Pair Of Public Workshops Planned For The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway

Dover -- A series of three (3) Public Workshops are being held along the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway (HTURB). This is the last in a series of Public Workshops held (first series in November 2011, second in March 2012) for the HTURB Corridor Management Plan (CMP) development.

The workshop dates are Tuesday, June 19, at the Old State House on The Green in Dover; and Wednesday, June 20, at the Wilmington Friends Meeting House, 401 N. West Street in Wilmington. The hours of each meeting are from 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

The Public Workshops are a vital component to the success and effectiveness of the Corridor Management Plan (CMP). The goals, concerns, and wishes of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway community will be summarized and presented in the CMP, and the Public Workshops provide the forum for gathering and summarizing these items. The Public Workshops provide the public with the opportunity to ask questions, voice their concerns, and help make the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway CMP a valuable and effective document that will truly be the voice of the corridor and its communities.

What are the Scenic Byway Limits?
The HTURB corridor is approximately 90 miles travelling through the State of Delaware. The corridor passes through the communities of Sandtown, Camden, Dover, Smyrna, Clayton, Townsend, Middletown, Odessa, Port Penn, Delaware City, New Castle, and Wilmington.

The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway Corridor Management Plan (CMP) is a collaboration of efforts between the Delaware Department of Transportation, the Underground Railroad Coalition, residents, business owners, and any other individuals with a vested interest in the HTURB.

What is a Corridor Management Plan (CMP)?
The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway CMP is a document that is required as a State of Delaware Scenic Byway and for future designation as a National Scenic Byway (NSB) or an All-American Road (AAR). The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway (HTURB) Corridor Management Plan (CMP) is intended to provide a collection of information that will assist in the preservation, promotion, interpretation, enhancement, and management of the intrinsic resources found throughout the HTURB corridor. This CMP will attempt to foster economic planning and activity within the HTURB communities and provide direction and foresight as to the proper course of promotion, use, and preservation of the corridor's resources.

What are the Benefits of Scenic Byway Designation?
Some of the benefits of Scenic Byway Designation are:
* Promotion
* Preservation
* Partnerships
* Pride
* Funding
* Community Visioning

What are the Next Steps?
The Public Workshop Series #3 will allow for the Project Team to capture input and feedback regarding the Draft CMP. The input received at these Public Workshops will be incorporated into the Final CMP.

Inquiries regarding the public meetings or any aspect of the Harriet Tubman Byway can be made by calling Ann Gravatt, Delaware's Byways Program Coordinator at 302-760-2254 or visiting: www.harriettubmandelaware.com