Transportation - Highways - Tourist Area and Corridor Signage Program
Impact
The bill delineates specific criteria that attractions must meet to be eligible for signage, including providing recreational, historical, cultural, or leisure activities and being primarily non-retail in nature. Moreover, attractions must be accessible and open to the public for a minimum number of hours and days each week, promoting better access and encouraging higher tourist visitation. This is anticipated to enhance local economies by driving more visitors to attractions, which can lead to increased business for surrounding services.
Summary
Senate Bill 734 establishes the Tourist Area and Corridor Signage Program in Maryland, aiming to improve the visibility of attractions by directing motorists to eligible locations. The program will be managed by the State Highway Administration in collaboration with the Department of Commerce, which will oversee an Eligibility Committee responsible for reviewing applications from attractions seeking to participate. The primary goal is to create a supplemental guide signage system that supports tourism by grouping attractions together for easier access.
Contention
Notably, there are provisions for the Eligibility Committee to approve attractions that may not meet all the requirements if deemed significant to the local or state economy. This aspect may lead to discussions about how subjective eligibility determinations could influence which attractions are prioritized and supported. Additionally, the bill outlines that the costs associated with constructing and installing signage will be shared between the applicants and the program, which may raise questions regarding funding and resource allocation among various attractions, especially smaller or community-based entities.