27:5K-3 "New Jersey Scenic and Historic Highways Program."

3. a. There is hereby established a "New Jersey Scenic and Historic Highways Program" to be administered by the commissioner in accordance with the provisions of this act. The program is established to encourage the State and counties and municipalities throughout the State to preserve the unique and intrinsic qualities of roadways deemed to have scenic, historic, recreational, cultural, or archaeological value.

b. Any roadway in this State, including the surrounding area thereof, which has scenic, historic, recreational, cultural, or archaeological value may be designated through an act of the Legislature for inclusion in the program.

c. Once a roadway has been designated for inclusion in the program, the department and all other public entities with jurisdiction over the roadway or the surrounding area are encouraged to preserve and promote the scenic, historic, recreational, cultural, or archaeological qualities, or any combination of the foregoing, that served as the basis for the roadway's inclusion in the program. The department and public entities with jurisdiction over a roadway which has been included in the program are encouraged not to make any physical changes to the roadway, or its surrounding area, that would degrade any of its scenic, historic, recreational, cultural, or archaeological qualities. The preservation and promotion of a roadway that has been designated for inclusion in the program shall include, but not be limited to, the following activities:

(1) Making safety improvements to the roadway to the extent that such improvements are necessary to accommodate increased traffic and changes in the types of vehicles using the roadway due to its inclusion in the program;

(2) Constructing rest areas, turnouts, highway shoulder improvements, passing lanes, overlooks, interpretive facilities, and other facilities for use by pedestrians and bicyclists along the roadway;

(3) Making improvements that will enhance access to recreational areas in the vicinity of the roadway;

(4) Protecting scenic, historical, recreational, cultural, and archaeological resources in areas adjacent to the roadway; and

(5) Developing and promoting tourist information to the public, including interpretive information about the program and the specific roadways that have been designated for inclusion in the program.

L.2009, c.245, s.3.