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Tourism Department`s funds benefit rural New Mexico
The New Mexico Tourism Department awards $473,000 in federal funds through the Federal Highway Administration’s Scenic Byways program for fiscal year 2006. The Tourism Department submitted 14 grants, 12 through its Scenic Byways program and one each directly from Acoma and Santa Clara pueblos. All but one of the 14 of the applications were funded.

“Scenic Byways funds are especially beneficial to rural New Mexico,” said Secretary Michael Cerletti. “Most of our 26 byways run through less-traveled areas of the state. This program brings much-deserved recognition to hidden wonders.”

These grants are part of the Federal Highway Administration’s National Scenic Byways Program, which recognizes selected roads based on their archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational or scenic qualities. The grants will be used for projects such as scenic overlooks, visitor information centers, pedestrian trails, bike paths, safety upgrades, and educational and promotional materials. These projects fund New Mexico’s tourism infrastructure.

“I am very pleased at the level of funding we received,” said Laurie Frantz, State Scenic Byways coordinator. “Our funding has been higher the past two years than it was for the previous three”.

The grants include:

New Mexico Corridor Management Plan Implementation on the Geronimo Trail (Year-One Plan, $25,000): Implementation all along the byway.

Historic Route 66 Bike and Pedestrian Path Construction in Gallup ($50,000): This joint-use path along the Route 66 Scenic Byway will be Phase One of a larger project. It begins at Toltec Avenue near exit 26 of Interstate 40 and continues west along Route 66 for approximately four miles, terminating near the historic El Rancho Hotel.

Implement Corridor Management Plan on the Trail of the Mountain Spirits (Year-One Plan, $25,000): Implementation will occur all along the byway.

Trail of the Mountain Spirits Interpretive Projects ($38,800): This interpretive project will occur at various locations around the byway.

Santa Fe Trail - Cimarron Streetscape Improvements ($38,000): This project will feature rest area facilities and landscape features, including an interpretive sign in the rest area. (Byway directional signage is provided through the Santa Fe National Scenic Byway Alliance under Project SB-NM- 2004-51132). This wayside sign will be coordinated with the New Mexico Santa Fe Trail National Scenic Byway Alliance in the same style as established for other Santa Fe Trail National Scenic Byway signage. Other features will include a pet exercise park; parking areas; native and drought-tolerant landscaping; sitting areas; local historic interpretive signs (provided by local sources); and an area will be set aside for future restroom facilities (not part of this project). This will be the only public rest area along this section of the Santa Fe Trail National Scenic Byway.

Interpretive Signs along The Billy the Kid National Scenic Byway ($4,352). The proposed interpretive signs will be placed at Sam Tobias Vista on State Road 48; just east of Capitan on State Road 380; State Road 380 near the Nogal turn-off and at the intersection of State Road 380 and US Highway 70.

Statewide Byway Marketing Project ($34,024).

Corridor Management Plan Implementation for Billy the Kid National Scenic Byway (Year Three, $20,000): The plan will be implemented all along the byway.

Corridor Management Plan Implementation on the Jemez Mountain Trail (Year Three, $25,000): The plan will be implemented at points all along the byway.

Lincoln State Monument (Making History Accessible) on the Billy the Kid Trail ($30,800): This project will be developed and displayed in Lincoln.

Jemez Mountain Trail Interpretive Monuments and Signs (Phase One, $83,200): Five Interpretive monuments and signs will be placed at strategic locations along the byway, plus an additional 38 numbered signs. This project benefits the byway traveler by providing information through graphics and text at locations where significant geologic features, natural, or historic places are seen and experienced. Byway segments reveal millions of years of volcanism and erosion; motorists will understand land forms as well as human adaptations to this high desert over a span of many hundreds of years. The perseverance and tenacity of Native Americans as well as a succession of other settlers is worthy of interpretation. The numbered signs will match a brochure and CD to assist interpretation.

Acoma Sky City Turnouts, Interpretive and Directional Signage ($54,900): The project is located along the two routes (I-40 Exit 102 and I-40 Exit 108), used to access Acoma Sky City from Route 66. Specific turnout locations are Route 66 and Exit 102, the Sky City Scenic Overlook and Enchanted Mesa.

Puye Scenic Byway Turnouts and Interpretive Signage ($44,600): The project is located at the entrance to Puye Cliff Dwellings and at the Sawyer Dam crossing two sites.

Michael Verikios - Wednesday, September 27, 2006