Recent progress is reviewed toward developing guidelines for establishment of a nationwide system of scenic highways running through corridors in which a wide range of legal techniques is used to protect and enhance the scenic quality of the adjacent land. A scenic highway corridor includes two elements' /1/ a road and its right-of-way, and /2/ the scenic and recreation areas traversed and extending outward beyond the right-of-way. The basic criterion for route selection is that the route must provide people with an opportunity for an outstanding travel experience. Scenic highways should have these significant features' /1/ quality, /2/ variety, /3/ accessibility, /4/ location and geographic distribution, /5/ design and safety, /6/ adaptability to development, /7/ compatibility, and /8/ competing uses. These features are discussed. Land use control must be established by' /1/ using the police power of the state, without compensation, for example, by zoning the corridor to preserve the desired character of the area, and /2/ acquiring the land in fee, or scenic or conservation easements, from the adjoining owners for this purpose, for a consideration. Tax adjustments are discussed as another device to help secure needed scenic easements.
Abstract