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CULTURAL RESOURCES
PLANNING ISSUE
Scenic roads have qualities
that people care deeply about
but ultimately are difficult to
protect. Although many
communities encourage
roadside beautification, most
don’t have the tools in place
to preserve scenic roads and
the views they offer.
Historic Resources
Scenic Roads and Vistas
Libraries
Arts and Culture
Scenic Roads and Vistas
Roads can be so much more than a way to get from place to
place. A scenic road provides a visually pleasant experience
for drivers, bicyclists, pedestrians, and other travelers.
The federal government established the National Scenic
Byways Program in 1991, and since then has funded more
than 3,000 national or state byway projects across the 50
states. This program designates certain roads as National
Scenic Byways or All-American Roads based on their
archaeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and
scenic qualities.
Pennsylvania’s Byways Program was started in 2001 and is
coordinated by the state’s Department of Transportation.
Local byways are designated at the request of local
communities; the state currently has 19 state-designated
byways, the local Blue Route (Route 476) among them.
However, this is more than just a scenic road preservation
program, since so many roadways have more than just
scenic qualities.
Scenic roads and vistas contribute to the quality of life of
Montgomery County residents as well. The visual beauty,
charm, and history of the county’s landscapes enrich daily
life. As time passes, the county’s scenic roads and the views
from them are lost as farms and other open spaces develop.
The roads shown in Figure 126 have qualities that could be
recommended for future designation. Roads should be
designated only if protective measures are taken to maintain
their scenic qualities.
What’s New
•
Lately, billboard companies have brought challenges
against many municipalities. These legal challenges
have caught many officials off-guard, and have left
some municipalities vulnerable to having billboards
placed in less-then-optimal areas. Some
municipalities, such as Hatboro Borough, are taking a
proactive stance by passing billboard overlay
ordinances to designate appropriate areas for
billboards...before a legal challenge takes place.
•
Worcester Township’s 1997 Land Preservation
District helps to preserve scenic views by requiring
that “(v)iews of neighborhoods from exterior roads
and abutting properties shall be minimized by the use
of changes in topography, existing vegetation or
additional landscaping...”
•
Over the past decade, many municipalities have
invested in local streetscaping initiatives to make
local roadways more pleasant. Places like Souderton,
Royersford, and Cheltenham have made their main
thoroughfares much more attractive. This, in turn,
has attracted new businesses, residents, and visitors.
•
Other municipalities have looked to overlays along
local corridors—think Ridge Pike in West Norriton
Township—to encourage more landscaping and
walkability as new development takes place.
This new bridge along Kratz Road was designed in a context-sensitive way to be a good fit for its scenic surroundings.
