Nearly one of every four rural American communities depends primarily upon commerce from visitors to a remarkable natural, historic, and/or cultural asset. (Source – NCHRP 582, Table A, page 32). Hikers, cyclists, and car tourists spend millions of dollars annually at B&Bs, antique shops, restaurants, and artistic venues in villages near regional or national parks, bike paths, walking trails, and historic highways. Seasonal vacationers build second homes or retire permanently to small towns near mountains, forests, lakes, rivers, and oceans. History buffs seek out one-of-a-kind museums in old manufacturing and mining towns. Music lovers and “foodies” from around the world flock to rural festivals and buy local products via local storefronts and Web-based commerce.
Rural communities can use CSS techniques to promote tourism, optimize resources, and preserve assets by expanding multimodal accessibility, improving safety for all types of travelers, and enhancing scenic quality.
