22 September 2005

Two Kansas roads highlighted for their natural beauty
Governor: Kansans have known about beauty of these areas for a long time

In a ceremony today in Washington, D.C., U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta announced the designation of two Kansas scenic byways – the Flint Hills Scenic Byway and the Wetlands and Wildlife Scenic Byway – as National Scenic Byways. They were two of 45 byways nationally to receive the federal designation today and the first ever for Kansas.

The Flint Hills Scenic Byway runs along K-177 from Council Grove to Cassoday, and the Wetlands and Wildlife Scenic Byway comprises sections of K-4 and K-156 and county roads connecting Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge.

“We’ve been working hard to promote tourism and create jobs by highlighting everything Kansas has to offer,” said Governor Kathleen Sebelius. “How fitting these beautiful areas get national recognition, confirming what we’ve always known in Kansas. Anyone who has driven either of these routes knows about the picturesque scenery and wildlife.”

“From the natural beauty of the Flint Hills, to the remarkable number of birds and other animals around Cheyenne Bottoms and the Quivira refuge, our state really is as big as you think,” she continued.

Kansas Department of Transportation Secretary Deb Miller congratulated the local committees for their successful efforts in completing the nomination packages.

“The selection of our byways for the national designation means they will be added to a national scenic byways map and will draw attention and visitors to these unique and important areas of our state,” Miller said.

To be selected for federal designation, the nominated route must be of regional or national significance in terms of one of six intrinsic qualities: scenic, historic, cultural, natural, archeological or recreational.

The Flint Hills Scenic Byway was nominated for its scenic qualities. The byway traverses the Tallgrass Prairie, the last large remnant of untouched prairie in North America. The Wetlands and Wildlife Scenic Byway was nominated based on its natural qualities. This byway focuses attention on the Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge wetlands. Both are important migration points for hundreds of thousands of birds.

National byway status provides higher priority eligibility for federal scenic byway grants. The designation also enables the byways to tap into the National Scenic Byway Program’s international and national marketing activities.

A third Kansas route – the Post Rock Scenic Byway located along K-232 between Wilson and Lucas – also was submitted for the national designation but was not selected.