The NYS Scenic Byways Advisory Board met on October 17th in Albany and heard a final presentation from the Tug Hill Commission and Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA) on the Black River Trail and Maple Traditions Scenic Byways. Responding to comments from the Advisory Board and the NYS Department of Transportation over the past few years, the Commission and ANCA had revised the byway routes and added language to the plans regarding off-premise signage and taken those revisions to the communities over the past summer. The Advisory Board was impressed with the work done and passed a resolution finalizing the corridor management plans as presented.
All communities along the byways are now eligible to pursue Scenic Byways related funding and to use their status on a byway to boost tourism, work with other byway communities to jointly market their attractions, and score higher on grant applications. The North Country Regional Economic Development Council has also adopted a strategy that makes projects along designated Scenic Byways and Blueway Trails a higher priority for Consolidated Funding Applications (CFAs). The next step in the Black River Trail and Maple Traditions Scenic Byways is adoption of legislation formally designating the Byway Routes under NYS Highway Law. The North Country Legislative delegation will be asked to sponsor legislation in 2013.