Two sections of the Sterling Highway that already boast standing as roads recognized by Alaska for their unique qualities are on their way to being designated National Scenic Byways, a status that could open the door to federal dollars for marketing and capital projects.

At the Sept. 16 meeting in Homer, the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly will consider a measure (Resolution 2008-077) supporting efforts to have the highway sections added to the national scenic byways list. (For more about Tuesday's meeting, see page 21.)

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities designated two stretches of the highway as State Scenic Byways in the late 1990s. The 23-mile stretch from Anchor Point to Homer was granted the status on Sept. 12, 1997. The 38-mile stretch from the Seward "Y" to Skilak Road earned the same title Jan. 12, 1998.

In a memo to their colleagues earlier this month, assembly members Bill Smith of Homer and Milli Martin of Diamond Ridge said the group promoting national recognition had developed the North and South Sterling Byways Corridor Partnership Plan, a requirement of the national application.

Byways organizers need resolutions of support from key groups, including the borough.

Anne Marie Holen is the city of Homer's special projects coordinator. She said Tuesday that the byways organizers already have a resolution of support from the city of Homer, and letters of support from the Anchor Point Chamber of Commerce, Cooper Landing Chamber of Commerce, the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, and are expecting one from the Homer Chamber of Commerce soon.

Aneta Synan, scenic byways coordinator for DOT, said highway nomination windows open every three to five years. Byways organizers from around the nation file nominating packages and compete for the national status. The Federal Highway Administration has indicated a nomination period would open sometime this month, though she has yet to receive official notice, Synan said.

The chances look good for the Sterling Highway. Organizers have done "a really good job" writing their corridor partnership plan, identifying resources that make the two byways special and showing how those resources have national significance, she said.

"They will be very, very competitive," she predicted.

Should the highway ultimately earn national scenic byways recognition, communities along those stretches would be eligible for federal grant funding for national and international marketing of the roadway system and funding to provide such amenities as interpretive signs, turnouts, camping areas, rest stops, approaches and other capital improvements.

Since 1992, the National Scenic Byways Program has funded 2,451 projects for state and nationally designated byway routes in 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, according to the National Scenic Byways Program Web site.

Hal Spence can be reached at hspence@ptialaska.net.