National Scenic Byways Program and
America’s Byways Resource Center: 10-Year Report
This December 2009 report represents the byway-specific knowledge base and resources created over the previous decade to fortify the success and sustainability of designated byways. It covers work implemented by the America’s Byways Resource Center in support of the National Scenic Byways Program.
For ease of viewing this 10-year compilation, descriptions of the work follow the Introduction in four categories: Research, Training, Tools, and Evaluation. Links to digital resources are provided when available.
For additional information, please contact the FHWA-National Scenic Byways Program or America’s Byways Resource Center.
Evaluation
America’s Byways Resource Center and FHWA-National Scenic Byways Program evaluate their products and services through formal surveys and through less formal means, such as the facilitated Open Space Forum discussions. Efforts are also made to document case studies of successful byway projects where strategies can be used in part or adapted to work on other byways across the country.
America’s Byways Resource Center Evaluation - Expected 2010
A comprehensive customer satisfaction survey on the delivery of products and services to America’s Byways, State and Tribal coordinators and national byway leaders.
Work Synopsis
- Audience: Leadership and staff of the America’s Byways Resource Center and FHWA-National Scenic Byways Program.
- Goal: To provide America’s Byways Resource Center and the FHWA-National Scenic Byways Program a measurement of customer satisfaction regarding products and services.
- Intensity: Currently underway.
- Duration: Currently underway.
- Product: An internal report of survey results and an Executive Summary.
- Outcome: America’s Byways Resource Center leadership and staff will use the results to adjust future efforts regarding the delivery of technical assistance, training offerings and resources for the byway community.
- Continued Use: The work is expected to serve as a reference and benchmark for ongoing work and future evaluations.
Open Space Forum - 2009 - Present
A guided discussion format introduced at the 2009 National Scenic Byways Conference in Denver, Colorado, generated observations, insights, concerns and hopes related to the National Scenic Byways Program from conference participants. Input continues to be collected via an Open Space Wiki.
Work Synopsis
- Audience: Open Space Forum audience consisted of 2009 National Scenic Byways Conference participants. The Open Space Wiki is intended for the broader byway community interested in continuing the conversations that began at the conference.
- Goal: To provide an organized method of collaboration among conference participants to identify needs and opportunities for the future of the National Scenic Byways Program. The Open Space Wiki allows discussions to continue among the broader byway community via the Web. While the Wiki site was designed by America’s Byways Resource Center, it operates as an open-space environment that is not managed or regulated by the Resource Center. A small group of byway community members now manage the process.
- Intensity: Discussion was initiated at the conference using 35 different questions pertaining to five topics areas: Program Administration, Byway Organization, Corridor Management, Visitor Experience and Finances.
- Duration: At the conference, participants were encouraged to visit new topic stations every 15 minutes, for a total session time of 2.5 hours.
- Product: An Open Space Wiki has been established to give the byway community an opportunity to review comments and continue the discussions started at the conference.
- Outcome: A sense of shared purpose and ownership among the byway community in identifying needs and opportunities for the National Scenic Byways Program into the future.
- Continued Use: The Open Space Wiki is a place where these conversations, ideas and suggestions can continue online.
Media Clips - 2008 - Present
The America’s Byways Resource Center collects data to document media coverage relating to the National Scenic Byways Program and America’s Byways®, and compiles reports on a quarterly basis.
Work Synopsis
- Audience: The America’s Byways Resource Center compiles reports on media hits to include in quarterly reports for the Federal Highway Administration. The information is collected for the purpose of measuring current media coverage relating to America’s Byways.
- Goal: Following the launch of a potential partnership marketing campaign, this baseline data will enable the America’s Byways Resource Center to measure change in media coverage over time, therefore providing a measurement of success.
- Intensity: On an average month, there are approximately 100 legitimate media hits relating to America’s Byways, a specific America’s Byway, or the National Scenic Byways Program. The number of hits increases in months where grants are announced or new byways are designated by the Secretary of Transportation.
- Duration: Since October 2008, media hits have been collected on a daily basis and reported quarterly.
- Product: Quarterly reports to FHWA.
- Outcome: Media clips provide a measurable outcome of interest in byway activity. The clip reports also provide a baseline for comparing media coverage to assess success of future public awareness efforts.
- Continued Use: The America’s Byways Resource Center and FHWA-National Scenic Byways Program can review the media hits and identify opportunities for strengthening public awareness efforts in the future.
Q4 2009 (PDF, .txt)
Q3 2009 (PDF, .txt)
Q2 2009 (PDF, .txt)
Q1 2009 (PDF, .txt)
Q4 2008 (PDF, .txt)
Success Stories - Publication - 2001
A synopsis of “best practices” from designated routes, the publication was produced with input from FHWA and State coordinators by America’s Byways Resource Center for use by byway leaders and byway community members.
Work Synopsis
- Audience: Byway leaders, State and Tribal coordinators, and byway community members.
- Goal: To share byway success stories and “best practices” with the byway practitioners that could apply to work on their own byways.
- Intensity: Self-directed study.
- Duration: Self-directed study.
- Product: A 44-page, full-color book highlighting 25 projects.
- Outcome: Approximately 150 copies were printed and distributed to the byway community. The book celebrated and shared best practices with the greater byway community.
- Continued Use: As a printed resource, it continues to offer potential for reference material.
America’s Byways Resource Center Evaluation - 2001
An Executive Summary of an internal progress report compiled by an independent contractor on the success and challenges of the America’s Byways Resource Center, the Federal Highway Administration - National Scenic Byways Program and the future of nationally designated byways.
Work Synopsis
- Audience: Leadership and staff of the America’s Byways Resource Center and FHWA-National Scenic Byways Program.
- Goal: To provide America’s Byways Resource Center and the FHWA-National Scenic Byways Program a measurement of customer satisfaction regarding products and services.
- Intensity: No quantifiable data is available.
- Duration: Survey conducted in September 2001 regarding the first two years of the Resource Center’s work.
- Product: An internal report of survey results and an Executive Summary.
- Outcome: America’s Byways Resource Center leadership and staff used the results to adjust future efforts regarding technical assistance, training offerings and resources for the byway community.
- Continued Use: While the majority of the evaluation was most useful to the newly established organization, the work can also serve as a reference and preliminary benchmark for future evaluations.
