The Route 66 Association of Missouri received grant funding in 2006 that allowed them to hire engineering firm Great River Associates to complete a study of Route 66 in Missouri. Their work began in July 2009 and will wrap up this summer as the firm finishes a Corridor Management Plan (CMP), gathering all types of data about Route 66 in the state—its impact, its overall lasting value and its beauty.

The CMP will set forth guidelines for the preservation, protection, and enhancement of the Missouri Historic Route 66 corridor, focusing on the ways it benefits travelers, tourists and communities located along the roadway.

Bob Bretz of Cuba eyes the Route 66 landmarks display at the meeting last week to discuss a Route 66 Corridor Management Plan.

Public meetings have been scheduled in each Route 66 county in Missouri to explain the management plan. A meeting was held for Crawford County residents at Recklein Auditorium in Cuba last week. It was an opportunity for citizens and business owners interested in the preservation of Route 66 to learn more about the highway management idea and how it can be parlayed into federal assistance if the road gets recognized as a National Scenic Byway.

About 30 people from the area—including two county commissioners and three mayoral candidates—took part in the 45-minute presentation explaining the CMP and the work Great River Associates is undertaking.

“We’re here to talk about your county and what makes you special,” said Spencer Jones, “and what is unique about Route 66 in this area. What’s our ending goal? We need a corridor plan in order to qualify as a National Scenic Byway.”

Jerany Jackson explained corridor management in terms of it being a help, not a hindrance to economic growth in local communities. “The Corridor Management Plan is a document that offers municipalities ideas, suggestions for their future. It is not a zoning rulebook. Adopting the plan in your town does not obligate you to any requirements or enforce any codes.”

The CMP must be finished by July 1. After public meetings have been held in each of the Route 66 counties, the formal documentation process will begin as Great River organizes the plan and gives it the structure of a technical document.

The corridor is broken down into three components or levels: primary (the roadway itself), secondary (buildings and structures adjacent to the road) and complimentary (elements that can be seen at a distance from the road).

“What we’re trying to do is look for six intrinsic qualities in Missouri’s Route 66 corridor, and determine where they are occurring along the roadway,” explained Jones. The six intrinsic qualities include cultural, recreational, archeological, scenic, historical and natural significance.

Information was gathered by the engineering firm by driving the entirety of Route 66 in Missouri, and taking notes, recording data and shooting photographs of what they saw along the way.

Jackson added that the ultimate goal is to encourage economic growth and development along Route 66. She said that involves expanding and promoting tourism, and also reaching out to younger people to educate them about the value of Route 66’s beauty and history. “We’ve got to use technology to reach out and bring in the younger generation,” said Jackson. “We can’t just rely on nostalgia.”

According to Tommy Pike, president of the Route 66 Association, there are a number of grants available from the federal government for building improvements, promotional materials and other projects along a scenic or historic byway. It may take several years to get the actual designation formally adopted by the federal government, but having a plan for corridor management is the first big step.

In 2009, the highway administration awarded $40.7 million for 160 projects to improve and promote scenic byways nationwide. No money was requested or awarded in the state of Missouri.

Pike said that was one example of the opportunities for revitalization that are out there but have to date gone untapped in Missouri.

For more information about the Corridor Management Plan go to http://route66.greatriv.com/ or http://www.missouri66.org/. For questions or to volunteer your knowledge and help with this Association project, contact: Tommy Pike, 417-865-1318 or Jerany Jackson at (417) 886-7171.