Two Counties and 15 Cities worked to make US 1 a designated Scenic Highway
from Titusville to the Wabassau Causeway in Indian River County. The
designation was awarded spring of 2000.U. S. 1 - A Scenic Highway
Two Counties and 15 Cities worked to make US 1 a designated Scenic Highway
from Titusville to the Wabassau Causeway in Indian River County. The
designation was awarded spring of 2000.
View the Florida Department of Transportation, FDOT's Scenic Highways manual at: www.dot.state.fl.us/emo/pubs/pdeman/pt2ch29.pdf
To contact the Public Involvement Program (PIP) please see www.brevardmpo.com/publications/PIP.htm
The following are excerpts taken from the FDOT manual on Scenic highways:
The primary benefit of a Florida Scenic Highway designation is the
opportunity to preserve, protect, maintain and enhance the intrinsic
resources identified as important to the particular region for the enjoyment
of all citizens and visitors.
The 6 intrinsic resources identified in the Scenic Highways Program are:
1. Cultural Resources - traditions, values, customs and arts of social groups
2. Historic Resources - reflect human actions evident in past events, sites or structures
3. Archeological Resources - embody the physical evidence or remains of human life, activities or cultures
4. Recreational Resources - highlight activities dependent upon the natural elements of the landscape
5. Natural Resources - those natural landscapes showing little or no disruption by humans
6. Scenic Resources - combinations of natural and man-made features that give the visual landscape remarkable character and significance.
The purpose of this manual is to explain the intent of a scenic highway designation and to provide the analyst with information on how to evaluate impacts of proposed road projects on the scenic corridor and take into consideration direct, indirect and cumulative impacts on the corridor's intrinsic resources. The purpose of the analysis is to determine the effects that the proposed project will have on the stability and quality of the designated scenic corridor and it's resources.
The analyst should also make a concerted effort to recognize the Departments commitment to the designated corridor and its resources in all public endeavors and environmental documentation.
The manual goes on to say, "Public involvement is critical throughout the evaluation process and should be as complete and comprehensive and possible in order to be effective."
The analyst should fully consider the scenic corridor when developing and discussing the no-action alternative, transportation systems management, multi-modal alternatives, and construction alternatives for the proposed improvement.
It is critical for the analyst to recognize that the designation of a corridor as a "Scenic Highway" carries with it a level of distinction and certain expectations of an "experience" for the traveling public. Therefore, special care should be given when proposing and implementing improvements on designated scenic highways. Through the designation process, the Department and other agencies, groups, businesses and local governments have made voluntary commitments to the preservation, maintenance, protection and enhancement of the corridor. These commitments need to be fully considered in the evaluation of impacts and alternatives.
In scenic corridors greater sensitivity should be afforded to the applicable topical areas along a corridor. Some of these include: Project impacts to lands, features, and communities adjacent to or visible from the corridor which have a direct effect on the traveling experience of road users and the communities through which the corridor passes.
Fully consider the community and social impacts of the proposed project on the designated corridor's surrounding community(ies) (Part 2, Chapter9)
Voluntary partnerships have been established in an effort to preserve and enhance a corridor and thereby protect the community's social, economic, environmental and visual values.
In regard to visual scenic resources, the analyst should identify the impacts of the project on the visual and aesthetic characteristics of the corridor (Part 2, chapter15). Since the corridor has been designated as a scenic highway, visual/aesthetic characteristics may contribute greatly to the corridor's significance both along the corridor and its viewshed. The analyst should consider the intrinsic resources and the visual impact of the project on the visual experience of potential road users along the roadway.
Measures to avoid, minimize or reduce any adverse visual impacts should be fully considered and incorporated, when feasible, into the improvement.
Critical in the evaluation is fulfilling the "Vision" of the community as expressed in the CMP (Corridor Management Plan) to preserve, maintain, protect and enhance significant resources with in the corridor. The Department is a contributor in the success of the corridor vision. The Department, as a committed, voluntary partner to the corridor's success should seek to complete its mission with the utmost regard and sensitivity to the community's vision and assist, where possible in achieving successful CMP goal attainment in the scenic corridor.
It is important that these community values and issues be identified early so they can be incorporated into the project during project development.
Documenting the impacts of a proposed project on a designated scenic highway will insure compliance with State statutes, federal requirements and consistency with local comprehensive plans.
Care should be taken to ensure that the proposed improvement is consistent with the CMP, where applicable, and that the designation is not adversely impacted.
To contact the Public Involvement Program
(PIP) please see
www.brevardmpo.com/publications/PIP.htm