Attributes and Amenities of Highway Systems Important to Tourists

Eleven road segments in Minnesota were examined in a user survey that addressed road travelers' preferences for physical characteristics, aesthetics, and amenities of that segment. The user survey was based on earlier focus group work. Results indicated that road travelers were able to differentiate between physical and socially derived attributes and amenities associated with a particular roadway. Roads do have character, and users are able to identify and evaluate characteristics specific to each road segment. Many roadway features related to maintaining scenic and environmental qualities were highly valued. Users are not supportive of additional business development along some roadways and prefer instead that activity be clustered in communities located on the road segment. Results also indicated that even though a particular roadway may not have had official scenic designation, user evaluations were similar to those with such designation or even more focused on scenic qualities.