WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, today celebrated the inclusion of the Chesapeake Country All-American Road, a more than 400-mile route from Chesapeake City to Crisfield on country roads along the Chesapeake Bay’s edge, in the U.S. Department of Transportation “America’s Byways” collection.
“The inclusion of the Chesapeake Country All-American Road in the National Scenic Byways network will open new doors for federal funding that can help Maryland communities preserve, showcase and monetize their historic, cultural, natural, recreational and tourism resources,” said Senator Cardin. “This valuable new partnership was exactly the type of expansion of the program that I had hoped we would spark when authoring and working to pass the bipartisan Reviving America’s Scenic Byways Act of 2019. The Chesapeake Country All-American Road weaves together some of the very best historic and natural landscapes that Maryland has to offer, and its recognition by the National Scenic Byways program helps secure its status as a treasured resource that will to flourish into the future.”
The Chesapeake Country All-American Road was one of 49 new designations to the America’s Byways collection, including 15 All-American Roads and 34 National Scenic Byways in 28 states, recently announced by the Federal Highway Administration. These new designations were the first made pursuant to Public Law 116-57, which required 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. Before the All-American Road designation, only part of the Chesapeake Country route, from Kent County to Queen Anne’s County, was considered a national scenic byway.
“The All-American Road designation simply tells people what we already know. The Eastern Shore of Maryland is a very special place,” said Cassandra M. Vanhooser, the Director of Economic Development and Tourism for Talbot County. “Not only is this national designation a source of tremendous community pride, it will help us present our assets in such a way that visitors can more easily experience them. I call that a win for everyone involved.”
“The Chesapeake Country byway’s designation internationally significant cultural heritage and outdoor recreation experiences help make Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay a unique and exciting place to visit,” said Maryland Commerce Secretary Kelly M. Schulz. “Throughout the challenging nomination process, the nomination committee, comprised of a number of tourism partners, state agencies, and local county tourism offices, worked together to maximize this opportunity to showcase the byway as one of the best driving tours in the country.”
“The National Scenic Byways Program brings new jobs, tourism, and other benefits to communities along these scenic roads. We are grateful to Senator Cardin for his leadership in passing Public Law No. 116-57, The Reviving America’s Scenic Byways Act, which made today’s announcement possible,” said Scenic America President Mark Falzone. “We congratulate Chesapeake Country Scenic Byway on their designation as an All-American Road today and are excited to partner with them as they tap into the program’s benefits.”
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