The latest episode of the “Stream by AASHTO” podcast features an interview with Tziporah Feldman, policy and research director for Scenic America; a national nonprofit advocacy group dedicated to preserving and enhancing the scenic character of America’s communities and countryside.
[Above image by AASHTO]
The “Stream by AASHTO” podcast series – part of the AASHTO Environmental Management technical service program operated by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials – explores a wide array of environmental topics that affect state departments of transportation and the infrastructure programs they oversee.
In this episode, Feldman discusses the specific policy issues Scenic America addresses, such as the impact of underground utility construction on parks and open spaces; billboards and sign control; and the intersection of community planning and scenic byways.
Scenic America has been an especially strong supporter of the National Scenic Byways Program, revived in 2019 by the Federal Highway Administration in part due to its advocacy and that of other groups. Since then, America’s Byways have received nearly $50 million in federal funding, helping support local economies through tourism and job creation while protecting the scenic beauty of the nation’s highways and roadsides.
Later in the podcast, Feldman detailed her educational and environmental experience. After receiving a biology degree from the University of Cincinnati – all while helping rehabilitate birds of prey and releasing them back into the wild – she went on to obtain a masters in ecology and evolutionary biology from Stony Brook University.
To listen to the full podcast, click here.
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