Scenic Vermont byways get federal grants
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Times Argus Staff - Published: November 25, 2008
MONTPELIER – Some of Vermont's most scenic stretches of highway have won federal grants aimed at luring more tourists to the roads.
The Vermont Byways Program aims to promote and beautify roads that cut through some of the state's cultural, historic and aesthetic attractions. Three of those byways were awarded a total of nearly $800,000 in federal grants, the Agency of Transportation announced Monday. The grants will bolster promotional efforts and fund infrastructure improvements intended to make the roadways more tourist-friendly.
"The byway program is a wonderful tourism and marketing tool," said John LaBarge, program manager for Vermont's byways. "
The Lake Champlain Byway won $475,000 in grants to complete its River Walk in Vergennes, fine-tune a management plan and improve access to recreational spots along the corridor.
The Connecticut River Byway will get $250,000 to produce and disseminate sightseer guides, and the Stone Valley Byway, which runs along Route 30 amd the Mettawee River, will use a $67,000 grant for the development of promotional materials.
recreational spots along the corridor.
The Connecticut River Byway will get $250,000 to produce and disseminate sightseer guides, and the Stone Valley Byway, which runs along Vermont Route 30 spanning Manchester to Poultney through the Mettawee River Valley, will use a $67,000 grant for the development of promotional materials.
All grants came from the National Scenic Byway Program.
"In Vermont, we've just started to heavily market our byways, and we're hoping to attract more visitors to the communities those byways run through," LaBarge said. "It's an opportunity to showcase all the historical and cultural assets in those areas."
The byway program was designed to pull motorists off the interstate and on to the lesser-traveled state routes that traverse Vermont's small towns and villages. Vermont has five recognized scenic byways.
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