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I� i a tion (FWHA) decided to New Jersey's Partnership Approach work together as partners to _ for Protecting Historic Roads find a better solution. r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andrea TingeyandMiriam Crum = Background Roads are an integral art of other roads combine all or In the earl 1990s NJDOT � g P Y � J our daily lives; they have some,of these characteristics. and FHWA needed to replace - been for centuries. It's how New Jersey has a long several bridges. As federally _ .:. we get from here to there. In and distinguished road-build- funded projects they were sub- fact, roads are so enmeshed ing history. Since colonial ject to reviews for potential `'h with our lives that often we times,New Jersey has been a effects on historic properties take them for granted. We key link between the metro- pursuant to Section 106 of the shouldn't. Roads can greatly politan areas of Philadelphia National Historic -Preserva- enhance our understanding of and New York.Characterized tion Act.This review process our collective past.The rum- by Benjamin Franklin as a raised several questions about _ - ble of bricks or cobblestones "barrel tapped at both ends," the state's historic roads,such preservation office (SHI'O) under your tires immediately New Jersey met the challenge as how to identify and estab- was primarily interested in Ssiice�olgtmes,New sends the imagination wan- of being an important over- lish their eligibility and how to P Y - nial recognizing that roads could r ey,h�ts,beenthelinV dering back to bygone days.A land transportation route assess the effects of transporta- be historic and that eligible Neui twisting, winding road with between these major centers tion projects on historic .? e�u�eenrk.and roads need to be reserved to '-=;hhilade!hiaThzs hato lots of dips similarly conveys of economic development resources.Reaching consensus P �.._., p.:.: P . the greatest extent possible. x h6ivreary20th-century. a•different pace of life,a differ- since the 1700s.Today,as the was complicated by the lack of ;,.:.. ent means of conveyance. most densely paved state in a contextual understanding of The NJDOT was primarily roadcondrtzo»s Clearly some roads hold a the country,New Jersey daily the state's transportation his- interested in advancing its ary b it )Vew ioto.cvurtery special place in our past. But copes with 18 million vehicle tory. Were all roads historic? capital program for the main- ffi;St `Humrzc:_ what makes them historic? trips on its roadways. Was it possible to judge the tenance and improvement of ,;1 se vatzt on'; For some roads it is their New Jersey transporta- significance of a road or its its roadway network and con- i �w+= ':. pavement: brick, cobble- tion officials and historic integrity without understand- cemed that identification of With all of these inter- stone, early concrete, and preservationists have taken a ing the history of roadway a roadway as eligible would ests at the table, it was no wooden roads still exist in creative approach to protect- development in the state? hinder the agency's ability to wonder that a simple solution some places today. Other ing the state's historic roads. accomplish its mission to was not readily evident. Ini- roads are important because When the traditional Section deliver a safe and reliable tial attempts to work within they are the location of a sig- 106 review process involving a A Partnership Approach transportation system.While the confines of the traditional nificant event in our history: historic road became bogged Not surprisingly, the three FHWA was interested in Section 106 consultation a civil . rights march or down in debate over historic agencies involved in the Sec- ensuring that NJDOT effec- Process met with little success. wartime troop movements. significance and eligibility,the tion 106 review process had tively utilized its federal Complicating the consul- Yet other roads are important New Jersey Department of different goals, and reaching funds for roadway improve- to was-the process in New Jersey works of design and engineer- Transportation(NJDOT),the agreement on how best to deal ments, it also was responsible writhe lack ti guidance avail- with the question of historic for ensuring compliance with able on identification of his- ing: lushly landscaped park- New Jersey State Historic q g p toric roadways. Frustrated by ways or efficient elevated Preservation Office and the roads in New Jersey was not an federal regulations protecting expressways. And then still Federal Highway Administra- easy process.The state historic cultural resources. the lack of progress and driven . . • • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FORUM JOURNAL SUMMER 2 0 0 0