Resolution 347-2008
RESOLUTION NO. 1{' 7 - 2008
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
URGING TIlE U.S. SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION
TO DESIGNATE TIlE OVERSEAS IDGHWAY/U.S. 1 IN
TIlE FLORIDA KEYS AS ONE OF "AMERICA'S
BYWAYS"
WHEREAS, the National Scenic Byways Program (NSBP) was established within the
federal highway administration in the U.S. Department of Transportation under the intermodal
surface transportation efficiency act of 1991, and reauthorized in 1998 under the transportation
equity act for the 21 st century; and
WHEREAS, under the NSBP, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation recognizes certain
roads as either "National Scenic Byways" or "All-American Roads" based on their
archaeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and scenic qualities; and
WHEREAS, there are 125 such designated routes in 44 states, and the Federal Highway
Administration refers to "National Scenic Byways" or "All-American Roads" collectively as
"America's Byways"; and
WHEREAS, among the routes designated as "America's Byways" are well-known
roads, such as Route 66, the Las Vegas Strip, and California's Route 1, as well as some lesser
known yet equally significant routes, such as the Nebo Loop Scenic Byway in Utah and
Kentucky's Wilderness Road Heritage Highway; and
WHEREAS, one route that is noticeably absent from the list of "America's Byways" is
the Overseas Highway/U.S. 1 in the Florida Keys; and
WHEREAS, the Overseas Highway is a 126-mile road that connects some 100 islands
that make up the archipelago of subtropical islands that comprise the Florida Keys; and
"America's Byways" Resolution BOCC 10/15108
Page lof3
WHEREAS, leaving from South Miami-Dade County to Key West, the Overseas
Highway includes some 42 bridges, and provides scenic vistas of the Atlantic Ocean, the
aquamarine waters of the Gulf of Mexico, and countless offshore islands; and
WHEREAS, much of the Overseas Highway is built on the railroad bed of Henry
Flagler's famous Overseas Railroad, and many of Flagler's original bridges remain; and
WHEREAS, as the Key West Citizen newspaper recently observed, "the Overseas
Highway retains its grandeur even for those who have traversed it for a lifetime"; and
WHEREAS, in 2001, the State of Florida designated the Overseas Highway as "scenic";
and
WHEREAS, the list of National Historic Sites includes three bridges that are part of the
Overseas Highway: Long Key, Bahia Honda and the old Seven Mile; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Keys Scenic Corridor Alliance, a non-profit organization, is
working to have the Overseas Highway named one of America's Byways; and
WHEREAS, designation as one of America's Byways not only makes a route eligible for
federal transportation grants that are not otherwise available, but also promotes tourism and the
local economy, as many travelers make it a point to visit each of the National Scenic Byways,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section I. Supports the designation of the Overseas Highway/U.S. I in the Florida
Keys as one of America's Byways.
Section 2. Urges the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to designate the Overseas
Highway as one of America's Byways.
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"America's Byways" Resolution
Page 2 of3
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Section 3.
Urges the Florida Secretary of Transportation to support the designation of
the Overseas Highway as one of America's Byways.
Section 4.
Urges Florida's Congressional Delegation to support the designation of
the Overseas HighwaylU.S. I in the Florida Keys as one of America's Byways.
Section 5.
Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a certified copy of this
resolution to the Members of Florida's Congressional Delegation, the Secretary of the U.S.
Department of Transportation, the Director of the Federal Highway Administration, the Chair
and Members of the Monroe County State Legislative Delegation, the Florida Secretary of
Transportation, the Mayor and Members of the Miami-Dade County Board of County
Commissioners, and the President of the Florida Keys Scenic Corridor Alliance.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County,
Florida at a regular meeting of said Board held on the 15th day of October, 2008.
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BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
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Mayor Mario DiGennaro
MONROE COUNTY ATTORNE
AP ED AS TO F M'
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"America's Byways" Resolution
Page 3 00
RECEIVED Nav
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Florida Department of Transportation
CHARLIE CRIST
GOVERNOR
1000 NW 111 Avenue
Miami, Florida 331 72-5800
STEPHAN IE C. KOPELOUSOS
SECRETARY
October 30, 2008
Danny L. Kolhage, Clerk of Court
and ex-officio Clerk to the
Board of County Commissioners
Monroe County Courthouse
500 Whitehead Street, Suite 101
Key West, Florida 33040
Attention: Pamela G. Hancock, D.C.
Dear Mr. Kolhage:
This letter will confirm receipt by the Florida Department of Transportation and
District Six of Resolution No. 347-2008 urging the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to
designate the Overseas Highway/US-1 in the Florida Keys as one of "America's
Byways".
Thank you for forwarding the above to us.
1l:~
Gus Pego, P.E.
District Six Secretary
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