The Future of the Road to Revolutions. A Battle Road Scenic Byway Public Forum November 9, 2010

Transcription

1 The Future of the Road to Revolutions A Battle Road Scenic Byway Public Forum November 9, 2010

2 Who is the Battle Road Scenic Byway? Four Towns: Arlington, Lexington, Lincoln, Concord Minute Man National Historical Park Metropolitan Area Planning Council Massachusetts Department of Transportation and You!

3 How would you identify yourself? 1. Public official 36% 2. Businessperson 3% 3. Staff at Town or other government entity 15% 4. Staff at Nonprofit organization 13% 5. Resident only 28% 6. Student not residing in a Byway town 0% 7. Other 5%

4 What town are you representing (live or work in) today? Please choose one. 1. Arlington 18% 2. Concord 0% 10% 3. Lexington 4. Lincoln 10% 5. Neighboring town 6. Other 10% 51%

5 Have you been to previous Battle Road Scenic Byway meetings? 1. Yes 2. No 73% 27%

6 National Scenic Byways Program and Massachusetts Byways Map Source: Map Source: National Scenic Byways designated in 46 states since ,382 projects funded through National Scenic Byways Program Massachusetts: 7 State Scenic Byways, 1 National Scenic Byway

7 The Battle Road Scenic Byway: Road to Revolutions Designated by Massachusetts Legislature in 2006 Corridor Management Plan currently underway

8 Intrinsic Qualities Historic Archaeological Cultural Natural Scenic Recreational

9 Which intrinsic quality (besides historic) is the best represented on the Byway? 1. Cultural 2. Natural 7% 3. Recreational 4. Scenic 21% 26% 45%

10 What s included in the Corridor Management Plan? Vision and goals Existing conditions (the Byway today) Management strategies for: Intrinsic qualities and Byway resources Transportation along the Byway Land use and development along the Byway Byway tourism Implementation plan for the next several years Plan for ongoing participation

11 Vision for the Plan The interplay between tradition and innovation is at the heart of corridor management planning for the Battle Road Scenic Byway. Four towns Arlington, Lexington, Lincoln, and Concord along with the Minute Man National Historical Park, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council are collaborating to highlight the historic, cultural, recreational, scenic, and natural resources along this route. Through input from community members, the Battle Road Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan will propose strategies to manage transportation, land use, and tourism along the Byway. The plan will provide a guide for preserving and promoting Byway resources while recognizing that development pressures and opportunities exist in close proximity to these esteemed resources.

12 Goals Stewardship and organization Coordination and partnerships Funding Outreach and communication Identity Continuity and beautification Accessibility Education and awareness Information clearinghouse Visitor experience

13 Stewardship and Organization Use Byway designation to promote stewardship of the Byway s historic, natural, scenic, cultural, recreational, and archaeological resources and intrinsic qualities. Identify organizational structure(s) and assign responsibilities for achieving these goals.

14 Stewardship and Organization: Which of these is most critical? 1. Consider implementing a review process for development abutting and/or visible from the Byway 15% 43% 2. Increase tourism planning expertise of Town Staff whether through new hiring or additional job roles of existing staff 3. Identify ways to balance safety with context-sensitive highway design practices that accommodate safety needs while preserving the corridor s character 43%

15 Coordination and Partnerships Use the Battle Road Scenic Byway to promote regional cooperation and partnerships.

16 Coordination and Partnerships: Which is most important to you? 1. Support existing and future Town and MMNHP planning efforts that complement Byway goals 17% 2. Involve relevant Town boards and commissions, such as Historic Districts, Planning, Selectmen, Conservation, and Tourism Committees in developing Byway projects 41% 3. Promote long-range and regional transportation solutions by coordinating Byway transportation goals, studies, and projects with regional transportation studies and priorities 41%

17 Funding Seek funding and develop new programs to support the Byway s resources and visitor attractions.

18 Funding: Which of would be most likely to succeed? 1. Soliciting funding support from area businesses 12% 2. Selling Byway souvenirs 15% 3. Collecting Byway membership fees 27% 4. Seeking an appropriation in the Annual Budget at Town Meeting 46%

19 Outreach and Communication Promote and communicate Byway initiatives to local stakeholders, and market the Byway to regional, state, national, and international audiences.

