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Visit Kansas Scenic Byways on America's Byways site: 
Visit Kansas Dept. of Commerce Travel & Tourism: 
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For more information about Kansas Scenic Byways, contact:
Kansas Department of Transportation
700 SW Harrison Street
Topeka, KS 66603-3754
Sue Stringer
KDOT Local Byway Liaison
785-296-8669
800-684-6966
Scott Shields
KDOT State Byway Coordinator
785-296-0853
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Here are answers to some commonly-asked questions about the Kansas Byways:
What is the Kansas Scenic Byways Program?
- The Kansas Scenic Byways Program was formed to identify and designate scenic roadways for the enjoyment of the traveling public in Kansas.
- Scenic roadways serve as natural, social, cultural and economic resources for the visitors to the state of Kansas, the people of Kansas and the local communities in which the roadways are located. The program is a cooperative effort among private citizens, local groups, local governments and state government agencies.
- The Kansas Scenic Byways Program is related to the National Scenic Byways Program, a project of the 1991 Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA). The National Scenic Byways Program seeks to identify and designate national scenic byways to increase tourism and educate the traveling public about our nation's environment, history and culture.
- Roads in Kansas may be nominated for scenic byways designation by private citizens, local groups or local governments. To nominate a road for Kansas scenic byways designation, obtain forms from the Kansas Scenic Byways Program, complete the application form and a preliminary route resource inventory and then submit the form and inventory information to the Program at the Kansas Department of Transportation. Call 800-684-6966 for further information.
- The Kansas Scenic Byways Program is designed to work within existing state and local regulations. The program does not require significant local financial investment nor does it infringe on individual private property rights.
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What are the benefits of Scenic Byways Designation?
- Identifies scenic resources in Kansas
- Fosters pride and cooperation among communities
- Puts routes on the state map
- Fosters community economic development
- Provides access to available grants
- Enhances route amenities
- Manages route activities
- Educates visitors about history, nature, culture of the area
- Increases tourism
- Promotes byway with state brochure
- Included on Kansas page of America's Byways website
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Are there any drawbacks of designation?
- May increase traffic (but that's what we want!)
Requires community involvement
What makes a roadway scenic?
- A roadway that provides a high level of natural beauty, be it in the form of wide panoramas or interesting roadside forms, may be designated scenic. One objective of the Kansas Scenic Byways Program is to designate Kansas scenic roads that represent the diversity of the Kansas landscape.
- In general, scenic byways should have the following characteristics:
- Uniformly high visual quality along the entire route
- Be paved and able to accommodate tour buses and large recreational vehicles
- Have sufficient length to reward users for their drive to the byway, i.e., a byway 20-30 miles long unless it is located within 15 miles of an interstate or arterial highway
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What is the Kansas Scenic Byways Committee?
- The Kansas Scenic Byways Committee has oversight of the Kansas Scenic Byways Program and recommends routes for scenic byways designation by the Kansas Secretary of Transportation. The Committee is composed of representatives from:
- Kansas Department of Transportation
- Kansas Department of Commerce (Travel and Tourism Development Division)
- Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks
- Kansas State Historical Society
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What is a designated historic byway?
- The Kansas Scenic Byways Program has recently developed a new set of criteria to recognize the nationally and regionally historic roads that traverse our state. First and foremost, just as with scenic byway designations, it is the aim of the historic byway designation to identify the applicable resources along the proposed route, and through local grassroots commitment, preserve, enhance and promote those resources along the route for the enjoyment of visitors as well as the economic well-being of the byway communities.
- In many ways, every road in Kansas has historic qualities, but for designation as a Kansas historic byway, it is important that the route have national, regional (multi-state) or state historic significance. It is important that the historic intrinsic qualities of the proposed historic byway be evident and of high quality. Just as with the scenic byway criteria, it is important that detractions from the visitor experience be minimized. In addition, it is important that the historic designation criteria and processes are compatible with the scenic designation criteria and processes.
- For a complete description of the historic byway category, click here.
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What is the Kansas Backroads Program?
- The Kansas Backroads Program is an initiative to help local sponsors identify and promote local routes offering unique, rewarding experiences for visitors traveling off the state highway system. Local sponsors are responsible for maintaining or improving the roads, as well as preserving or enhancing the visitor experience and marketing their designated backroads. While many local roads are enjoyable drives, the focus of this program is the special backroads in the State; that is, those routes that provide unique, rewarding experiences for the visitor willing to get “off the beaten path.”
- Click here for more information.
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