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National Scenic Byways Program (NSBP)

National Scenic Byways Program (NSBP)

Background:

The National Scenic Byways Program is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. Established in Title 23, Section 162 of the United States Code under the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 and reauthorized and expanded significantly in 1998 under TEA-21 and again under SAFETEA-LU in 2005, the program is a grass-roots collaborative effort established to help recognize, preserve and enhance selected roads throughout the United States.

On September 22, 2019, the Reviving America's Scenic Byways Act of 2019 was signed by the President and became Public Law 116-57. This law requires the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to solicit nominations for certain roads to be designated under the National Scenic Byways Program as National Scenic Byways or All-American Roads based on their archaeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and scenic qualities.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260), enacted on December 27, 2020, appropriated $16 million for the National Scenic Byways Program under section 162 of title 23, United States Code. The explanatory statement accompanying the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 stated that FHWA should make new designations under the scenic byways program, as required by the Reviving America's Scenic Byways Act of 2019 (Public Law 116-57), prior to issuing a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the scenic byways program. FHWA announced the 2021 Designations to America's Byways® on February 16, 2021.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (Public Law 117-103), enacted on March 15, 2022, appropriated an additional $6 million, making up to $22 million available for the NSBP. Section 162(b) of title 23, United States Code, establishes the "Grants and Technical Assistance" portion of the NSBP. The law requires that grants and technical assistance be made available to States or Indian Tribes to (a) implement eligible projects on designated highways and (b) plan, design, and develop a State or Indian tribe scenic byway program.

Federal cost-sharing is 80 percent; the applicant is required to pay the remaining 20 percent using non-federal funds.

Eligibility Information:

Eligible applicants include states and federally recognized Tribes in areas with highways designated as National Scenic Byways, All-American Roads, America’s Byways®, state scenic byways, or Indian Tribe scenic byways.

Eligible uses include the implementation, planning, design, and development of eligible Scenic Byway projects advancing the goals of safety, equity and accessibility, economic strength, climate, and sustainability

Schedule:

FFY2022

FFY2023

  • NOFO not yet released

Additional Resources

NSBP Contacts

For more information concerning NSBP, please contact: Edward Starks (edward.starks@dot.gov) or Bronwen Keiner (bronwen.keiner@dot.gov)

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