20 Outreach and Communication: Which of these potential promotional activities is most exciting to you? 1. Promote shop local efforts that would bring additional business to the Byway, including events such as a Byway shopping day 23% 2. Work with local galleries and arts organizations to create arts events such as open studio nights and art walks 40% 3. Create a Byway restaurant and shopping guide 38%

21 Identity Create a distinct identity for the Battle Road Scenic Byway as a destination.

22 Identity: Which should happen first? 1. Hire a tourism marketing consultant to help synthesize the multiple Byway themes into a coherent action plan to promote and manage Byway tourism. 25% 2. Develop a Byway logo (or series of related logos) and guidelines for using the logo(s). 23% 3. Create a Byway website and promotional materials that highlight what makes each town unique and what ties them together. 52%

23 Continuity and Beautification Improve visual continuity of the Battle Road Scenic Byway, enhance its scenic qualities, and create an uninterrupted visitor experience.

24 Continuity and Beautification: Which of the following could potentially have the greatest positive impact? 1. Consistent street furniture along the Byway (could include: light fixtures, trees and tree grates, benches, trash receptacles) 7% 2. A Byway signage program that will reduce sign clutter but also introduce new Byway signs 55% 3. Reducing visual blight at specific areas along the Byway 12% 4. Design guidelines for land use/buildings 12% 5. Roadway design guidelines 14%

25 Accessibility Make the Byway accessible to a diversity of potential visitors, including people of all ages, abilities, incomes, and ethnicities. Ensure that the Byway can be accessed by pedestrians, bicyclists, mass transit riders, and motorists.

26 Accessibility: Which of the following is most important to you? 1. Providing easy and safe bicycle and pedestrian access to the Byway 50% 2. Providing easy and safe access to the Byway for people with disabilities 5% 3. Improve access to the Byway from existing and future transit stations 24% 4. Provide maps and visitor information in multiple languages 21%

27 Education and Awareness Increase awareness of the Byway s rich history and promote it as an educational resource.

28 Education and Awareness: Which should the Byway organization tackle first? 1. Advocate for a preservation ethic and for funding of historic preservation and maintenance 5% 10% 17% 32% 2. Create education programs for K-12 field trips 3. Partner with high schools and post-secondary institutions to develop tourism and preservation curricula 4. Develop education materials for adults and families 5. Support a history/storytelling project to interpret Byway resources and bring them to life 37%

29 Information Clearinghouse Establish the Byway organization as a clearinghouse for data, knowledge, and the history of Byway resources.

30 Information Clearinghouse: Which will be the most beneficial to the Byway communities? 1. Use the Battle Road Scenic Byway umbrella to broker increased collaboration between cultural institutions along the Byway 23% 2. Develop a dynamic Byway website that includes links to organizations and venues along the Byway 68% 3. Conduct inventories and collect data about the Byway and make this information available to the public. 10%

31 Visitor Experience Ensure that the Byway is an exciting place to visit that has adequate traveler facilities and is easy and safe to navigate.

32 Visitor Experience: Which one should be accomplished in the near term? 1. Create a visitor/tourist website that allows users to develop customized itineraries based on their preferred types of accommodations, Byway themes, activities, and tours 35% 2. Develop applications ( apps ) for mobile technologies to collect visitor data and to provide virtual tours, fun facts, photos, etc. 23% 3. Accommodate additional lodging near the Byway 8% 4. Establish Byway visitor centers and/or kiosks 8% 28% 5. Train local volunteers to promote the Byway

33 Which goal is most important to you? 1. Stewardship and organization 2. Coordination and partnerships 5 3. Funding 4 4. Outreach and communication 2 5. Identity 0 6. Continuity and beautification 5 7. Accessibility 2 8. Education and awareness 5 9. Information clearinghouse Visitor experience 5 11

34 Which goal is second most important to you? 1. Stewardship and organization 2. Coordination and partnerships 2 3. Funding 4. Outreach and communication 5. Identity 6. Continuity and beautification 2 7. Accessibility 1 8. Education and awareness 9. Information clearinghouse Visitor experience

35 Please enter your response...

36 Will you return your keypad? 1. Yes 100%

37 Questions?

38 Sign in to this meeting We need your input! Fill out a feedback form Post your comments at the display tables in the lobby mbewtra@mapc.org or call ext. 2081, or contact your local Working Group member(s) Visit Stay tuned for an online survey, coming soon! Attend our final public forum (February 2011)