It’s time to revisit the idea of a Route 30 Scenic Byway.
That’s what Bill Morton of Middleburgh told supervisors Friday.
And they all agreed.
“The Scenic Byway along Route 20 has brought a lot more visitors to the Arboretum,” said Esperance Supervisor Earl Van Wormer.
“This is definitely something we should support.”
Mr. Morton envisions what he’s calling the Timothy Murphy Scenic Byway as a route starting in Fultonville in Montgomery County and traveling Route 30 south through Schoharie County to Route 17 in Hancock in Delaware County.
He said he began work on the idea about eight years ago, but had to put it aside due to a lack of time.
That’s changed and the idea’s even more important now, he said.
There are 26 Scenic Byways in the state, Mr. Morton said, with the nearest one along Route 28 in the Catskills and of course, the 108-mile Route 20 Scenic Byway running from Duanesburg through Esperance, Carlisle, and Sharon, to Lafayette in Onondaga County.
Scenic Byways have “themes” he said, including scenic, natural, cultural, and historical. All of those could apply to the Timothy Murphy Scenic .
Communities use Scenic Byways mostly for promotion and marketing, Mr. Morton said, but because it’s run through the Department of Transportation, it also brings with it advantages when it comes to maintenance and projects along state highways.
Mr. Morton said the Scenic Byway program was created in 1992 by the State Legislature to promote tourism and stewardship.
The only real restrictions are the prohibition of new billboards.
At first, said Sharon Supervisor Sandy Manko, businesses in her town worried the Route 20 Scenic Byway would mean different standards for development along the corridor.
“But there were no problems. The Route 20 Association has put us on the map everywhere,” she said.
“Should I continue to pursue this?” Mr. Morton asked.
Absolutely, supervisors said, suggesting he work with Ms. Manko’s Historical & Tourism Committee.
“Speaking for the Town of Gilboa, we’d be delighted to see this,” said its supervisor, Alicia Terry, who’d previously worked in tourism and economic development.
“Sign us up.”
The Governor would have to approve the application.