“We know that the highway safety problem is made up of several factors, and unquestionably ‘what the driver sees’ along the road has an influence on the safe use of the highway facility.”
Whether a historic road is managed by the federal government, or a tribe, state or local agency (or a combination thereof), the historic road will interface with a number of transportation policies, regulations and standards. Some are rigid and inflexible (and may be a source of great frustration) while others offer tremendous flexibility and a range of allowable options. To prevent frustration, it is imperative that preservation advocates, and the state and tribal preservation offices (SHPOs and THPOs) that may have authority to comment on projects proposed for historic roads listed in or determined eligible for National Register (or tribal, state and locally designated historic sites), understand where options exist, where the transportation agency has discretion and where time-tested standards and proven methods present little opportunity for change. Remember, transportation policy is based on safety, so any options or flexibilities proposed for a historic road must maintain or enhance existing safety levels.