the program since 2009. The total number of byways rose to 184.
The Scenic Byways program stated this in the annoucement:
Established in 1991, the National Scenic Byways Program recognizes roadways with notable scenic, historic, cultural, natural, recreational, and archaeological qualities. Scenic America, a national environmental nonprofit that preserves and enhances the visual character and scenic beauty of America, led the charge to revitalize and restore funding for the program.
“The National Scenic Byways Program brings new jobs, tourism, and other benefits to communities along these scenic roads, which are often located in parts of the country where such resources are desperately needed and harder to come by. We are grateful to Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI), Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA), Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD), and the nine Members who led the way to pass Public Law No. 116-57, The Reviving America’s Scenic Byways Act, making today’s announcement possible,” said Scenic America President Mark Falzone. “We are excited to partner with the new designees as they tap into the program’s benefits, and we look forward to helping other byways across the country in applying for future byways designations.”
The California Historic Route 66 Association last spring requested letters of support for the byways nomination. Apparently, those letters were successful.
(Image of a Route 66 shield on the highway near Barstow, California, by Chris Richards via Flickr)
Whew, I’m glad they finally added some scenery to that desolate stretch.