WLBZ news coverage of Grindstone Byway Corridor event February 2, 2012
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING
FOR THE
THE GRINDSTONE SCENIC BYWAY
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
At 5:00-7:00PM
At Patten Lumbermen’s Museum, Patten, Maine
The Grindstone Scenic Byway Corridor Advisory Group and Eastern Maine Development Corporation (EMDC) will be holding a second public meeting to present the Final Draft of the Grindstone Scenic Byway Corridor Partnership Plan (CPP). The public is invited to attend. The CPP was developed by a citizen advisory group with assistance from EMDC. Additional information including meeting notes from past CAG meetings can be found at https://sites.google.com/site/grindstonebyway/ https://sites.google.com/site/grindstonebyway/
The Patten Lumbermen’s Museum is ADA accessible. Auxiliary aids will be provided upon advance request.
Any inquiries into this project may be directed to the attention of John Noll, Eastern Maine Development Corporation, 40 Harlow Street, Bangor, Maine 04401. Telephone: 207-942-6389. Email: jnoll@emdc.org
The Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) has designated a number of highways in northern Penobscot County as the Grindstone Scenic Byway. The roadways that make up the Scenic Byway include the Baxter State Park Road from the southern entrance of Baxter State Park to Millinocket; Route 11 from Millinocket to Patten; Route 159 from Patten to Shin Pond and; the Grand Lake Road from Shin Pond to the northern entrance of Baxter State Park.
The Maine Scenic Byways program is a voluntary, grass roots, community based consensus and partnership program administered by the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT). The program recognizes and supports outstanding roads and provides resources to help manage the intrinsic qualities within the broader Byway corridor to be treasured and shared. Maine was one of the first states in the nation to designate roadways as scenic byways a full 19 years before the National Scenic Byways Program was created at the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The National Scenic Byways Program, established in 1988, can trace its roots back to President Reagan’s Commission on American Outdoors in 1985. The Commission published its findings in 1987 which lead to the current Scenic Byways Program. The report included three recommendations specific to scenic roads:
By designating roads as Scenic Byways the host communities seek to identify and conserve intrinsic resources, promote economic development, and provide a mechanism for leveraging funds for improvements. The intrinsic resources are cultural, historical, archeological, recreational, natural, and scenic. Recognition as a Maine Scenic Byway means inclusion on state Byway maps, web pages, and brochures, which in turn can lead to economic development by increasing tourism. Designation does not hinder the primary purpose of the roadway, which is to move people and goods in a safe and efficient manner. The program’s primary focus is recognition and promotion of the unique characteristics of the Byway. |
The Program is divided into a 3-phase process. The first phase, the Eligibility Phase, which is complete, included identifying the intrinsic resources along the proposed Byway and getting broad community support. Eastern Maine Development Corporation (EMDC), Northern Maine Development Commission (NMDC) and MaineDOT met with all of the communities and several large landowners along the corridor in 2006-2007 to discuss the Scenic Byway Program and the proposed designation.
 Following the Maine Scenic Byway designation, EMDC applied for a planning grant from the Federal Highway Administration, EMDC was awarded the grant and is beginning the process to develop a Corridor Partnership Plan (CPP) with the help of citizens who will form a Corridor Advocacy Group (CAG). The CAG is the planning group for the Byway and is responsible for developing a vision for the corridor. Persons or groups interested in tourism and economic development are encouraged to become part of the process. Community representatives, major land holders, industries, chambers of commerce, and interested citizens are encouraged to participate to help shape the vision for the Byway. This broad based participation will ensure that vision for the Byway is locally developed, captures the “story” of the Byway, and promotes the Byway as a destination for travelers.. The CPP is the gateway to additional National Scenic Byway grant opportunities to fund future activities such as interpretive signs, kiosks, promotional materials or facilities, improvements or new turnouts, upgrades to pedestrian and bike facilities like paved shoulders, and training opportunities for interpretive planning, and marketing.. EMDC and MaineDOT invites your participation in helping to develop a plan that will showcase the region and encourage visitors from near and far to visit, stay, and explore an area of Maine that is truly a gem. |