WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congressman Mike Michaud announced that the Federal Highway Administration (FWA) has released funding to the Maine Department of Transportation for a number of scenic byways in Maine.  

"This funding comes at an important time," said Michaud.  "Investments in our infrastructure hold long term benefits for our communities and create jobs.  

The specific FWA descriptions of the projects that the funding will go to are listed below. 

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$78,000 -- Schoodic Scenic Byway 

This project will build a visitor gateway wayside on the eastern terminus of the Schoodic National Scenic Byway. Improvements include improved parking, granite benches, interpretive panels, and a weatherproof brochure dispenser. This project benefits the byway traveler by providing an information and interpretation wayside for those traveling from the eastern border of Maine and Canada. This site provides several local amenities, including scenic vistas of Prospect Harbor with its fleet of local lobster boats and the Prospect Harbor Lighthouse, a public restroom available during regular town office hours, a cultural center used for arts presentations, and a transit stop for the free Island Explorer bus that circulates the Schoodic Peninsula during the summer season. 

$108,800 -- Old Canada Road Scenic Byway

This project will enhance the visitors experience at three of our rest areas. At the Falls it will create one picnic table shelter, an accessible restroom, and a short trail to a very popular waterfall visible from the picnic area. At Attean Overlook it will create a new picnic table and shelter which is accessible, and a new accessible restroom. The Parlin Pond site is a wide spot in the road alongside one of our popular lakes. This project will create a separation zone between commercial truck traffic and tourist traffic and construct a picnic shelter and table. It will also address erosion problems as parking lot runoff water now directly enters the lake. This project benefits the byway traveler by creating safer and accessible facilities at three of our popular rest areas. The current trail to the Falls is a foot worn gravel slope that has eroded badly with foot traffic and is very steep and slippery. The restroom facilities that are now in place at The Falls and Attean are plastic which sit high atop concrete tanks making wheelchair access impossible. At Parlin Pond, there is no separation between the travel lanes and parking area or any durable surface to prevent dust from coating the relaxing tourist when tractor trailers pull in. At this site we will also explore a new commercial parking area to separate uses. A new restroom facility will also be installed here. 

$270,762 -- Rangeley Lakes Scenic Byway

This project will construct an overlook, parking area, and walking path for Byway travelers on Route 17 at the Height of Land, one of New England's most beautiful vistas. It will replace a heavily used existing turnout. It will also allow a set of interpretive panels to be permanently installed at the site. With the engineering already completed, this "ready to go" project will be constructed in conjunction with an adjacent reconstruction project, thereby creating a synergistic relationship that will ensure the two projects will be completed in the most economically efficient manner possible. The project benefits the byway traveler by improving the Height of Land turnout from its position on the shoulder of Route 17 and constructing an improved version of it that features defined entrances and exits, a designed parking area for both short term viewing and longer term day use and access to the Appalachian Trail. It will allow travelers to park their vehicles, take in the stunning view, enjoy the interpretive panels, and stretch their legs. The overlook will be separated from Route 17 by an attractive median. At the same time, the reconstruction of Route 17 completed in conjunction with this project will improve safety and enjoyment of the drive to the overlook. 

$80,000 -- Grindstone Scenic Byway

This project will develop a Strategic Corridor Management Plan for the Grindstone Scenic Byway located in Maine's Katahdin region, an area with a natural resource and manufacturing economy that helped shape Maine's history. Rich with natural, historical and cultural resources, the area has become economically distressed due to economic downturns in the centuries old logging and paper industries. An underutilized tourist destination, the area has many stories, most of which have yet to be told. This plan seeks to unite the region's residents and businesses around their common heritage and provide the traveler with a unique Maine experience while promoting a new economic model for area. This project benefits the byway traveler by creating experiences that go beyond the scenic and natural assets offered throughout the corridor and region. The vast history and culture of the Maine woods is a chronicle of its people from early Native Americans to the European settlers to the hardy loggers to Henry David Thoreau and the paper industry pioneers. Through the creation of interpretive media combining storytelling and technology, increased public awareness, and implementation of effective protection techniques, we envision the traveler having a scenic and natural experience second to none, while also discovering the culture of the real Maine woods. 

$ 32,000 -- Grafton Notch Scenic Byway and Route 27 Scenic Byway

This project will update the 2000 Corridor Management Plan for the Grafton Notch Scenic Byway, update the 2000 Corridor Management Plan for the Route 27 Scenic Byway, and establish one entity to coordinate and manage both byways. These are some of the original scenic byways in Maine, having been designated as such in the 1970s and 1969, respectively. Each of the 2000 corridor management plans need to be updated to more closely reflect current demographic and economic conditions; new growth has occurred and new opportunities exist for promoting tourism since the plans were first written. The updated plans will preserve and protect the intrinsic resources of each byway. This project benefits the byway traveler by ensuring that updated implementation strategies lead to enhanced traveler experiences and improved roadway safety for travelers who are in a motor vehicle, on a bicycle, or on foot. By having one entity that coordinates the development of corridor management plan updates and subsequent implementation will ensure that the updated corridor management plans reflect the unique resources of each byway while at the same time promoting the commonality of each byway's intrinsic resources. Because these byways are two of four in the western mountains region, it is important to have close coordination with the other scenic byways in western Maine. 

$25,000 -- Schoodic Scenic Byway

This project will: 1) provide staff support for administering the corridor management plan, 2) pay for printing and publishing byway educational documents, and 3) support travel of byway representatives to regional and national conferences and workshops. Local support for these activities grows every year, with volunteers from each of the participating communities attending regular corridor planning meetings, towns and businesses supporting community revitalization, transit services, and visitor outreach. This project benefits the byway traveler by matching local support with State and Federal funds to implement the new year action plan. Visitors will enjoy a coordinated interpretive program, scenic turnouts, GIS enhanced byway way-finding. Perhaps most importantly, visitors will continue to hear about local cultural and recreational opportunities through the byway website, calendars and other electronic and printed documents. This scenic, rural portion of coastal Maine has a lot to offer visitors. Completion of projects already in the pipeline and communication of our story will only enhance that experience.