Transportation Planning
Connecticut River Scenic Farm Byway
Construction of streetscape improvements in Millers Falls is being funded through the National Scenic Byways Program.
Project Overview
The National Scenic Byway Program is a federal transportation program that provides funding for eligible scenic byway projects. Scenic byways are eligible to receive funding if the road has been officially designated as a scenic byway and a corridor management plan has been completed. The Connecticut River Scenic Farm Byway is one of four state designated scenic byways in Franklin County. The Franklin County section of the scenic byway was designated as such by the Massachusetts Legislature in 2000, and a corridor management plan was completed in November 1998. In Franklin County, the Byway travels along Routes 47 and 63 in the towns of Sunderland, Montague, Erving and Northfield. The Connecticut River Valley’s landscape has distinct natural beauty and classic New England farm village patterns. These landscape and historic features that are the basis of the establishment of the Connecticut River Scenic Farm Byway.
Current Activities
The Connecticut River Scenic Farm Byway Corridor Management Plan was completed in 1998, and established recommendations and priorities for promoting economic opportunities while protecting the natural, cultural, and historic resources of the Byway. The FRCOG is working to implement the recommendations of the Connecticut River Scenic Farm Corridor Management Plan. To date, a number of these projects and programs have been awarded funding through the National Scenic Byway Program, and the FRCOG is working to advocate for and advance these projects towards implementation. The projects include: the design of streetscape improvements in Northfield; the development of a vehicle turnout area in Sunderland ; the design and construction of streetscape improvements in Erving on Route 63 north of Millers Falls; the development of a byway logo, directional signs and a website; and the acquisition of scenic easements. The Northfield Streetscape Improvement Project and the Sunderland Scenic Turnout Project are currently in design.
Future Plans
The FRCOG will continue to work to secure additional funding to implement the recommendations of the Connecticut River Scenic Farm Corridor Management Plan.
Links
Federal Scenic Byway Program website (http://www.byways.org/)
This page was last updated on 05/07/2008 .