Section 349-BB. New York state scenic byways program

1. The commissioner
  shall establish within the department a program to be known as  the  New
  York  state  scenic  byways  program  (hereinafter referred to as scenic
  byways program or program) to encourage and coordinate state actions and
  the activities of others which relate to  the  development,  protection,
  promotion  and  management  of  scenic  byways. For the purposes of this
  article, a "scenic byway" is a transportation route and adjacent area of
  particular scenic, historic,  recreational,  cultural  or  archeological
  characteristics  which is managed to protect such characteristics and to
  encourage economic development through tourism and recreation.
    2. To carry out  the  purposes  of  the  scenic  byways  program,  the
  commissioner is authorized:
    (a)  to  plan,  design,  and  develop the New York state scenic byways
  system;
    (b) to make safety improvements to a highway designated  as  a  scenic
  byway  under  this article to the extent such improvements are necessary
  to accommodate increased traffic, and changes in the types  of  vehicles
  using the highway due to such designation;
    (c)  to  construct  along  the  highway  facilities  for  the  use  of
  pedestrians and  bicyclists,  rest  areas,  turnouts,  highway  shoulder
  improvements, passing lanes, overlooks, and interpretive facilities;
    (d)  to  improve  the  highway  to  enhance  access to an area for the
  purpose of recreation, including water-related recreation;
    (e) to protect historical and cultural resources in areas adjacent  to
  the highway; and
    (f)  to  develop  and  provide  tourist  information  to  the  public,
  including interpretive information about the scenic byway.
    2. The commissioner is hereby authorized to apply for funding from any
  appropriate sources  to  further  the  purposes  of  the  scenic  byways
  program.
    3.  The commissioner is hereby authorized to enter into contracts with
  qualified, responsible not-for-profit organizations involved  in  scenic
  byways  activities and the upstate New York tourism council for services
  relating to the development of the New York state scenic byways  program
  or  services  relating  to  the operation, development or promotion of a
  specific scenic byway.
    4. The commissioner is authorized to promulgate  such  regulations  as
  may  be  necessary  or  desirable to implement the New York state scenic
  byways program.