OREGON HISTORIC AND SCENIC HIGHWAY PROGRAM

Senate Bill 643 directed the Oregon Transportation Commission to designate segments of state highways that contained significant historic and scenic features for preservation purposes. The bill contained nine preservation directives that would apply upon designation. To address these directives, it was recommended that the Commission establish a process for an historic and scenic highway program.

Authority

The Oregon Legislative Assembly has declared it to be in the best interest of the state to maintain and preserve certain highways and highway-related structures for their historical, engineering, recreational, scenic, and tourism significance.

Oregon Revised Statutes 377.100 and 377.105 directed the Oregon Transportation Commission to conduct a study of the historic, scenic, and cultural values of the state highway system. The legislation called for a volunteer citizen committee to advise the Commission on the study. The objectives of the study were to identify, evaluate and designate highways and related structures as historic and scenic.

Upon completion of the Historic and Scenic Highway Study, the Scenic Highway Study Citizens Advisory Committee asked that the Oregon Transportation Commission designate the recommended segments of highways as historic and scenic highways. It was further recommended that the Commission establish an Historic and Scenic Highway Program.

Designation Provisions

In accordance with ORS 377.100, upon designation the Department and Commission:

1. Shall provide for the rehabilitation, restoration, maintenance and preservation of those features of the highway or structure that have historical, engineering, recreational, scenic or tourist related significance, whenever prudent and feasible.

2. May consult with the State Historic Preservation Officer, state historic organizations and other appropriate groups or organizations to determine how to best rehabilitate, restore, maintain and preserve the significant features of the highway or structure.

3. In all highway planning and funding considerations, shall provide for the continuance of the significant features of the highway or structure, whenever prudent and feasible.

4. As the Commission determines appropriate, may arrange for and provide for posting of signs, consistent with ORS 377.700 to 377.840 and 387.850, to inform the traveling public of the location and significant features of the highway or structure.

5. Shall not dismantle, destroy, abandon, significantly transform or sell the highway or structure or any portion thereof or take any other action that will adversely affect the preservation of the highway or structure as an historic and scenic highway when it is prudent or feasible not to take such action.

6. May provide for bypass highways to divert damaging traffic from use of the highway or structure or provide other means of limiting or diverting use of the highway or structures by damaging traffic.

7. Are directed to seek and may accept and use for the purposes of this section and ORS 377.100 contributions, gifts, grants and monies from any source, public or private.

8. May hold hearings that have been given appropriate public notification before any significant action is taken relating to a highway, portion of a highway or highway related structure that is so designated.

9. Shall consider aesthetics and environmental effects when the only alternative to rehabilitation or restoration is to replace a portion of a highway or highway related structure so designated.

Designation Application Procedures

Initiation of Application

1. An application can be submitted by any individual.

2. The application must contain the highway name and U.S. or Oregon route number, termini mileposts, and reasons for designation or deletion.

3. Applications are to be directed to the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) Director.

Application Criteria

1. The proposed segment or structure must be part of the state highway system.

2. The proposed segment or structure must contain significant historic and/or scenic values within the right-of-way.

3. The values should be broadly recognized.

Review Procedures For New Proposals

1. New proposals or proposed deletions of designated highways or segments will be evaluated by the ODOT Highway Division staff on a yearly basis or as required.

2. Division staff recommendations will be submitted, when appropriate, to the Oregon Transportation Commission for action.

Procedures for Highway Related Activities or Designated Highways or Segments.

Maintenance and Safety Related Activities

1. Maintenance on designated sections must not alter or degrade the historic and scenic characteristics for which the highway or segment was designated.

2. The Supervisor of the Highway Maintenance District encompassing the designated highway or segment is responsible for all maintenance activities in that area. If the District Maintenance Supervisor determines that maintenance or safety related activities may alter or degrade the historic and scenic qualities of that area, he must notify the Region Engineer of the Region where the particular highway or segment is located. The Region Engineer will make the decision on whether or not to proceed with the maintenance activity or to refer it to the Highway Division, Planning Section for review. All referrals will be in writing describing the area, the problem, and the consequences.

3. The Planning Section will review all referrals from the Region Engineer regarding possible conflicts between maintenance activities and the historic and scenic characteristics of the designated highways or segments.

4. If the Highway Division, Planning Section determines that the maintenance activity will alter or degrade the historic and scenic characteristics of the highway or highway segment, the referral will then be forwarded to an appropriate citizens review committee and Highway Division Technical Task Force for a decision on whether or not to proceed with the maintenance activity in question.

New Construction

1. All new construction or major reconstruction within a designated section will be reviewed by the Highway Division Environmental Section for possible impacts to the historic and scenic characteristics of the highway or segment, through its project environmental classification process. This is standard procedure for all new construction or reconstruction projects in the Highway Division.

2. Potential impacts determined through the environmental classification process will be documented and identified in the appropriate environmental document.

3. During the environmental review process, impacts will be reviewed for prudent and feasible alternatives. A recommendation regarding modification or cancellation of the proposed project will be made during this process.

4. A member of the Highway Division, Planning Section will serve on the Technical Advisory Committee for all projects within the historic and scenic designated sections.

Signing

1. Signs designating the highway or highway segment as a historic or scenic highway will be installed at each historic and scenic designated section.

2. Signs will be of a "keystone" shape and two-toned with cream and brown. (see example on back cover).

Economic Development

1. The Highway Division, Planning Section will notify the Department of Economic Development of any changes in designation of the designated historic and scenic highway sections.

2. The Department of Economic Development may use any information on historic and scenic highways to promote tourism in Oregon.