U.S. 15 Scenic
Byway
Dianne
L. Walbrecker
The Emmitsburg
Town Commissioners voted at their August monthly
meeting to send a letter of support to the Maryland State
Highway Administration in support of a grant to plan and
design a system of signs to make it easier for tourists to
find the downtowns of communities along U.S. Route 15. The
Town Gateway and Wayfinding Plan is consistent with last
year's Corridor Management Plan for U.S. 15, which is being
coordinated by Ed Gorski, Chief of Comprehensive Planning for
Frederick County.
The signs will be designed in such a
way that drivers from Point of Rocks to Emmitsburg will see
similar gateways and other designations for downtown Main
Streets. According to John Fieseler, Executive Director of the
Tourism Council of Frederick County, this will provide
"improved guidance (that) is critical for motorists
seeking to visit the downtowns along the Byway."
Fieseler, who is the Project
Coordinator for this grant, said another part of the grant
will be to evaluate a high-tech way to develop kiosks with
maps and information about local stores, restaurants and other
cultural attractions that can be kept current without having
to replace the entire map.
In addition to identifying the
country's most scenic and historically significant roads, the
grant funding is available as part of the National Scenic
Byways Programs to increase tourism, stimulate local
economies, and protect distinctive assets along byways.
Don Briggs, president of the Emmitsburg
Business and Professional Association (EBPA), said
EBPA contributed to the grant to increase visibility for local
businesses. Michael Hillman at emmitsburg.net is donating his
time to assist with webpage design for the U.S. 15 Byway
Advisory Committee. Several area residents have been
contributing ideas and will serve on subcommittees for the
U.S. 15 Advisory Committee. All meetings are open to the
general public. For more information, e-mail Jfieseler@fredco-md.net
or Egorski at the same address.