Iowa’s Committee of Transportation recently introduced House Bill 581, which establishes the Scenic Byways Enhancement Fund to support, develop, maintain, and enhance the state’s scenic byways. The Department of Transportation (DOT) will oversee the fund, which will be used for road maintenance, development, and litter prevention along these routes.

The bill establishes the Iowa’s Legislature’s intent to:

1. Utilize collected funds for the development, maintenance, and enhancement of Iowa’s scenic byways.
2. Implement a voluntary contribution system of $1 or more to the fund during vehicle registration renewals.

All contributions will be deposited into the fund, with up to 5% of county-collected donations retained for local use. The Iowa DOT will manage the fund and ensure the state’s scenic byways are properly maintained and accessible to residents and visitors.

Iowa has two national scenic byways, as well as a dozen other state byways. Iowa’s scenic byways offer a diverse look at the state’s natural beauty, landscape, history, and culture. The variety of landscapes along the byways allow visitors to travel through rolling hills, vast prairies, lush forests, river valleys, and cozy towns. Many of these scenic byways offer outdoor activities like fishing, biking, hiking, and birdwatching, making them an ideal location for tourists. Travelers can visit historical sites along the routes, like museums and Native American heritage locations.

Scenic America supports the initiative to create the Scenic Byways Enhancement Fund as supporting, developing, maintaining, and enhancing the state’s scenic byways is important for tourism, economic development, and enriching the environment and community. Scenic byways are incredibly important to preserving the historical and natural integrity of a roadway, and the towns that surround it. Iowa’s Scenic Byways Enhancement Fund will ensure there is funding for these important scenic byways and help to preserve the natural beauty of Iowa’s landscapes, protect local ecosystems, and promote environmentally responsible tourism.

Scenic America supports funding for America’s byways, as bills like House Bill 581 aim to fund improvements, maintenance, and protection along these byways to keep them clean, open and accessible. These efforts not only preserve the byways, but also attract visitors, boosting local economies through tourism and small businesses. It would be beneficial for more states to consider implementing similar bills to generate tourism, economic growth, and environmental protection, guarding the states natural and historical landscapes.