The sight-seeing thoroughfare that connects Western and Eastern Washington via White Pass recently was accepted into the federal America’s Byway Program.
The White Pass Scenic Byway, which passes through the Gifford Pinchot Forest and underneath Mount Adams, Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens, was one of 42 new byways in the nation given the designation, and became the seventh in Washington state.
“Aside from the honor and recognition of this coveted designation, we are now in a more favorable position to compete for future (United States Department of Transportation) Federal Highway Administration grants,” said Maree Lerchen, White Pass Scenic Byway board president, in a news release. “This is important to enhance the travelers experience and for the continued economic development of Lewis County.”
The board of directors are also working on a federally funded $242,000 project that would add two signs at the east and west end of the byway in Naches and Mary’s Corner, along with six community signs along the route.
The signs will be placed in Mossyrock, Morton, Randle, Packwood, Naches and the summit of White Pass.
Earlier this month the byway was chosen to receive $82,000 in federal highway funds, which in conjunction with a $20,000 local match will add wayfinding signs in the byway communities.
ELCCCcommunications
Great to hear that there will be some new signs along Hwy 12 to enhance the experience of travelers along that route.The White Pass Scenic Byway also has a very informative website at http://www.whitepassbyway.com. However, their listing of local Chambers of Commerce at http://www.whitepassbyway.com/links.html continues to omit the East Lewis County Chamber, which has an office and Visitors Information Center in the town of Mossyrock. ELCCC has been in existence since 2005 and has operated the Visitors Center since Feb. 2006. Representatives of both ELCCC and WPSB attend the annual meetings of the County's Lodging Tax Advisory Committee. In fact, the Board President of WPSB has served on the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee when ELCCC has presented its annual proposals.ELCCC has requested a listing on the WPSB Links page twice over the past year yet the website still has not been changed to reflect ELCCC's existence. Why is that? Since both organizations (ELCCC & WPSB) receive funding from the County's lodging tax for promoting tourism, a cooperative and inclusive approach would be useful to maximize those resources, especially in the current economic climate.Perhaps the Chronicle also could look into this and report back, since the White Pass Scenic Byway staff has not responded to our emails on this subject (though we have receipts that the emails were read).Thanks!