The 1990 Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriation Act directed the Department of Transportation to prepare a report with the following objectives: update for the use of Congress a nationwide inventory of existing scenic byways; develop guidelines for the establishment of a National Scenic Byways Program, including recommended techniques for maintaining and enhancing the scenic, recreational, and historic qualities associated with each byway; conduct case studies of the economic impact of scenic byways on travel and tourism; and analyze potential safety consequences and environmental impacts associated with scenic byway designation. To respond directly to the first objective, the Federal Highway Administration developed a questionnaire in May 1990, to obtain information on Scenic Byways and byways programs. This report summarizes all four parts of the questionnaire.

To ensure a comprehensive review of scenic byway programs and issues and to get the broadest possible range of public opinions and suggestions, the study also included the following: An inventory of current Federal, State, local, and private sector scenic byway programs; An announcement in the "Federal Register" seeking views on the study approach and guidelines for a national program; A national workshop to discuss options for a national scenic byway program; and Case studies investigating tourism impacts, safety and environmental issues, scenic and historic protection techniques, and successful Federal, State, and regional byways and byway programs. This report summarizes these various activities.